R.I.P. Larry Biittner
January 3, 2021
By Danny Gallagher
Canadian Baseball Network
He was of Bavarian descent with a surname that confused some writers who on occasion misspelled it or squinted to make sure there was one i after another followed by a double t.
On the field, he was a line-drive gap hitter with a good glove at first and in the outfield for many teams, including the Expos.
Larry Biittner died Jan. 2 at age 75. His family made the announcement on Facebook. Cause of death is unknown.
"My heart aches and is broken,'' Biittner's son Bobby wrote on Facebook.
The pride of Pocahontas, Iowa, Biittner started his big-league career with the Washington Senators and finished it with the Texas Rangers.
Biittner was acquired Dec. 20, 1973 by the Expos from the Rangers. Expos GM Jim Fanning had scouted Biittner when Fanning was with the Atlanta Braves in the 1960s.
Fanning felt pitcher Pat Jarvis' best days were behind him so he traded him to Texas for Biittner, who spent most of the 1974 season with the Expos triple-A team in Memphis.
Biittner broke out in 1975 for Montreal with more playing time, batting a solid .315 with three homers and 28 RBI in 346 at-bats.
That solid season had him in the cross-hairs with Expos management in the off-season when he negotiated a contract. He was a holdout for a period of time before settling on a $10,000 raise.
Biittner's playing time in 1976 decreased because of the Expos’ youth movement and the contract dispute. On May 17, Biittner was traded along with veteran pitcher Steve Renko to the Cubs for outfielder Andre Thornton.
Biittner gained notoriety in a Cubs game against the Expos on July 4, 1977 when Chicago manager Herman Franks asked him to come into the game as a pitcher in a blowout game.
Biittner struck out three but also gave up home runs to Larry Parrish, Ellis Valentine and Andre Dawson. Biittner even got a warning from umpire Terry Tata for throwing chin music at Del Unser. Franks and catcher Randy Hundley took offence to Tata issuing the warning and both were ejected. The Expos ended up beating the Cubs 19-3.