This Day in Baseball History (June 8, 1961) - Lew Krausse Signs with A's

'The A's sign Lew Krausse, who hurled 19 no-hitters and struck out 24 batters in one game on the scholastic level, as an amateur free agent the day after he graduates from high school for $125,000. Eight days from now, the 18 year-old fireballing phenom will throw a three-hit shutout against L.A. in his major league debut.'

Krausse was a sixties version of David Clyde (What? Never heard of him! There's a future post). Krausse proved over matched by major league hitters, was banished to the bullpen and then the minors. It was 1966 before he would stick in the majors.

He never lived up to expectations, playing with five teams over twelve years and compiling a record of 68-91 with an ERA of 4.00. Being trotted out to a major league mound at age 18, combined with surgery the next year surely played large parts in his mediocre career.

SABR's excellent biography of Krausse can be found at the link.