Lew Krausse, Jr.

Lewis Bernard Krausse Jr. (born April 25, 1943) is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher from Media, Pennsylvania. He played for the Kansas City Athletics (1961–67), Oakland Athletics (1968–69), Milwaukee Brewers (1970–71), Boston Red Sox (1972), St. Louis Cardinals (1973) and the Atlanta Braves (1974).

Krausse was a schoolboy star from Little League through attending Chester High School (Chester, Pennsylvania), and was signed as an undrafted free agent in 1961. He signed a $125,000 bonus contract with the Athletics. A week after signing, he pitched a three-hit shutout against the expansion Los Angeles Angels in his major league debut. Krausse was the youngest player in the major leagues that season.

Krausse pitched in a total of 321 games in his career, 167 as a starting pitcher. His career win/loss record was 68–91; he pitched 1284 total innings, with 1205 hits allowed, 721 strikeouts and 493 walks allowed. His earned run average was 4.00. His best overall season was in 1966 with Kansas City, when his record was 14–9 with a 2.99 ERA. That season his victory total was sixth best in the American League, and his 2.99 ERA was ninth best.

On August 18, 1967, he was suspended by Athletics' owner Charlie Finley for rowdyism and conduct unbecoming a major league player. This was part of the "war" between Finley and some of his players.

Krausse was briefly a member of the Seattle Pilots, having been traded to them in January 1970, and wore their uniform in spring training, but the franchise moved to Milwaukee prior to the start of the regular season. On July 7, 1970, he pitched the first shutout in Brewers' history, defeating the Chicago White Sox 1–0.

Krausse was part of a ten-player blockbuster that sent him, Tommy Harper, Marty Pattin and minor-league outfielder Pat Skrable from the Brewers to the Red Sox for George Scott, Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett, Billy Conigliaro, Joe Lahoud and Don Pavletich on October 10, 1971.

Krausse's father, Lew Sr., pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1931–32.

Along with his father, who was inducted in 1963, Krausse is a member of the Delaware County Sports Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 1981.