Dave Altizer

{{Short description|American baseball player (1876–1964)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Dave Altizer

|image=DavidAltizer.jpg

|image_size=250px

|position=Shortstop

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1876|11|6}}

|birth_place=Pearl, Illinois, U.S.

|death_date={{death date and age|1964|5|14|1876|11|6}}

|death_place=Pleasant Hill, Illinois, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=May 29

|debutyear=1906

|debutteam=Washington Senators

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=July 10

|finalyear=1911

|finalteam=Cincinnati Reds

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.250

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=4

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=116

|teams=

• Washington Senators ({{Baseball year|1906}}–{{Baseball year|1908}})
• Cleveland Naps ({{Baseball year|1908}})
• Chicago White Sox ({{Baseball year|1909}})
• Cincinnati Reds ({{Baseball year|1910}}–{{Baseball year|1911}})

}}

David Tilden Altizer (November 6, 1876 – May 14, 1964) was an American Major League Baseball shortstop who played six seasons for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Naps, Chicago White Sox, and Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball.

Altizer served in the military in the early 20th century, and he did not appear in professional baseball until he was 25. He spent four seasons playing mostly in the Connecticut State League before he debuted in the major leagues with the 1906 Washington Senators. On July 23, 1908, the Cleveland Naps of the American League purchased Altizer and Cy Falkenberg from the Senators for $10,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|10000|1908}}}} in current dollar terms).{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/392586473/?terms=%22cy%20falkenberg%22%20%22%20Dave%20Altizer%22&match=1 |title=23 Jul 1908, 10 - The Dayton Herald at |publisher=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription|date=July 23, 1908 |accessdate=April 26, 2021}}

Altizer's youngest brother, Oren, was killed in military action in France in 1918.{{cite news |title=Oren Altizer listed slain |work=San Bernardino News |date=October 17, 1918}} Newspaper reports initially mischaracterized Oren as Altizer's son, but Altizer's only son was a school-aged child at the time.{{cite news |title=Sport snaps |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/323989234/ |work=Des Moines Tribune |date=October 26, 1918 |language=en}}

In 514 games over six seasons, Altizer posted a .250 batting average (433-for-1734) with 204 runs, 4 home runs, 116 RBIs, and 119 stolen bases. He finished his career with a .952 fielding percentage playing at all positions except catcher and pitcher.

He died in Pleasant Hill, Illinois, at the age of 87.