Walt Lanfranconi

{{Short description|American baseball player (1916–1986)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2017}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Walt Lanfranconi

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date|1916|11|9}}

|birth_place=Barre, Vermont

|death_date={{death date and age|1986|8|17|1916|11|9}}

|death_place=Barre, Vermont

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=September 12

|debutyear=1941

|debutteam=Chicago Cubs

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 14

|finalyear=1947

|finalteam=Boston Braves

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=4–5

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=2.96

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=19

|teams=

• Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|1941}})
• Boston Braves ({{mlby|1947}})

}}

Walter Oswald Lanfranconi (November 9, 1916 – August 17, 1986) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. The {{convert|155|lb|abbr=on}} right-hander played for the Chicago Cubs (1941) and Boston Braves (1947). His career was unusual in that he went almost six years between major league appearances.

Lanfranconi made his major league debut in relief against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field (September 12, 1941). Twelve days later he started and lost 2–0 to All-Star Bucky Walters and the Cincinnati Reds. Then, as a 30-year-old in 1947, he went 4–4 with one save as a starter and reliever for the Braves. In one of his best games, he defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7–1 in the nightcap of a 4th of July double-header at Shibe Park with 28,580 fans in attendance.{{cite web|title=Boston Braves at Philadelphia Phillies Box Score|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI194707042.shtml|website=baseball-reference.com|publisher=sports-reference.com|accessdate=August 28, 2017|date=July 4, 1947}}{{cite web |url=http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Walt-Lanfranconi/ |title=Walt Lanfranconi |first1=Stan |last1=Hamlet |access-date=August 28, 2017 |website=sabr.org |publisher=Society for American Baseball Research}}

Lanfranconi's career totals include a record of 4–5 in 38 games, 70 innings pitched, 19 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.96.

Lanfranconi missed the 1943–45 baseball seasons due to military service with the US Army during World War II.{{cite web|title=Walt Lanfranconi Stats|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lanfrwa01.shtml|website=baseball-reference.com|publisher=sports-reference.com|accessdate=August 28, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Baseball in Wartime – Those Who Served A to Z|url=http://baseballinwartime.com/those_who_served/those_who_served_atoz.htm|website=BaseballinWartime.com|accessdate=August 28, 2017}}

Lanfranconi died in his hometown of Barre, Vermont, at the age of 69. He was buried at Hope Cemetery in Barre.