Otto Denning

Who was Otto Denning?

Otto George Denning was a Major League Baseball catcher who played for two seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians from 1942 to 1943. He made his major league debut on April 15, 1942.

Otto "Dutch" Denning attended high school in Chicago before beginning his pro baseball career in 1933. While playing for the Minneapolis Millers in 1938, he finished second to teammate Ted Williams in the American Association batting race. After nine seasons in the minors, he was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the Rule 5 draft after the 1941 season. While many players were away serving in World War II, he made his big league debut on skipper Lou Boudreau's club in 1942 and played a season and a half in the majors. After that, he returned to the minors, where he later managed.

While in the minors with the Milwaukee Brewers, Denning became friends with Bill Veeck. After Veeck got out of baseball in the 1980s, he and Denning would often attend Chicago Cubs games, sitting together in the Wrigley Field bleachers.

Denning died at age 79 after suffering a heart attack in his home in Chicago. He was the uncle of big leaguer Chris Bourjos. He was the husband of Agnes Denning and father of four children: Rose O'Toole, Dorothy Denning, Michael Denning, and Patrick Denning. He has two grandchildren: Patrick O'Toole Jr. and Kristina Denning.