Lutz'
minor league playing career extended from 1936 through 1954, He briefly reached the
Triple-A level twice, but spent most of his playing days in the middle rungs of the minor leagues. Defensively, he played over 900 games in the outfield; he also played some games at second base and third base, and pitched one inning. Born in 1915 in
Lucinda, Pennsylvania, Lutz died at age 50 in
Geneva, New York, from a
heart attack while scouting a
New York–Penn League game, his death occurring during the Orioles'
1966 World Championship season. The Orioles created the Barney Lutz Memorial Award in his memory, given to an Orioles minor league player for excellence. The award's inaugural winner in 1968, then-minor league outfielder and future minor league manager
Bill Scripture, later said, "Barney Lutz, before he died of a heart attack, was one of the most competitive men ever to have worn a uniform. I was glad someone recognized me and compared me to Lutz." ==References==