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Two Interesting Trades involving Billy Pierce!
“That little so-and-so is a marvel. So little – and all that speed. And I mean speed! He once got me out of there on a fastball in the ninth that I’d have needed a telescope to see.” -Joe DiMaggio , speaking of Billy Pierce
As I’ve said many times, whenever you look into the career of any major leaguer, you’ll almost always find something of interest. That certainly holds true in the case of Billy Pierce. The 5’10”, 160-pound southpaw was the principal player in two very interesting trades: One coming to the White…and one leaving the White Sox!
The exit trade happened 64 years ago today, November 30, 1961. The White Sox traded Billy along with Don Larsen to the Giants for Bab Farley, Eddie Fisher, Dom Zanni [!] and Verle Tiefenthaler [!!]. This was a trade that benefited both teams. I think it’s fair to say only Eddie Fisher proved of value to the White Sox. From 1962-1965, Eddie went 40-26 (.600) as a mainstay of their pitching staff.
Meanwhile, Pierce was a major contributor to the Giants’ 1962 National League pennant-winning season, posting a 16-6 (.727) record, going 12-0 in home games, and getting a three-hit shutout and a save in the three-game tie-breaker against the Dodgers to clinch the title. He also won a game in the World Series.
However, the trade in which the White Sox acquired Pierce was much more lopsided. This “gem” of a trade happened 77 years ago this month. On November 10, 1948, the White Sox acquired the 21-year-old southpaw and $10,000 from the Tigers for All-Star catcher Aaron Robinson. The Sox certainly got the better end of this one: Billy won 186 games for them during his 13-year tenure in the Windy City; while Robinson played less than three seasons in the Motor City.
Billy Pierce is certainly one of the most underrated players of the twentieth century and a case can be made he belongs in the Hall of Fame. What a career he had, including one day in 1958 when he flirted with the history books:
Billy’s Nearly Perfect!
On June 27, 1958, in a game between the White Sox and Senators at Comiskey Park, Billy was just one out away from recording the first perfect game by a southpaw since little-known Lee Richmond pitched the very first perfect game all the way back in baseball’s dark ages, 1880. In addition, there had been only one lefty no-hitter between 1931 and 1962, that by Mel Parnell in 1956.
A weak double down the right field line by pinch-hitter Ed Fitzgerald kept Pierce out of the record books. The 31-year-old Detroit native then retired Albie Pearson on a three-pitch strikeout to settle for a 3-0 one-hit victory over the Senators. Although obviously disappointed by the near miss, Pierce summed up the night in his usual modest manner, praising his teammates for their defensive glove work, and added:
“Give Luis [Aparicio] plenty of credit. And Sherm [Lollar] really mixed ’em up beautifully. The big thing is that we won.”
Billy’s Outstanding Career
Billy Pierce played 18 seasons in the major leagues. Although he’s best remembered for his 13 years with the White Sox (1949-1961), he also pitched for the Tigers (1945, 1948), and the Giants (1962-1964).
Over his career, Pierce went 211-169 (.555), with a 3.27 ERA, 1,999 strikeouts, 193 complete games, and 38 shutouts. He was a seven-time All-Star with back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1956-57. He was a member of three pennant winners (1945, 1959, 1962), and one World Series champion (1945). His 20 wins in 1957 led the American League, and he led the major leagues with a 1.97 ERA in 1955. He posted an American League-best 186 strikeouts in 1953, and led the league in complete games in three consecutive years (1956, 57, 58), the last player to do so. Pierce threw four one-hitters, and seven two-hitters. He ranks in the Sox’ top five all-time in strikeouts (1,796), shutouts (35), starts (391), and wins (195).
1959 World Series: Controversy
“The Senor” Al Lopez kept Billy from starting in the 1959 World Series. The question is, “why?”
There has always been controversy about why White Sox manager Al Lopez didn’t start Pierce in the 1959 World Series. Reading this remark from teammate Al Smith, there seems to be more to the story than just a baseball decision. I’ve never heard a good explanation. Maybe some of our readers can shed some light on what Al Smith meant by this cryptic remark:
“We all knew why Al López didn’t pitch him, but we never told anyone and I won’t say now. I will say that I thought he should have pitched. He’d been pitching all year, hadn’t he?”
One of the Best Lefties Of All Time!
Among left-handers, Pierce ranks near the top all-time. His 1,999 career strikeouts were the fifth most by a left-hander when he retired, and his American League total of 1,842 ranked ninth in league history. He also ranked tenth among left-handers in career wins (211), sixth in games started (432) and games pitched (585), eighth in shutouts (38), and ninth in innings pitched (3,306).
After his baseball career ended in 1964, Pierce spent 46 years as a committee member of the Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities, serving as president for 20 years. Billy was selected to the Chicago White Sox All-Century Team and received The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award for 1956 and 1957. His #19 has been retired by the White Sox and a statue of him was unveiled at U.S. Cellular Field in 2007.
So today we’re glad to shine our baseball spotlight on a fine pitcher who never seems to get the credit he deserves for his outstanding career. Does Billy deserve a plaque in the Hall of Fame? You can make the case. His career stats, by the way, are surprisingly similar to Don Drysdale’s. It might just be time to start a “Billy Pierce for the Hall of Fame” campaign!
Billy passed away on July 31, 2015, aged 88, in Palos Heights, Illinois, survived by Gloria, his wife of 65 years.
Gary Livacari
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Information: Stats from Baseball Reference.com
I remember him as an outstanding pitcher for the Sox way back when.
Yeah, even Cub fans like us remember him well!
Should be in hall of fame but do it while they are alive.Their stats haven’t changed.Look at Ron Santo and Dick Allen.If you are good enough to get in Do it while they are alive.Another one is Luis Tiant
Good point!
If I could pick my own Field of Dreams, it would be a summer Friday night at Comiskey Park, sold out, 40,000 fans, Billy Pierce vs. Whitey Ford, two normal-sized guys starting – and finishing – the game. No 6’6″ behemoths throwing 105 m.p.h., no parade of relievers facing three batters each, just two little lefties, the two best pitchers on the two best teams in the league.
No Manfred man, no home run derbies to decide games, no interleague scores on the exploding scoreboard. I told you it was just a dream!
Ahh…for the old days!
In 1958 I was in grade school. It was a school night and I was tucked into bed cradling my little transistor radio, listening to Bob Elson call Pierce’s gem. What a disappointment it was when Ed Fitzgerald of the Senators blooped a lucky hit. Forever after in Chicago, he was known as Ed “The Spoiler” Fitzgerald.