- Joe Hoerner
Joseph Walter Hoerner (
November 12 ,1936 -October 4 ,1996 ) was aMajor League Baseball relief pitcher . A native ofDubuque, Iowa , the left-hander was signed by theChicago White Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1957 season. He played for theHouston Colt .45s (1963-1964),St. Louis Cardinals (1966-1969),Philadelphia Phillies (1970-72, 1975),Atlanta Braves (1972-1973),Kansas City Royals (1973-1974), Texas Rangers (1976), andCincinnati Reds (1977).Hoerner led Northern League pitchers with a .762 winning percentage while playing for the
Duluth-Superior White Sox in 1957.Hoerner was used exclusively in relief during his 14-year
MLB career. He appeared in 493 games, and during his first six full seasons (1966-1971) had one of the lowest combined ERAs among all major league relief pitchers (2.16).Hoerner was drafted by the Colt .45's from the White Sox in the 1961 minor league draft. He made his
major league debut on September 27, 1963 against theNew York Mets atColt Stadium . In this particular game Houston managerHarry Craft used a starting lineup of ninerookie s, includingJerry Grote (20),Joe Morgan (20),Rusty Staub (19), andJimmy Wynn (21). Hoerner pitched three scorelessinnings as the Mets won, 10-3. (see box score and play-by-play at [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B09270HOU1963.htm] )He was drafted by the Cardinals from the
Houston Astros in the 1965 rule V draft, and this led to him being part of two pennant-winning teams, including the1967 World Series champions. In four seasons with St. Louis (1966-1969) Hoerner pitched in 206 games with a 19-10 record and 60 saves. He ranked in theNational League TOP TEN all four seasons for saves, and three times forgames finished . On July 22, 1966 atWrigley Field he hit his only major league home run, a 3-run shot, against Hall of FamerFerguson Jenkins . During this time he also tied a National League record for relievers with 6 consecutive strikeouts vs. the Mets on June 1, 1968 [See box score and play-by-play at [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B06010NYN1968.htm retrosheet.org] ] He also appeared in fiveWorld Series games for the Cards, with a 0-1 record and one save.Hoerner was traded to Philadelphia as part of the infamous
Curt Flood deal [http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/flood712] on October 7, 1969. He made the National LeagueAll-Star team in 1970, and his .643winning percentage ranked sixth in the league. During 1971 that year he gave up Willie Mays's major league-leading 22nd and last career extra-inning home run atCandlestick Park . In 1971, at age 34, he finished the year with a 1.97 ERA, and his effectiveness declined after that season. However, he later gave up Willie McCovey's N.L. record-breaking 17th grand slam in 1977 atRiverfront Stadium . His final major league appearance was on August 5, 1977. At the age of 40, he was the second-oldest player to appear in a National League game that season.For his career he finished with a lifetime record of 39-34, 99 saves, 268
games finished , and an earned run average of 2.99. He struck out 412 and walked 181 In 562.2innings pitched . Hoerner heldAll-Stars Bobby Bonds ,Johnny Callison ,Tommy Harper ,Ed Kranepool ,Joe Pepitone , and Bill White to a .070 collectivebatting average (5-for-71). He also held Hall of FamersHank Aaron ,Ernie Banks ,Reggie Jackson ,Willie Mays ,Bill Mazeroski ,Tony Perez ,Willie Stargell , andCarl Yastrzemski to a .101 collective batting average (9-for-89)Hoerner died in a farming accident at the age of 59 in
Hermann, Missouri .References
*1976 Baseball Register published by
The Sporting News External links
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hoernjo01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Phoerj101.htm Retrosheet]
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/H/Hoerner_Joe.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://thedeadballera.com/Obits/Hoerner.Joe.Obit.html The Deadball Era]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.