- Bill Hallahan
Infobox MLB retired
name=Bill Hallahan
position=Pitcher
bgcolor1=#BC003A
bgcolor2=#BC003A
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
bats=Right
throws=Left
birthdate=August 4 ,1902
city-state|Binghamton|New York
deathdate=death date and age|1981|7|8|1902|8|4
city-state|Binghamton|New York
debutdate=April 16
debutyear=1925
debutteam=St. Louis Cardinals
finaldate=September 14
finalyear=1938
finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies
stat1label=Win-Loss Record
stat1value=102-94
stat2label=ERA
stat2value=4.03
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=856
teams=
*St. Louis Cardinals (by|1925-by|1936)
*Cincinnati Reds (by|1936-by|1937)
*Philadelphia Phillies (by|1938)
highlights=
*All star in 1933
*Led NL in wins in 1931 with 19
*Led NL in strikeouts in 1930 with 177 and 1931 with 159William Anthony "Wild Bill" Hallahan (
August 4 ,1902 -July 8 ,1981 ) was an American lefthanded pitcher inMajor League Baseball during the 1920s and 1930s. So named because of his lack of control on the mound — he twice led theNational League inbases on balls — Hallahan nevertheless was one of the pitching stars of the1931 World Series and pitched his finest in postseason competition.He also was the starting pitcher for the NL in the first All-Star Game in by|1933, losing a 4-2 decision to
Lefty Gomez of theAmerican League and surrendering a third-inninghome run toBabe Ruth in the process.Hallahan, a native of
Binghamton, New York , spent most of his career in the employ of theSt. Louis Cardinals . He signed with their nearby AA farm club, the Syracuse Stars of theInternational League , in by|1924. The following season, he made his first NL appearance for the Redbirds, appearing in six games. In by|1926, Hallahan pitched in 19 games for the Cardinals during the regular season, and made a first, briefWorld Series appearance that fall against theNew York Yankees .But Hallahan was not yet ready for an extended major league career. He spent 1927 with Syracuse, winning 19 games and leading the International League in
strikeouts (195) and walks (135). The next season, he won 23 games for theHouston Buffaloes and led theTexas League in strikeouts (244). Finally, in by|1929, he rejoined the Cardinals.He became a starting pitcher in by|1930, winning 15 games for the pennant-winning Cardinals and leading the NL in strikeouts (177) and walks (126). In the
1930 World Series against the Philadelphia Athletics, Hallahan split two decisions but he shut out the powerful A's in Game 3 and allowed only twoearned runs in 11 innings, for a sparkling ERA of 1.64. Philadelphia won the Series in six games, the only World Series Hallahan's Cardinals would ever lose.In 1931, Hallahan again led the NL in strikeouts (159) and walks (112) and won 19 games, as St. Louis again took the league championship for a rematch against the Athletics. This time, Hallahan was even more effective. He shut out the A's again in Game 2, pitched a complete game 5-1 victory in Game 5, and nailed down the decisive Game 7 in relief by getting the last out in the ninth inning. Altogether, he gave up only 12 hits and one run in 18⅓ innings — an ERA of 0.36 — as St. Louis triumphed in seven games. Hallahan's dominance is even more impressive because the A's featured a predominantly righthanded-hitting lineup, including fearsome sluggers
Jimmie Foxx andAl Simmons .After two more winning campaigns for non-contending Cardinal clubs, Hallahan won only eight games, losing 12, for the by|1934 edition. But the
Gashouse Gang won the National League title and gave Hallahan one more chance to experience the big stage. In Game 2 of the1934 World Series , against theDetroit Tigers , Hallahan started against Detroit aceSchoolboy Rowe and left with one out in the eighth inning of a 2-2 tie. Detroit won the game in the ninth, 3-2, but overall the Cardinals again prevailed in seven games.Altogether, in seven World Series games and 39⅓ innings, Hallahan won three games, lost one and compiled a sparkling ERA of 1.51.
He stayed with the Cardinals until May 31, by|1936, when he was sold to the
Cincinnati Reds , then a second-division team. His career statistics suffered with the Reds and his final club, the cellar-dwellingPhiladelphia Phillies . Over his last two seasons, 1937-38, Hallahan won four and lost 17 games.He finished with a regular-season record of 102 victories and 94 defeats, 856 strikouts and 779 walks, and an ERA of 4.03 in 1,740 innings pitched.
After retiring from baseball, Hallahan worked as a supervisor for General Aniline and Film Co. in
Johnson City, New York . He died at age 78 in Binghamton.ee also
*
List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
*List of Major League Baseball wins champions External links
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