This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2015) |
Barry Lee Lersch (September 7, 1944 – October 4, 2009) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (1969–1973) and St. Louis Cardinals in (1974). A right-hander, he was born in Denver, Colorado and was listed as 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and 175 pounds (79 kg) and attended East High School in Denver, Colorado.
Barry Lersch | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Denver, Colorado, U.S. | September 7, 1944|
Died: October 4, 2009 Aurora, Colorado, U.S. | (aged 65)|
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 8, 1969, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 21, 1974, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 18–32 |
Earned run average | 3.82 |
Strikeouts | 317 |
Stats at Baseball Reference | |
Teams | |
One of Lersch's great baseball moments was a pitching victory in 1964's annual Midnight Sun Game. He defeated the host Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks by a score of 10–5; 2,500 people were on hand to witness his win. The game ended at 2:34 a.m. local time and is in the record books as one of the latest-finishing games in amateur baseball history.
Lersch became a professional later that year when, in December 1964, he signed with the Phillies' organization. He made his MLB debut on April 8, 1969 when he surrendered a one-out two-run walk-off homer to Willie Smith in an eleven-inning Opening Day 7–6 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.[1] He spent four full years (1970 through 1973) in the big leagues. Lersch was primarily a relief pitcher in the majors; of his 169 career games pitched, 53 were starts. He posted an 18–32 won–lost record and a 3.82 career earned run average. All of his decisions (and all but one of his games played) came with struggling Phillies teams. In 5701⁄3 innings pitched, he allowed 536 hits and 172 bases on balls, and struck out 317. He was credited with nine complete games, six saves and one shutout, a two-hitter against the Montreal Expos on September 30, 1972, at Jarry Park.[2] He was traded along with Craig Robinson from the Phillies to the Braves for Ron Schueler at the Winter Meetings on December 3, 1973.[3]
Lersch died of a heart attack on October 4, 2009, in Aurora, Colorado. He was 65; his body was donated to medical science.
References
edit- ^ Langford, George. "Willie Smith clobbers a home run in the 11th inning to give the Chicago Cubs a home opener win," Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, April 9, 1969. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Retrosheet box score: 1972-09-30
- ^ Durso, Joseph. "4 Trades Made at Meetings," The New York Times, Tuesday, December 4, 1973. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Barry Lersch at Baseball Almanac
- Barry Lersch at Baseball Gauge
- Barry Lersch at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
- Barry Lersch at The Deadball Era