July 31--Billy Pierce, one the most dominant left-handed pitchers in Chicago White Sox history, has passed away.
He was 88.
Pierce, whose No. 19 was retired by the Sox in 1987, was on the Hall of Fame Golden Era Committee ballot last year but failed to get in. The left-hander remains atop the franchise's career strikeouts list with 1,796, and is fourth in wins with 195.
"Generations of White Sox fans lost one of their heroes today," White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "It was an absolute privilege to consider Billy a friend. He epitomized class, not just as a ballplayer on those great Go-Go White Sox teams of the 1950s, but as a gentleman and as a human being who devoted so much of his life to helping others."
Pierce is one of 13 pitchers to start three or more All-Star games (1953. '55-56), and finished third in the 1962 Cy Young race and fifth the 1956 AL MVP race.He led the AL with a 1.97 ERA in 1955 and 186 strikeouts in 1953, and recorded 20-win seasons in 1956 and '57.
Born April 2, 1927, Pierce was signed by his hometown Tigers before he finished high school.
Pierce made his major league debut in June 1945, with three relief appearances that month and two more in September after spending two months with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League at the age of 18.
Pierce grew up in suburban Highland Park, Mich. as the son of a pharmacist. He was on the Tigers' roster for the team's victory in the 1945 World Series against the Cubs, although he did not appear in any games.
The Tigers, concerned about the left-hander's early control issues, traded Pierce to the White Sox on Nov. 10, 1948, for catcher Aaron Robinson and $10,000. The Tigers soon regretted the decision and tried to call off the trade, but to no avail.
Pierce pitched for the White Sox from 1949-1961 and was a member of the 1959 American League champions. He also pitched for the San Francisco Giants (1962-64). He was a 7-time All-Star and finished with a career record of 211-169 and an earned run average of 3.27. He struck 1,999 batters. Pierce was the American League ERA champion in 1955.
One of the most dominate pitchers in the 1950s, the slightly-built Pierce was perhaps best remembered for his legendary match-ups against Yankees Hall of Fame lefthander Whitey Ford. The two pitchers faced each other 14 times, from 1955 to 1960.
On June 27, 1958, against the Washington Senators, Pierce came within one batter of becoming the first left-handed pitcher in 78 years to throw a perfect game. Pinch-hitter Ed Fitz Gerald spoiled the perfect game when he hit the first pitch for a two-out double just barely fair down the right-field line.
The White Sox retired Pierce's No. 19 jersey in 1987. He was selected to the White Sox All-Century Team in 2000.
Pierce was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. The White Sox unveiled a statue in Pierce's honor on July 23, 2007, on the concourse at U.S. Cellular Field.
Services are pending. The family has asked that donations be made in Pierce's name to Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities
fmitchell@tribpub.com
