Billy Pierce Stats & Facts

Player
 

 

Billy Pierce

Position: Pitcher
Bats: Left  •  Throws: Left
5-10, 160lb (178cm, 72kg)
Born: April 2, 1927 in Detroit, MI
Died: July 31, 2015  in Palos Heights, IL
Buried: Chapel Hill Gardens South Cemetery, Oak Lawn, IL
High School: Highland Park HS (Highland Park, MI)
Debut: June 1, 1945 (9,960th in major league history)
vs. BOS 3.1 IP, 1 H, 4 SO, 2 BB, 0 ER
Last Game: October 3, 1964
vs. CHC 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 SO, 0 BB, 3 ER
Full Name: Walter William Pierce
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

 

Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1945

Red Schoendienst
Whitey Lockman
Del Rice
Billy Pierce
Art Houtteman
Sal Maglie
Joe Astroth
Herm Wehmeier
Pete Gray

 

All-Time Teammate Team

Coming Soon

 

Notable Events and Chronology

The Chicago White Sox trade Ed Lopat to the New York Yankees for Aaron Robinson, Bill Wight and Fred Bradley

The Chicago White Sox trade Ed Lopat to the New York Yankees for Aaron Robinson, Bill Wight and Fred Bradley

billy-pierce chicago white sox

Chicago White Sox acquire pitcher Billy Pierce from the Detroit Tigers for catcher Aaron Robinson.

Chicago's Billy Pierce out-duels the A's Bobby Shantz to win, 6 - 1

Chicago’s Billy Pierce out-duels the A’s Bobby Shantz to win, 6 – 1

Fenway Park 50th year celebration

At Fenway Park, the Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first American League game in Boston

Mickey Mantle

Mickey Mantle leadoff single in the 10th inning ignites a New York rally and they win 9 – 5.

Mickey Mantle's 2-run home run off Chicago's Billy Pierce caps a 7-run 5th inning, as New York wins, 9 - 3, at Yankee Stadium. Returning to CF after the 5th, Mantle is photographed blowing a huge bubble with a wad of gum. Manager Stengel will publicly rebuke the Mick, who will apologize for the indiscretion. However, Mantle does get an endorsement fee from the Bowman Gum company

Mickey Mantle’s 2-run home run off Chicago’s Billy Pierce caps a 7-run 5th inning, as New York wins, 9 – 3, at Yankee Stadium. Returning to CF after the 5th, Mantle is photographed blowing a huge bubble with a wad of gum. Manager Stengel will publicly rebuke the Mick, who will apologize for the indiscretion. However, Mantle does get an endorsement fee from the Bowman Gum company

Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees slugs a 550-foot home run

Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees slugs a 550-foot home run

Mickey Mantle and Casey Stengel

Mickey Mantle hits his 50th home run, only the 8th to do so, in the 11th off Chicago’s Billy Pierce, as New York wins, 3 – 2, to clinch another pennant.

ted williams 17th grandslam

Billy Pierce of the White Sox wins, 1 – 0, in a 10-inning masterpiece

Yankees and White Sox Brawl - Full Broadcast June 13 1957 New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox

Yankees and White Sox Brawl – Full Broadcast June 13 1957 New York Yankees at Chicago White Sox

Carroll Hardy of the Boston Red Sox becomes the only player to pinch-hit for both Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski

Cleveland Indians outfielder Carroll Hardy pinch-hits for Roger Maris and responds with his first major league home run

Billy Pierce

Mantle hits a 478 moon shot off Billy Pierce in losing effort 

Billy Pierce of the White Sox

Billy Pierce retires 26 consecutive batters before pinch-hitter Ed Fitzgerald doubles weakly inside the right field line for the Senators’ only hit

Billy O’Dell of the Baltimore Orioles hits a 120-foot home run against the Chicago White Sox

Billy O’Dell of the Baltimore Orioles hits a 120-foot home run against the Chicago White Sox

The White Sox take over first place for good by toppling the Yankees, 4 - 3, behind P Billy Pierce. 

The White Sox take over first place for good by toppling the Yankees, 4 – 3, behind P Billy Pierce. 

Hoyt Wilhelm Giants

Hoyt Wilhelm of the Baltimore Orioles makes one of the greatest relief appearances ever

The largest crowd ever to attend a major league game, 92,706 fans, watches a nail-biter as White Sox hurler Bob Shaw beats Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers, 1-0, in Game 5 of the Fall Classic.

The largest crowd ever to attend a major league game, 92,706 fans, watches a nail-biter as White Sox hurler Bob Shaw beats Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers, 1-0, in Game 5 of the Fall Classic.

Early Wynn of Chicago

Wynn is a great relief as White Sox win a protested game vs Yankees – Full Radio Broadcast

Bill Veeck employs eight Little People to work in the stands during the White Sox home opener

Bill Veeck employs eight Little People to work in the stands during the White Sox home opener

1947-1966 Exhibits Roger Maris New York Yankees PSA EX 5

Roger Maris ties an American League record with his 7th home run in his 6th straight game, as New York beats Chicago, 5 – 4, in the 9th inning. His two blasts off Billy Pierce give him 48, three more than Mickey Mantle.

The White Sox trade pitchers Don Larsen and Billy Pierce to the Giants for pitchers Eddie Fisher, Dom Zanni, Verle Tiefenthaler and first baseman Bob Farley.

The White Sox trade pitchers Don Larsen and Billy Pierce to the Giants for pitchers Eddie Fisher, Dom Zanni, Verle Tiefenthaler and first baseman Bob Farley.

Orlando Cepeda

Billy Pierce outduels Whitey Ford – Giants tie the series at 3 games each

New York Yankees beat San Francisco Giants 3-2 in game 3 of World Series

New York Yankees beat San Francisco Giants 3-2 in game 3 of World Series

Billy Pierce pitcher, Sherm Lollar catcher and Ted Williams coming up to bat.

Billy Pierce pitcher, Sherm Lollar catcher and Ted Williams coming up to bat.

 

Biography

Born in Detroit on April 2, 1927, Pierce attended Highland Park (Michigan) High School, this prep sensation from Detroit was acquired by the White Sox from the Tigers before the 1949 season in a lopsided deal for journeyman catcher Aaron Robinson and $10,000. In the 13 years he wore a Sox uniform, Pierce was a pitching anchor. He threw four one-hitters, and in 1953 he had seven shutouts, pitching 51 consecutive innings without yielding an earned run. His 186 strikeouts that year led the league. But his Sox teammates had trouble scoring runs. Following one particularly dry stretch, after the Sox put across a run, Nellie Fox turned to Pierce and said: “Here’s your run. Now go out there and hold it.” And most of the time he did. Trouble was, AL managers saved their best for Pierce. In head-to-head competition against Whitey Ford, Pierce won eight and lost six lifetime; against Bob Lemon, he won seven of nine decisions.

In 1955 Pierce’s 1.97 ERA led the league, and in 1957 only Pierce and Jim Bunning won 20 games in the AL. Pierce tied for the league lead in complete games each year from 1956 through 1958. A seven-time All-Star, Pierce missed a chance at immortality in a June 27, 1958 game against Washington. He had allowed no baserunners through 8-2/3 innings when backup catcher Ed Fitz Gerald pinch hit. He whacked a Pierce curveball that landed fair down the right-field line, depriving Pierce of a perfect game.

Pierce concluded his career with the Giants, and it was with San Francisco’s 1962 NL pennant winners that he earned his WS decisions, including a three-hit 2-0 victory in Game Six

 

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Factoids, Quotes, Milestones and Odd Facts

Defying his small stature, southpaw Billy Pierce was one of the most effective pitchers of the 1950s. He won 155 games during that decade, ranking fourth behind Warren Spahn, Robin Roberts, and Early Wynn. Originally signed by his hometown Tigers, he was dealt to the White Sox in one of the worst deals in Detroit history. He was a seven-time All-Star, and he started the Mid-Summer Classic for the American League three times.​

Played For
Detroit Tigers (1945-1948)
Chicago White Sox (1949-1961)
San Francisco Giants (1962-1964)

Linked: Catcher Aaron Robinson, for whom he was traded from Detroit to Chicago.

All-Star Selections

Post-Season Appearances
1959 World Series
1962 World Series

All-Star Selections
1953 AL
1955 AL
1956 AL
1957 AL
1958 AL
1959 AL
1961 AL

Other Resources & Links

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Billy Pierce born?

Billy Pierce was born on April 2, 1927.

Where was Billy Pierce born?

Billy Pierce was born in Detroit, MI.

How tall was Billy Pierce?

Billy Pierce was 5-10 (178 cm) tall.

How much did Billy Pierce weigh when playing?

Billy Pierce weighed 160 lbs (72 kg) when playing.

How many seasons did Billy Pierce play?

Billy Pierce played 18 seasons.

Is Billy Pierce in the Hall of Fame?

Billy Pierce has not been elected into the Hall of Fame.

What position did Billy Pierce play?

Billy Pierce was a Pitcher.

How many strikeouts did Billy Pierce have?

Billy Pierce had 1,999 strikeouts over his career.

How many teams has Billy Pierce played for?

Billy Pierce played for 3 teams; the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants.

How many World Series has Billy Pierce won?

Billy Pierce won 1 World Series.

When did Billy Pierce retire?

Billy Pierce last played in 1964.