A special Billy Pierce memory

Sox pitching great Billy Pierce died yesterday at 88. I followed Pierce's career for the last 11 of his 13 seasons with the Pale Hose (1949-1961). He was worth the price of admission, flashing a compact southpaw motion that won 211 games, including 38 shutouts, 193 complete games, 1,999 strikeouts, 4 one hitters and 7 two hitters; stats far beyond the reach of virtually every pitcher today. Opponents couldn't muster even one for four against Billy the Kid. He is one of a select few to start 3 All Star games.

There was no night home game TV back on June 27, 1958, as I tuned to Bob Elson on WCFL radio to hear another Pierce victory over the visiting Washington Senators. Staked to a 3 run lead, Pierce mowed down the first 26 DC'ers, and seemed poised for a Perfecto. The Washington manager sent utility man Ed Fitzgerald to pinch hit for the pitcher. Elson sighed as Fitz laced Pierce's first pitch just inside the right field line for a double. I was still in shock as Pierce blew 3 fast ones past Albie Pierson to end the game for one of his 211 victories.

Maybe the 16 member committee voting on Hall of Fame candidates from Baseball's Golden Era will announce Pierce's election to the Hall at baseball's winter meetings December 8. Sox fans and anyone following baseball in the 1950's put this classy hurler in their Hall of Fame decades ago.