59 Series

[longshot7]

I've been enjoying reading all the articles in the Trib about the 1959 Series - and I've done a little research on my own, but one thing I can't figure out is why Billy Pierce didn't get a start, not even once. He could've started games 2 or 3. I don't get it.

[maggsmaggs]

dunno, but he pitched 4 innings in relief giving up 0 runs

[Yossarian]

Billy Pierce and Dick Donovan were the aces of the White Sox staff between 1955 and 1958. Only Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette of the Milwaukee Braves had more wins in that time period. Unfortunately they both slumped in 1959, as Early Wynn and Bob Shaw picked up the slack. Billy actually pitched well into August and had an outside shot at another 20 game season. On August 6 Billy went 16 innings against Baltimore in a game that ended up tied 1-1 after 18 innings. Shortly afterward he went on the disabled list. In September he had his ups and downs. On September 15 he beat Ralph Terry and the Yankees in NY, but got rocked in his last two starts against Detroit. Nevertheless, he was expected to make at least one start in the WS. Al Lopez was the best White Sox manager in my lifetime, but he could be somewhat of a dicatator. He played favorites and could hold a grudge. Pierce was never a favorite of his, and he thought the world of Early Wynn. Wynn started the first game and pitched 7 innings of shutout ball but strained his shoulder. He stunk in games 4 and 6, making his last start with 2 days rest as the Sox were shellacked 9-3. There was a lot of controversy at the time, with folks wondering why Billy was kept on the shelf. Bill Gleason a prominent sportswriter and a White Sox fan (amazing ain't it?) supposedly never forgave Lopez for not starting Pierce. There were other "insider" accounts that Nellie Fox, longtime roomate of Billy also voiced his displeasure with Lopez during and after the Series. This was supposedly a reason Lopez did not campaign to have Foxie enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Billy Pierce was traded to the San Francisco Giants after the 1961 season. He is the winningest left hander in White Sox history. He led the AL in strikeouts in 1953 and the entire Major League in ERA in 1955. He tied for the AL lead in complete games in 1956 thru 58 and tied for the AL lead in wins in 1957. He was the AL starting pitcher in the 1953, 1955 and 1956 All Star games. Fortunately for Billy his career enjoyed a brief resurrection in 1962 with the Giants. He went 16-6 in the regular season and that included a shutout of Sandy Koufax in the first game of a best of three playoff with the Dodgers. In those days if teams were tied after the regular season ended they played a best of three in the NL and a one game knockoff in the AL. Those games were considered part of the regular season. Billy pitched well and lost in the third game of the 62 WS against Bill Stafford and the Yanks, and then pitched a complete game 5-2 win, allowing only 3 hits in game 6 against the great Whitey Ford. Billy Pierce was a big game pitcher. If Lopez hadn't been so bullheaded in 59 the Sox might have beaten the Dodgers.

Edited June 18, 2005 by Yossarian

[Buehrle>Wood]

Billy Pierce and Dick Donovan were the aces of the White Sox staff between 1955 and 1958. Only Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette of the Milwaukee Braves had more wins in that time period. Unfortunately they both slumped in 1959, as Early Wynn and Bob Shaw picked up the slack. Billy actually pitched well into August and had an outside shot at another 20 game season. On August 6 Billy went 16 innings against Baltimore in a game that ended up tied 1-1 after 18 innings. Shortly afterward he went on the disabled list. In September he had his ups and downs. On September 15 he beat Ralph Terry and the Yankees in NY, but got rocked in his last two starts against Detroit. Nevertheless, he was expected to make at least one start in the WS. Al Lopez was the best White Sox manager in my lifetime, but he could be somewhat of a dicatator. He played favorites and could hold a grudge. Pierce was never a favorite of his, and he thought the world of Early Wynn. Wynn started the first game and pitched 7 innings of shutout ball but strained his shoulder. He stunk in games 4 and 6, making his last start with 2 days rest as the Sox were shellacked 9-3. There was a lot of controversy at the time, with folks wondering why Billy was kept on the shelf. Bill Gleason a prominent sportswriter and a White Sox fan (amazing ain't it?) supposedly never forgave Lopez for not starting Pierce. There were other "insider" accounts that Nellie Fox, longtime roomate of Billy also voiced his displeasure with Lopez during and after the Series. This was supposedly a reason Lopez did not campaign to have Foxie enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Billy Pierce was traded to the San Francisco Giants after the 1961 season. He is the winningest left hander in White Sox history. He led the AL in strikeouts in 1953 and the entire Major League in ERA in 1955. He tied for the AL lead in complete games in 1956 thru 58 and tied for the AL lead in wins in 1957. He was the AL starting pitcher in the 1953, 1955 and 1956 All Star games. Fortunately for Billy his career enjoyed a brief resurrection in 1962 with the Giants. He went 16-6 in the regular season and that included a shutout of Sandy Koufax in the first game of a best of three playoff with the Dodgers. In those days if teams were tied after the regular season ended they played a best of three in the NL and a one game knockoff in the AL. Those games were considered part of the regular season. Billy pitched well and lost in the third game of the 62 WS against Bill Stafford and the Yanks, and then pitched a complete game 5-2 win, allowing only 3 hits in game 6 against the great Whitey Ford. Billy Pierce was a big game pitcher. If Lopez hadn't been so bullheaded in 59 the Sox might have beaten the Dodgers.

That helps A LOT.

[sayitaintso]

Billy Pierce and Dick Donovan were the aces of the White Sox staff between 1955 and 1958. Only Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette of the Milwaukee Braves had more wins in that time period. Unfortunately they both slumped in 1959, as Early Wynn and Bob Shaw picked up the slack. Billy actually pitched well into August and had an outside shot at another 20 game season. On August 6 Billy went 16 innings against Baltimore in a game that ended up tied 1-1 after 18 innings. Shortly afterward he went on the disabled list. In September he had his ups and downs. On September 15 he beat Ralph Terry and the Yankees in NY, but got rocked in his last two starts against Detroit. Nevertheless, he was expected to make at least one start in the WS. Al Lopez was the best White Sox manager in my lifetime, but he could be somewhat of a dicatator. He played favorites and could hold a grudge. Pierce was never a favorite of his, and he thought the world of Early Wynn. Wynn started the first game and pitched 7 innings of shutout ball but strained his shoulder. He stunk in games 4 and 6, making his last start with 2 days rest as the Sox were shellacked 9-3. There was a lot of controversy at the time, with folks wondering why Billy was kept on the shelf. Bill Gleason a prominent sportswriter and a White Sox fan (amazing ain't it?) supposedly never forgave Lopez for not starting Pierce. There were other "insider" accounts that Nellie Fox, longtime roomate of Billy also voiced his displeasure with Lopez during and after the Series. This was supposedly a reason Lopez did not campaign to have Foxie enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Billy Pierce was traded to the San Francisco Giants after the 1961 season. He is the winningest left hander in White Sox history. He led the AL in strikeouts in 1953 and the entire Major League in ERA in 1955. He tied for the AL lead in complete games in 1956 thru 58 and tied for the AL lead in wins in 1957. He was the AL starting pitcher in the 1953, 1955 and 1956 All Star games. Fortunately for Billy his career enjoyed a brief resurrection in 1962 with the Giants. He went 16-6 in the regular season and that included a shutout of Sandy Koufax in the first game of a best of three playoff with the Dodgers. In those days if teams were tied after the regular season ended they played a best of three in the NL and a one game knockoff in the AL. Those games were considered part of the regular season. Billy pitched well and lost in the third game of the 62 WS against Bill Stafford and the Yanks, and then pitched a complete game 5-2 win, allowing only 3 hits in game 6 against the great Whitey Ford. Billy Pierce was a big game pitcher. If Lopez hadn't been so bullheaded in 59 the Sox might have beaten the Dodgers.

Thanks for the info.

[longshot7]

Billy Pierce and Dick Donovan were the aces of the White Sox staff between 1955 and 1958. Only Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette of the Milwaukee Braves had more wins in that time period. Unfortunately they both slumped in 1959, as Early Wynn and Bob Shaw picked up the slack. Billy actually pitched well into August and had an outside shot at another 20 game season. On August 6 Billy went 16 innings against Baltimore in a game that ended up tied 1-1 after 18 innings. Shortly afterward he went on the disabled list. In September he had his ups and downs. On September 15 he beat Ralph Terry and the Yankees in NY, but got rocked in his last two starts against Detroit. Nevertheless, he was expected to make at least one start in the WS. Al Lopez was the best White Sox manager in my lifetime, but he could be somewhat of a dicatator. He played favorites and could hold a grudge. Pierce was never a favorite of his, and he thought the world of Early Wynn. Wynn started the first game and pitched 7 innings of shutout ball but strained his shoulder. He stunk in games 4 and 6, making his last start with 2 days rest as the Sox were shellacked 9-3. There was a lot of controversy at the time, with folks wondering why Billy was kept on the shelf. Bill Gleason a prominent sportswriter and a White Sox fan (amazing ain't it?) supposedly never forgave Lopez for not starting Pierce. There were other "insider" accounts that Nellie Fox, longtime roomate of Billy also voiced his displeasure with Lopez during and after the Series. This was supposedly a reason Lopez did not campaign to have Foxie enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Billy Pierce was traded to the San Francisco Giants after the 1961 season. He is the winningest left hander in White Sox history. He led the AL in strikeouts in 1953 and the entire Major League in ERA in 1955. He tied for the AL lead in complete games in 1956 thru 58 and tied for the AL lead in wins in 1957. He was the AL starting pitcher in the 1953, 1955 and 1956 All Star games. Fortunately for Billy his career enjoyed a brief resurrection in 1962 with the Giants. He went 16-6 in the regular season and that included a shutout of Sandy Koufax in the first game of a best of three playoff with the Dodgers. In those days if teams were tied after the regular season ended they played a best of three in the NL and a one game knockoff in the AL. Those games were considered part of the regular season. Billy pitched well and lost in the third game of the 62 WS against Bill Stafford and the Yanks, and then pitched a complete game 5-2 win, allowing only 3 hits in game 6 against the great Whitey Ford. Billy Pierce was a big game pitcher. If Lopez hadn't been so bullheaded in 59 the Sox might have beaten the Dodgers.

 

 

awesome stuff. Yeah, it blows my mind - as amazing as Pierce was over his career, even though he had a down year, he didn't get one start in the WS. He had better numbers than Donovan, and starting Wynn on two days rest is unforgivable. Oh well.