 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2015) |
| Barry Lersch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: September 7, 1944 Denver, Colorado, U.S. | |
| Died: October 4, 2009 (aged 65) Aurora, Colorado, U.S. | |
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 | |
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.
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.
- ^ 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.