Bud Byerly
From BR Bullpen
Eldred William Byerly
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2½", Weight 185 lb.
- Debut September 26, 1943
- Final Game July 21, 1960
- Born October 26, 1920 in Webster Groves, MO USA
- Died January 26, 2012 in St. Louis, MO USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Twenty-two year old right-hander Bud Byerly had only a 9-21 record for the Sacramento Solons in the Pacific Coast League in 1943 despite an excellent 2.49 ERA. The St. Louis Cardinals purchased his contract and brought him up for a couple of late starts that season.
This was the beginning of an 18-year shuttle between the big leagues and the minors for the native of Webster Groves, MO. He divided his time between the St. Louis Cardinals and Rochester Red Wings of the International League; he was on the Cardinals' World Series roster in 1944 working an inning of scoreless relief against the St. Louis Browns.
Bud was with the Cincinnati Reds from 1950 through 1952, appearing in 40 games out of the bullpen in '51. After a few years in the American Association with the Minneapolis Millers and the Louisville Colonels, he had his busiest season appearing in 47 games with a record of 6-6 plus six saves for the 1957 Washington Senators.
After dividing the 1958 season between the Senators and the Boston Red Sox, he was with the San Francisco Giants in 1959-1960. Byerly finished his major league career with eleven years of service and wound up winning 22 and losing 22, appearing in 237 games, pitching 492 innings, saving 14 and ending up with a 3.70 ERA.
Bud started out in pro ball in 1940 and signed out in 1962. His minor league numbers show he appeared in 502 games, winning 140 and losing 149, pitching 2,330 innings, giving up 2,299 base hits and 830 base on balls for a 3.56 ERA.
In 1962, Byerly's last year in pro ball, he managed the Eugene Emeralds of the class B Northwest League to a sixth-place finish with a 63 and 78 record a .447 percentage, 15.5 games back.
Byerly, who worked in construction after his playing days, as of this date (November 2008) is now retired in St. Louis.
[edit] Notable Achievement
- Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1944
[edit] Sources
Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Third Edition
