Lloyd Merritt
From BR Bullpen
Lloyd Wesley Merritt
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 189 lb.
- School Washington University in Saint Louis
- Debut April 22, 1957
- Final Game September 28, 1957
- Born April 8, 1933 in St. Louis, MO USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Eighteen year old Lloyd Merritt was signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Yankees before the 1951 season. He was farmed out to the Joplin Miners of the Western Association for his first go-a-round and went 5-5 with a 4.37 ERA. The 6' 0" right-hander would stay in the same ball park for the '52 season, improving to a 11-7 mark with a 3.34 ERA. Lloyd had agreat season in 1953 with the Norfolk Tars of the Piedmont League going 20-5 with a 2.44 ERA while pitching 225 innings. His 20 victories were the best in the league and helped the Tars win the not only the pennant but also the league playoffs, and put Lloyd on the All-Star team.
Meritt was at 4-2 in 17 appearances in 1954 when the United States Military called him for service during the Korean War and he would remain their until 1956, arriving back in time to get go 1-3 for the Birmingham Barons of the Southern Association. As luck goes on December 3, 1956 he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Yankees in the Rule V Draft. Lloyd was a St. Louis native, having graduated from the University of Missouri and he spent one busy season working out of the bullpen for his home-town Cardinals in 1957 in which he had a record of 1-2 with a 3.31 ERA, plus seven saves in 44 appearances. This would be Merritt's only shot at the major leagues.
Lloyd would come back strong in 1958 going 10-4 with a 3.91 ERA for the Houston Buffaloes of the Texas League but tailed off in 1959 to a 3-7 record with three clubs and in 1960 he went 4-4 with two teams and ended his active playing career in the minors with a 58-37 record and a 3.52 ERA while appearing in 290 games. Merritt stayed in the game for several years as a minor league pitching instructor and managed in the minors for the Cardinals for four seasons from (1982-85). He built a cumulative record of 269-297 over the four year span. Merritt has also scouted for the Philadelphia Phillies (1994-2002) and the Atlanta Braves (2007-2008).
In between baseball Lloyd also worked in sales for the Greenville Tube Company in Pittsburgh and as of last notice he resides in Bowling Green, KY.
[edit] Sources
[edit] Year-by-Year Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Gastonia Cardinals | South Atlantic League | 54-89 | 9th | St. Louis Cardinals | |
| 1983 | Macon Redbirds | South Atlantic League | 71-73 | 6th | St. Louis Cardinals | |
| 1984 | Savannah Cardinals | South Atlantic League | 78-61 | 2nd | St. Louis Cardinals | Lost in 1st round |
| 1985 | Springfield (IL) Cardinals | Midwest League | 66-74 | 8th (t) | St. Louis Cardinals |
