Babe Birrer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Babe Birrer |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: July 4, 1928 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
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| Died: November 19, 2013 (aged 85) Clarence, New York, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 5, 1955, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 24, 1958, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 4–3 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.36 | ||
| Strikeouts | 45 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Werner Joseph Birrer (born July 4, 1928 – died November 19, 2013), known as Babe Birrer, was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born in Buffalo, New York. Babe Birrer was known for his strong right arm, both for pitching and for hitting!
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Babe Birrer's Baseball Career
Babe Birrer played for three different teams in Major League Baseball between 1955 and 1958. He pitched for the Detroit Tigers, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Pitching in the MLB
During his time in the MLB, Babe Birrer played in 56 games as a pitcher. He won 4 games and lost 3. His earned run average (ERA) was 4.36, which measures how many runs a pitcher gives up per game. He also had 28 strikeouts.
A Memorable Game
One of Babe Birrer's most exciting moments happened on July 19, 1955. While pitching for the Detroit Tigers against the Baltimore Orioles, he did something amazing. He hit two three-run home runs in the same game! This means he hit two balls out of the park, each bringing in three runs for his team. On top of that, he pitched four innings without giving up any runs, helping his team win 12–4.
Minor League and International Play
Before and after his time in the MLB, Babe Birrer had a very long career in the minor leagues. He played for 18 years, from 1947 to 1966. He was especially well-known for playing with the Buffalo Bisons, a team from his hometown.
No-Hitter in the Minor Leagues
In 1957, while playing for the Triple-A Los Angeles Angels, Babe Birrer pitched a no-hitter. This is a very rare and impressive achievement where a pitcher completes an entire game without allowing any opposing player to get a hit.
Playing in Venezuela
Babe Birrer also played baseball in the Venezuelan League for five seasons. He was a star player there and even played in the Caribbean Series, which is a big tournament for teams from different countries. In the 1959 Caribbean Series, he was named to the All-Star team. He even set a record for pitching 13 innings in a single game, which is still a record today!
Later Life
Babe Birrer passed away in 2013 at the age of 85 in Clarence, New York. He is remembered for his unique career as both a pitcher and a hitter.
See also
- 1957 Caribbean Series
- 1959 Caribbean Series
