Howie Pollet

Howie Pollet
Howie Pollet
	Pollet, circa 1946
	Pitcher
	Born: June 26, 1921; New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
	Died: August 8, 1974 (aged 53); Houston, Texas, U.S.
	Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
	August 20, 1941, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
	September 23, 1956, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	131–116
Earned run average	3.51
Strikeouts	934
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	St. Louis Cardinals (1941–1943, 1946–1951); Pittsburgh Pirates (1951–1953); Chicago Cubs (1953–1955); Chicago White Sox (1956); Pittsburgh Pirates (1956);
Career highlights and awards
	3× All-Star (1943, 1946, 1949); 3× World Series champion (1942, 1946 1964); NL wins leader (1946); NL ERA leader (1946);

Howard Joseph Pollet (June 26, 1921 – August 8, 1974) was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and 1950s. A three-time All-Star in 1943, 1946 and 1949, he twice led the National League in earned run average (1.75 in 1943 and 2.10 in 1946).

Stellar minor league career

Born in New Orleans, Pollet signed his first professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, and it was as a Cardinal that he achieved his greatest success. In 1941, he won 20 of 23 decisions and led the Class A1 Texas League in ERA (1.16) and strikeouts (151) as a member of the Houston Buffaloes. This performance earned Pollet a promotion to the Cards that season: as a rookie, he won 5 and lost 2, with an ERA of 1.93. He missed the 1944–45 seasons while serving in the United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.^[1]

Ace left-hander for postwar Cardinals

Pollet returned to baseball in 1946, and promptly played a major role in the Redbirds' National League pennant and world title. In addition to topping the NL in earned-run average, he led the league in wins (21) (losing ten) and innings pitched (266). When the Cardinals finished in a tie for the pennant with the Brooklyn Dodgers at the close of the regular season, he was chosen by manager Eddie Dyer to start Game 1 of the best-of-three National League playoff on October 1. Pollet hurled a complete game, 4–2 victory in the opener, and the Cardinals wrapped up the league title by easily winning Game 2 behind Murry Dickson. Pollet started two games of the 1946 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, and lost his only decision, posting an ERA of 3.48 in 121⁄3 innings pitched.

In 1949 Pollet posted a 20–9 mark and led the NL in shutouts with five. That year, however, St. Louis finished second to Brooklyn by one game.

Pollet was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 15, 1951, and thereafter struggled to post a winning record. During his 14-year career, he won 131 and lost 116 (.530) with a career ERA of 3.51. As a Cardinal (1941–43; 1946–51), his record was 97–65; as a member of the Pirates, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox (1951–56), he won 34 and lost 51. Altogether, he worked in 403 Major League games pitched and 2,1071⁄3 innings pitched; he gave up 2,096 hits and 745 bases on balls with 934 strikeouts.

As a hitter, Pollet posted a .185 batting average (129-for-698) with 54 runs, 48 RBI and 55 bases on balls. Defensively, he recorded a .960 fielding percentage.

Pitching coach

Pollet returned to the field in 1959 as the Cardinals' pitching coach, serving through 1964. In his last season there, the Cards won their seventh world championship. He then moved back to his adopted city of Houston in 1965, working as the pitching coach of the Astros for one season.

Pollet was a business partner of his former manager, Dyer, in insurance, real estate and energy companies in Houston. He retired from baseball and resumed his business career after the 1965 season, and died from adenocarcinoma^[2] in Houston at age 53 in 1974.

References

^ "Baseball in Wartime – Those Who Served A to Z". baseballinwartime.com. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
^ "Too Young to Die". TheDeadBallEra.com. Retrieved November 18, 2016.

Reichler, Joseph, ed. The Baseball Encyclopedia. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1979.

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
Howie Pollet at Find a Grave

Sporting positions
Preceded by Al Hollingsworth	St. Louis Cardinals pitching coach 1959–1964	Succeeded by Joe Becker
Preceded by Cot Deal	Houston Astros pitching coach 1965	Succeeded by Gordon Jones

[1] "Baseball in Wartime – Those Who Served A to Z". baseballinwartime.com. Retrieved November 18, 2016.

[2] "Too Young to Die". TheDeadBallEra.com. Retrieved November 18, 2016.

[1]

[2]

v t e St. Louis Cardinals 1942 World Series champions
1 Whitey Kurowski 3 Jimmy Brown 4 Marty Marion 5 Ray Sanders 6 Stan Musial 7 Creepy Crespi 8 Terry Moore 9 Enos Slaughter 10 Harry Walker 12 Johnny Hopp 13 Mort Cooper (NL MVP) 14 Gus Mancuso 15 Walker Cooper 16 Ken O'Dea 17 Erv Dusak 18 Lon Warneke 19 Harry Gumbert 20 Coaker Triplett 21 Johnny Beazley 22 Murry Dickson 23 Max Lanier 24 Clyde Shoun 27 Howie Pollet 28 Ernie White 29 Howie Krist 32 Sam Narron 34 Bill Lohrman 35 Whitey Moore
Manager 30 Billy Southworth Coaches 25 Mike González 26 Buzzy Wares
Regular season

v t e St. Louis Cardinals 1946 World Series champions
1 Whitey Kurowski 2 Red Schoendienst 4 Marty Marion 5 Harry Walker 6 Stan Musial (NL MVP) 7 Nippy Jones 8 Terry Moore 9 Enos Slaughter 11 Howie Pollet 15 Dick Sisler 17 Joe Garagiola 18 Del Rice 19 Erv Dusak 20 Red Munger 22 Murry Dickson 27 Johnny Beazley 28 Ted Wilks 29 Howie Krist 31 Harry Brecheen 36 Al Brazle
Manager 30 Eddie Dyer Coaches 25 Mike González 26 Buzzy Wares
Regular season

v t e St. Louis Cardinals 1964 World Series champions
9 Bob Uecker 11 Jerry Buchek 12 Bill White 14 Ken Boyer (NL MVP) 15 Tim McCarver 17 Carl Warwick 18 Mike Shannon 19 Bob Skinner 20 Lou Brock 21 Curt Flood 22 Gordie Richardson 23 Charlie James 24 Dick Groat 25 Julián Javier 26 Ed Spiezio 27 Dal Maxvill 31 Curt Simmons 33 Barney Schultz 35 Mike Cuellar 37 Ray Sadecki 39 Ron Taylor 41 Roger Craig 44 Ray Washburn 45 Bob Gibson (World Series MVP) 47 Bob Humphreys
Manager 5 Johnny Keane Coaches 2 Red Schoendienst 3 Joe Schultz Jr. 4 Howie Pollet 8 Vern Benson
Regular season