Bill Kirk
Encyclopedia
William Partlemore Kirk was a relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played briefly for the Kansas City Athletics
during the season. Listed at 6' 0", 165 lb., he batted and threw left-handed
.
A native of Coatesville, Pennsylvania
, Kirk spent much of his life in Lancaster
. He graduated from J. P. McCaskey in 1952. During high school, he was a gifted athlete excelling in both soccer and baseball
. Upon graduation, he was offered a scholarship to West Chester University
, but chose instead to accept a Minor league
pitching contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
Kirk signed a major league contract with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1954. That year, he registered a 12-9 record with a 3.32 ERA
for Class-D Welch Miners
. Kirk stayed with the Athletics when the team moved to Kansas City in 1955, pitching for six minor league teams before being promoted to the majors late in the 1961 season. While playing for Class-A Lancaster Red Roses
, he had pitched a no-hitter
at Stumpf Field in July of 1960.
Kirk debuted with the Athletics on September 23, 1961, facing the host Cleveland Indians
at Municipal Stadium. He gave up four runs on six hits and a walk
, while striking out
in two innings of work for a 12.00 ERA. He did not have a decision and never appeared in a major league game again.
In 1964, Kirk pitched and coached
for Class-A York White Roses
, which was the farm team for the Washington Senators
. It was his last baseball venture in a career that spanned 11 years.
Following his playing career, Kirk worked as an advertising and marketing executive. After his retirement, he served as a tipstaff at the York County Court House, Pennsylvania primarily for Judge Dorney.
Kirk died in Lititz, Pennsylvania
at the age of 75.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played briefly for the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
during the season. Listed at 6' 0", 165 lb., he batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
A native of Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Coatesville is the only city in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 13,100 at the 2010 census. Coatesville is approximately 39 miles west of Philadelphia....
, Kirk spent much of his life in Lancaster
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
. He graduated from J. P. McCaskey in 1952. During high school, he was a gifted athlete excelling in both soccer and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. Upon graduation, he was offered a scholarship to West Chester University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, about miles west of Philadelphia. It is one of the 14 state universities of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education . West Chester was ranked 69th in the Master's Universities ...
, but chose instead to accept a Minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
pitching contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
Kirk signed a major league contract with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1954. That year, he registered a 12-9 record with a 3.32 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
for Class-D Welch Miners
Welch Miners
The Welch Miners were a Minor league baseball team based in Welch, West Virginia. The team operated from 1937 through 1942 in the Mountain State League and in the Appalachian League from 1946 to 1955...
. Kirk stayed with the Athletics when the team moved to Kansas City in 1955, pitching for six minor league teams before being promoted to the majors late in the 1961 season. While playing for Class-A Lancaster Red Roses
Lancaster Red Roses
The Lancaster Red Roses baseball team, originally known as the Maroons, changed its name at the start of the 1906 season during a bitter match with the York, Pennsylvania-based White Roses. Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named for the opposing factions in England's historic Wars of...
, he had pitched a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
at Stumpf Field in July of 1960.
Kirk debuted with the Athletics on September 23, 1961, facing the host Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
at Municipal Stadium. He gave up four runs on six hits and a walk
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, while striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
in two innings of work for a 12.00 ERA. He did not have a decision and never appeared in a major league game again.
In 1964, Kirk pitched and coached
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
for Class-A York White Roses
York White Roses
The York White Roses was the name of a minor league baseball team in the city of York, Pennsylvania, USA, that existed from 1894–1969.-Early years:...
, which was the farm team for the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. It was his last baseball venture in a career that spanned 11 years.
Following his playing career, Kirk worked as an advertising and marketing executive. After his retirement, he served as a tipstaff at the York County Court House, Pennsylvania primarily for Judge Dorney.
Kirk died in Lititz, Pennsylvania
Lititz, Pennsylvania
Lititz is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 6 miles north of the city of Lancaster.-History:Lititz was founded by members of the Moravian Church in 1756, and was named after a castle in Bohemia near the village of Kunvald where the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church had...
at the age of 75.