Billy Loes
Encyclopedia
William Loes was an American
right-handed pitcher
who spent eleven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB)
with the Brooklyn Dodgers
(1950, 1952–1956), Baltimore Orioles
(1956–1959) and San Francisco Giants
(1960–1961). He appeared in three World Series
with the Dodgers, including the only one won by the franchise
when it was based in Brooklyn
in 1955
.
In an 11-season career, Loes posted an 80-63 record with 645 strikeout
s and a 3.89 ERA
in 1190.1 innings pitched
. He made the American League All-Star
team in 1957.
The book Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings
(2004) includes short stories from former Dodger pitcher and teammate Carl Erskine
. Loes is prominent in many of these stories.
Among Major League Baseball's video archives is a television broadcast of the sixth game of the 1952 World Series, of which Loes was one of the starting pitchers. During the game, announcer Red Barber
states that Loes was the son of Greek immigrants who had changed his last name. Further, says Barber, Loes would not tell Barber what his original last name was because, according to Loes, Barber would be unable to pronounce, spell or remember that name.
Loes holds a unique distinction, having witnessed, as a player involved in the game, four players hitting four home runs in a game. When Brooklyn's Gil Hodges
hit four home runs in a game in 1950 he had just been called up to the Dodgers; when the Braves' Joe Adcock
hit four against Brooklyn in 1954, Loes was still with the Dodgers; when Cleveland's Rocky Colavito
hit four against Baltimore in 1959, Loes was with the Orioles; and when Willie Mays
hit four home runs in 1961 against the Braves, Loes was a teammate on the Giants.
Loes also famously said that he didn't want to be a 20-game winner, "because then I'd be expected to do it every year."http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00EFDC1030F93BA15750C0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 His career high in wins came in 1953, when he went 14-8 for the pennant-winning Dodgers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who spent eleven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB)
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...
with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1950, 1952–1956), Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1956–1959) and San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1960–1961). He appeared in three World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
with the Dodgers, including the only one won by the franchise
Professional sports league organization
Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...
when it was based in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in 1955
1955 World Series
The 1955 World Series matched the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees, with the Dodgers winning the Series in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It would be the only Series the Dodgers won in Brooklyn . The last time the Brooklyn franchise won a World...
.
In an 11-season career, Loes posted an 80-63 record with 645 strikeout
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....
s and a 3.89 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...
in 1190.1 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He made the American League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team in 1957.
The book Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings
Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings
Carl Erskine's Tales from the Dodgers Dugout: Extra Innings is a book by former Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Carl Erskine. It is a compilation of short stories about life in the glory days of Major League Baseball. The forward was penned by Hall of Fame announcer Vin...
(2004) includes short stories from former Dodger pitcher and teammate Carl Erskine
Carl Erskine
Carl Daniel Erskine is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodgers from 1948 through 1959...
. Loes is prominent in many of these stories.
Among Major League Baseball's video archives is a television broadcast of the sixth game of the 1952 World Series, of which Loes was one of the starting pitchers. During the game, announcer Red Barber
Red Barber
Walter Lanier "Red" Barber was an American sportscaster.Barber, nicknamed "The Ol' Redhead", was primarily identified with radio broadcasts of Major League Baseball, calling play-by-play across four decades with the Cincinnati Reds , Brooklyn Dodgers , and New York Yankees...
states that Loes was the son of Greek immigrants who had changed his last name. Further, says Barber, Loes would not tell Barber what his original last name was because, according to Loes, Barber would be unable to pronounce, spell or remember that name.
Loes holds a unique distinction, having witnessed, as a player involved in the game, four players hitting four home runs in a game. When Brooklyn's Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges
Gilbert Ray Hodges was an American Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played in 1943 and from 1947–63, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
hit four home runs in a game in 1950 he had just been called up to the Dodgers; when the Braves' Joe Adcock
Joe Adcock
Joseph Wilbur "Billy Joe" Adcock was an American first baseman and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball, best known for his years with the powerful Milwaukee Braves teams of the 1950s, whose career included numerous home run feats...
hit four against Brooklyn in 1954, Loes was still with the Dodgers; when Cleveland's Rocky Colavito
Rocky Colavito
Rocco Domenico "Rocky" Colavito, Jr. is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Cleveland Indians. He wore a #6, #7 or #21 jersey during his MLB career...
hit four against Baltimore in 1959, Loes was with the Orioles; and when Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
hit four home runs in 1961 against the Braves, Loes was a teammate on the Giants.
Loes also famously said that he didn't want to be a 20-game winner, "because then I'd be expected to do it every year."http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00EFDC1030F93BA15750C0A96F958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 His career high in wins came in 1953, when he went 14-8 for the pennant-winning Dodgers.
External links
- Baseball Almanac - Player page
- Baseball Reference - Career statistics
- Goldstein, Richard. "Billy Loes, Quirky Pitcher for Dodgers, Dies at 80," The New York Times, Wednesday, July 28, 2010.
- Madden, Bill. "Anecdotes abound of late, eccentric Brooklyn Dodgers righty Billy Loes, who passed away in July," Daily News (New York), Sunday, August 1, 2010.