Babe Birrer, baseball player, 1955-1958

Babe Birrer

Born: 7/4/1929 in Buffalo, NY, USA

Died: 11/19/2013 in Clarence, NY, USA

MLB Debut: 1955-06-05 | Final Game: 1958-09-24

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 195 lbs

Full name: Werner Joseph Birrer

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Biography

Babe Birrer was a professional baseball pitcher, born in 1929, who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1955 to 1958. Throughout his career, he played for a brief yet impactful span, culminating in a record of 4 wins and 3 losses. Birrer showcased his skills on the mound with an earned run average (ERA) of 4.36, reflecting the competitive nature of the game during the mid-1950s, a time when the sport was transitioning from the post-war era and beginning to embrace more dynamic styles of play. Birrer’s contributions included 45 strikeouts and 4 saves, underscoring his ability to close out games and contribute to his team's success in high-pressure situations. While his career may not have reached the heights of some of his contemporaries, Birrer's determination and talent as a pitcher left a lasting impression during his tenure in the league. His time in baseball coincided with significant changes in the sport, including the integration of players and evolving strategies, all of which influenced the landscape of the game. Birrer remains a part of baseball history, remembered for his dedication to the craft and the role he played during a pivotal time in the sport.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
4 3 56 3 1 0 4 119.7 129 58 13 37 45 4.36 0

Career ERA 4.36 vs. league average 3.94 across their career seasons — 10.7% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1955 DET AL 4 3 36 3 1 0 3 80.3 77 37 29 28 4.15 4.00 (-4%) -433.0
1956 BAL AL 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 5.3 9 4 1 1 6.75 — 0.0
1958 LAD NL 0 0 16 0 0 0 1 34.0 43 17 7 16 4.50 3.86 (-17%) -

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
56 27 3 7 2 0 2 6 0 3 6 0.259 0.333 0.556 0.889 0.0

Career AVG .259 vs. league average .258 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .333 vs. league average .329 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .556 vs. league average .395 across their career seasons — +40.6% above league average.

Career OPS 0.889 vs. league average 0.725 across their career seasons — +22.7% above league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1955 DET AL 36 19 3 3 1 0 2 6 0 2 4 0.158 — — — — 0.0
1956 BAL AL 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1958 LAD NL 16 7 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0.571 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 56 3 8 9 0 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1955 DET P 36 3 8 8 0 1
1956 BAL P 4 0 0 0 0 0
1958 LAN P 16 0 0 1 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 56