Lefty Hoerst, baseball player, 1940-1947

Lefty Hoerst

Born: 8/11/1917 in Philadelphia, PA, USA

Died: 2/18/2000 in Maple Shade, NJ, USA

MLB Debut: 1940-04-26 | Final Game: 1947-09-21

Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 6'3" | Weight: 192 lbs

Full name: Frank Joseph Hoerst

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Biography

Lefty Hoerst was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1940 to 1947. Born in 1917, he made his debut during a transitional period in the game, just before the United States entered World War II. Hoerst's career spanned the early years of the war, a time when many players were called to serve, impacting the composition of major league rosters. Despite the challenges of the era, he took to the mound showcasing his left-handed pitching style, which was often favored for its unique angle and movement. Throughout his career, Hoerst compiled a win-loss record of 10-33, with an earned run average (ERA) of 5.17. He struck out 105 batters and recorded 1 save, reflecting his role as a reliable option in the bullpen and as a starter. Although his statistical achievements may not place him among the most celebrated pitchers of his time, Hoerst's contributions during a challenging era for baseball highlight the dedication and resilience of players who continued to compete amidst the backdrop of global conflict. He retired from the game on September 21, 1947, leaving behind a legacy as a part of the fabric of baseball history during a pivotal moment.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
10 33 98 41 8 0 1 348.0 381 200 24 175 105 5.17 0

Career ERA 5.17 vs. league average 3.86 across their career seasons — 34.2% 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
1940 PHI NL 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 12.0 12 7 8 3 5.25 4.21 (-25%) -413.1
1941 PHI NL 3 10 37 11 1 0 0 105.7 111 61 50 33 5.20 3.94 (-32%) -1494.5
1942 PHI NL 4 16 33 22 5 0 1 150.7 162 87 78 52 5.20 3.57 (-46%) -3268.6
1946 PHI NL 1 6 18 7 2 0 0 68.3 77 35 36 17 4.61 3.59 (-28%) -1531.3
1947 PHI NL 1 1 4 1 0 0 0 11.3 19 10 3 0 7.94 3.97 (-100%) -189.0

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
98 91 2 14 1 0 0 0 0 6 22 0.154 0.206 0.165 0.371 0.0

Career AVG .154 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — 40.9% below league average.

Career OBP .206 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — 37.8% below league average.

Career SLG .165 vs. league average .369 across their career seasons — 55.3% below league average.

Career OPS 0.371 vs. league average 0.700 across their career seasons — 47.0% below 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
1940 PHI NL 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 — — — — 0.0
1941 PHI NL 37 22 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 0.182 — — — — 0.0
1942 PHI NL 33 46 1 7 1 0 0 0 0 3 8 0.152 — — — — 0.0
1946 PHI NL 18 17 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0.059 — — — — 0.0
1947 PHI NL 4 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0.500 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 98 0 22 90 6 5

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1940 PHI P 6 0 1 6 0 1
1941 PHI P 37 0 3 33 4 2
1942 PHI P 33 0 11 40 2 2
1946 PHI P 18 0 5 9 0 0
1947 PHI P 4 0 2 2 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 98