Babe Birrer

Werner Joseph Birrer

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 195 lb.
• School State University of New York at Buffalo
• High School Kensington High School
• Debut June 5, 1955
• Final Game September 24, 1958
• Born July 4, 1929 in Buffalo, NY USA
• Died November 19, 2013 in Clarence, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

On July 19, 1955, Babe Birrer pitched four shutout innings in relief for the Detroit Tigers. He also went 2 for 2 at the plate, hitting two three-run homers off George Zuverink and Art Schallock of the Baltimore Orioles. He received the moniker "Babe" as a result of that game. The two homers and six RBI constitute his career totals in those statistics. He is perhaps the only man in the history of Major League Baseball who played more than one year to have achieved his entire lifetime home run and RBI totals in one game.

It is not surprising, though, that when he was put on waivers in 1956, he was quickly selected - by Baltimore. For the great majority of his 20 years in professional baseball, Birrer would languish in the minor leagues until his retirement in 1966. True, but funny story from "Babe" Birrer. He was traded from Vancouver Triple A, an affiliate of the Orioles, in 1957 to the Brooklyn Dodgers' Triple A affiliate and threw a no-hitter against his old manager, Charlie Metro of Vancouver. Babe also gave up one of Mickey Mantle's three longest home runs. He pitched for Caracas during the winter of 1956-57. He played in the minors for Montreal and Buffalo, among others.

Related Sites

• Obituary