Bill Bernhard

William Henry Bernhard
(Strawberry Bill)

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 205 lb.

• Debut April 24, 1899
• Final Game September 27, 1907
• Born March 16, 1871 in Clarence, NY USA
• Died March 30, 1949 in San Diego, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

“If you have a horseshoe with you out on the mound, you are going to win your game. If the other fellow has the horseshoe, he is going to win. If you both have horseshoes, it’s going to be one ripper of a fight.” - "Strawberry Bill" Bernhard, to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, August 17, 1909

Strawberry Bill Bernhard pitched nine years in the majors, winning in double figures six times. He was also a key figure in the battle between the National League and the new American League, because when he and Napoleon Lajoie jumped to the new American League, it fostered a lawsuit. Like a few Phillies teammates, he originally signed with the Philadelphia Athletics after the 1901 season, but the Phils obtained an injunction from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court banning these players from playing for a team other than the Phillies. Three players rejoined the Phillies as a result, but as the injunction only applied in Pennsylvania, Lajoie, Elmer Flick and Bernhard were allowed by the A's to join the Cleveland Bronchos, although they were still prevented from playing any road games in Philadelphia. The injunction was eventually dropped in June of 1903.

Having played amateur ball until the age of 26, Bernhard was already 28 years old when he made his major league debut. He was the first Cleveland pitcher to lead the American League in winning percentage, with a .783 mark in a split season with the A's in 1902. He also umpired a total of four games in the American League in 1903 and 1907. After his time in the majors, he pitched and managed in the minors for several more years.

His first baseball card appearance was in the 1903 E107 Breisch Williams set.

Notable Achievements

• AL Winning Percentage Leader (1902)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 5 (1900-1902, 1904 & 1906)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1904)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 5 (1900-1902, 1904 & 1906)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1904)

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1908	Nashville Volunteers	Southern Association	75-56	1st	none
1909	Nashville Volunteers	Southern Association	82-55	2nd	none
1910	Nashville Volunteers	Southern Association	64-76	5th	none
1911	Memphis Turtles	Southern Association	62-71	6th	none
1912	Memphis Chicks	Southern Association	68-71	4th	none
1913	Memphis Chicks	Southern Association	64-74	6th	none
1917	Salt Lake City Bees	Pacific Coast League	102-97	3rd	none	none

Related Sites

• Bill Bernhard at the SABR Bio Project