Bud Byerly

Eldred William Byerly

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2½", Weight 185 lb.
• High School Webster Groves High School
• Debut September 26, 1943
• Final Game July 21, 1960
• Born October 26, 1919 in Webster Groves, MO USA
• Died January 26, 2012 in St. Louis, MO USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"I don't know if he was a flame-thrower or not early in his career before he came to Washington. But he knew how to pitch. He always said he threw a 'dry spitter'... I'd never heard of a 'dry spitter.'" - Whitey Herzog, remembering Bud to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 2012

Right-hander Bud Byerly had only a 9-21 record for the Sacramento Solons in the Pacific Coast League in 1943 despite an excellent 2.49 ERA. The St. Louis Cardinals purchased his contract and brought him up for a couple of late starts that season. Thus began an 18-year shuttle between the big leagues and the minors for the native of Webster Groves, MO. He divided his time between the St. Louis Cardinals and Rochester Red Wings of the International League the next season; he was on the Cardinals' World Series roster in 1944 working an inning of scoreless relief against the St. Louis Browns.

Bud was with the Cincinnati Reds from 1950 through 1952, appearing in 40 games out of the bullpen in 1951. After a few years in the American Association with the Minneapolis Millers and the Louisville Colonels, he had his busiest season, appearing in 47 games with a record of 6-6 with 6 saves for the Washington Senators in 1957. After dividing the 1958 season between the Senators and the Boston Red Sox, he was with the San Francisco Giants in 1959-1960. Byerly finished his major league career with eleven years of service, a 22-22 record in 237 games and 492 innings, 14 saves and a 3.70 ERA.

Bud started in pro ball in 1940 and signed out in 1962. He tossed 502 minor league games, going 140-149 over 2,330 innings, allowing 2,299 hits and 830 walks with a 3.56 ERA. In 1962, his last year in pro ball, he managed the Eugene Emeralds of the Class B Northwest League to a sixth-place finish at 63-78 (.447), 15.5 games back.

Byerly, who worked in construction after his playing days, retired and moved to St. Louis. He died on January 26, 2012.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1944

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Playoffs	Notes
1962	Eugene Emeralds	Northwest League	63-78	6th

Sources

Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Third Edition

Related Sites

• Bud Byerly at the SABR Bio Project
• From The World Series To Crestwood
• Musial teammate Bud Byerly dies; pitched in '44 Series