Lefty Hoerst

Frank Joseph Hoerst

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 3", Weight 192 lb.
• School LaSalle University
• High School Northeast High School (Philadelphia)
• Debut April 26, 1940
• Final Game September 21, 1947
• Born August 11, 1917 in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died February 18, 2000 in Maple Shade, NJ USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Frank "Lefty" Hoerst was a star basketball player at LaSalle University before joining the Philadelphia Phillies in 1940. He played with the club until 1947, missing three seasons while serving in the Navy during World War II, where he served as a gunnery officer. After his playing career ended, he returned to LaSalle as their baseball coach.

An elderly Hoerst good naturedly liked to say, he would rather have lost 20 than 16 (he was 5th in losses with 16 in 1942). The reason: he would be famous.

His first major league victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates nearly caused a riot. He was known as the "Dodger Killer" in 1941 because 2 of his 3 wins were against the World Series bound Brooklyn Dodgers.

He was a standard fastball pitcher with a fair curveball who could not find the plate.

The day he was ready to go away to join the Navy, he was given a "Frank Hoerst" day. He pitched against the St. Louis Cardinals. He could not get anyone out.

On September 2, 1942, he pitched a two-hitter that he managed to lose by walking four batters in the 8th inning. The relief pitcher then managed to hit the next two batters.

Hoerst said that nobody taught him anything while he was with the Phillies except for his close friend "Losing Pitcher" Hugh Mulcahy. After leaving the majors, he spend 9 years in the minors and then went to work for a brewery. He became a basketball referee for almost 20 years in high school, college and the NBA.

Hoerst said he was the worst pitcher he ever saw. He might be right.

Related Sites

• Lefty Hoerst at the SABR Bio Project