Les Mueller

Leslie Clyde Mueller

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 190 lb.
• High School Belleville Township High School
• Debut August 15, 1941
• Final Game September 23, 1945
• Born March 4, 1919 in Belleville, IL USA
• Died October 25, 2012 in Belleville, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Les Mueller was part of the Detroit Tigers' World Series-winning team in 1945. A hard thrower whose pitch was his fastball, he made his major league debut in Tigers, then joined the military during World War II the following season, not returning to the majors until 1945. That year, he went 6-8, 3.78 in 30 games. He is best remembered for the game of July 21st against the Philadelphia Athletics, when he pitched 19 2/3 innings before giving way to Dizzy Trout. He allowed only an unearned run on 13 hits that day, but the game was called a 1-1 tie after 24 innings. It was the longest stint on the mound for a major league pitcher since George Uhle had pitched 20 innings for the Tigers in 1920, and has not been topped since.

Mueller only pitched once against the Chicago Cubs in the 1945 World Series, throwing the final two innings in relief in Game 1 on October 3rd. He did not allow any hits or runs, but the Tigers were already trailing 9-0 by the time he entered the game, and that was the final score. The Tigers won the Series in 7 games, giving him a World Series ring. With many veterans returning from the war in 1946, he was sent to the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, where he was 10-8, 5.04 in 23 games. He pitched in the minors until 1948, but never made it back to The Show, so his lone appearance in the Fall Classic was in fact his last as major leaguer.

After retiring from baseball, he returned to his home town of Belleville, IL, where he ran a furniture store with his brother, and later with his son. The store was still in existence in the 21st century, under the stewardship of Mueller's grandson. He also served as a city alderman and continued to play semi-pro baseball for years. He was instrumental in setting up a local baseball complex, known as the "Whitey Herzog baseball field". He died in 2012 at age 93 on a day the Tigers were back in the Fall Classic, playing the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 World Series.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the Detroit Tigers in 1945

Related Sites

• Les Mueller at the SABR Bio Project
• Obituary