White Sox legend Billy Pierce dies at 88

(AP) Billy Pierce, a seven-time All-Star pitcher who spent the prime of his career with Chicago White Sox, died Friday morning at the age of 88 after a battle with gallbladder cancer.

Pierce spent 18 season in the majors, debuting with the Detroit Tigers on June 1, 1945. He appeared in five games for Detroit that season and 22 games in 1948 before being dealt to the White Sox following season. That’s when Pierce’s career would begin to flourish.

In 13 seasons with Chicago, Pierce made at least 32 starts and posted an ERA under 4.00 every year. During that stretch, Pierce was named starting pitcher for the American League All-Star three times, including 1955 when he posted a career-best 1.97 ERA and league best 200 ERA+. He also appeared in one World Series for Chicago while accumulating 186 of his 211 career victories.

Pierce’s uniform No. 19 was retired by the White Sox in 1987. The team has also honored him with a statue on the outfield concourse at U.S. Cellular Field.

“Generations of White Sox fans lost one of their heroes today,” White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said. “It was an absolute privilege to consider Billy a friend. He epitomized class, not just as a ballplayer on those great Go-Go White Sox teams of the 1950s, but as a gentleman and as a human being who devoted so much of his life to helping others.”

The dominant lefty spent the final three seasons of his career with the San Francisco Giants, appearing in one more World Series in 1962. But his legacy was cemented on the south side of Chicago, along with another legend who was lost this year, Minnie Minoso.

“Another tough day. Another big loss for the White Sox family,” said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn. “Not just for his place in many White Sox fans memory as an outstanding and iconic ballplayer, but for the type of person he was and the class and the way he carried himself and the way he treated people. He’s definitely going to be missed around the ballpark.”

Pierce’s name is all over the White Sox all-time leaderboard. He ranked first in strikeouts with 1,796, third in career starts with 390 and fourth in innings pitched at 2,931.0. According to MLB.com Pierce threw four one-hitters and seven two-hitters in his career, while coming within one out of a no-hitter on June 27, 1958.

Billy Pierce was simply one of the best to ever don a White Sox uniform, and perhaps one of the most underrated on a national scale. He will definitely be missed.

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