Books and articles about Joe Hoerner

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A clubhouse prankster and top short reliever, Hoerner blossomed after a weak heart forced him to switch to a less taxing sidearm delivery. His highest ERA in the years 1966-71 was 2.89. He recorded career bests of 17 saves and a 1.47 ERA for the Cardinals in 1968; on June 1, he tied a NL record for consecutive strikeouts by a relief pitcher, with six. In 1969 Hoerner was involved in the celebrated Curt Flood trade. Though Flood did not report to the Phillies, Hoerner did, and led the NL with nine relief wins in 1970. He retired with 99 career saves, and Hank Aaron never got a hit off him in 22 career at-bats. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 27, 1963: Using a lineup of nine rookies the Colt 45s lose 10–3 to the Mets. The lineup includes P Jay Dahl, 17 (debut); C Jerry Grote, 20; 1B Rusty Staub, 19; 2B Joe Morgan, 20; 3B Glenn Vaughan, 19; SS Sonny Jackson, 19 (debut); and outfielders Brock Davis, 19, Aaron Pointer, 21, and Jim Wynn, 21. Dahl loses his only ML game at 17 and will die in an auto accident at 19. Houston 2B Joe Morgan will play 22 years, and 1B Rusty Staub, 23. Aaron Pointer singles for his only hit this year: his sisters will do better with a top-10 hit of "Fire," by Bruce Springsteen. Joe Hoerner and Danny Coombs follow Dahl to the mound in their ML debuts. 20-year-old P Larry Yellen debuted yesterday and 18-year-old OF Ivan Murrell debuts tomorrow. » June 1, 1968: The Cards edge the Mets, 6–5, with the win going to reliever Joe Hoerner. Hoerner ties the National League record for relievers with six consecutive strikeouts. » October 7, 1968: Mickey Lolich saves Detroit, 5–3 with an unlikely assist from Lou Brock. On 2B in the 5th, Brock tries to score standing up on Julian Javier's single and is gunned down by Willie Horton's throw. Al Kaline's bases-loaded single off Joe Hoerner in the 7th scores two for the winning margin. Jose Feliciano's modern rendition of the National Anthem before the game stirs controversy. » October 7, 1969: The Cards trade outfielders Curt Flood and Byron Browne, P Joe Hoerner, and C Tim McCarver to Philadelphia for 1B Richie Allen, 2B Cookie Rojas, and P Jerry Johnson. » June 6, 1971: Willie Mays strokes a 12th-inning home run off Joe Hoerner of the Phillies in the 2nd game of a doubleheader, his 22nd—and last—career extra-inning belt, a ML mark. The Giants win, 4–3, after losing the opener to Rick Wise, 1–0. It's the first shutout over the giants this year. » June 27, 1977: The Giants Willie McCovey smashes two home runs, one a grand slam, in the 6th inning to pace a 14–9 victory over the Reds. McCovey becomes the first player to twice hit two home runs in one inning (4/12/73), and also becomes the all-time National League leader with 17 career grand slams. Andre Dawson, in 1978 and 1986, will clout two round trippers in an inning. Reliever Joe Hoerner helps as he enters the 6th with two outs, the sacks full, and the Reds holding a 7–6 lead. He hits two batters, then serves up the slam to McCovey.