Bill Sherdel

William Henry Sherdel (August 15, 1896 – November 14, 1968) was an American professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher over parts of fifteen seasons (1918–1932) with the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Braves. For his career, he compiled a 165–146 record in 514 appearances, with a 3.72 earned run average and 839 strikeouts.

In Cardinals franchise history, Sherdel ranks fourth all-time in wins (153), third in games pitched (465), fourth in innings pitched (2450.2), fifth in games started (242), eighth in complete games (144), fourth in losses (131), fifth in hit batsmen (51), and eighth in games finished (152).

Formative years
Sherdel was born in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania on August 15, 1896.

Career
Sherdel's 153 wins are the most ever for a Cardinals left-hander. Sherdel achieved the unusual distinction of giving up at least ten runs in three consecutive starts during the 1929 season – ten runs on June 29, thirteen runs on July 3 and ten runs on July 6.

Sherdel was a member of two National League pennant-winning Cardinals teams, in 1926 and 1928, winning the World Series in 1926. He faced the New York Yankees both times. During World Series play, he compiled a 0–4 record in four appearances, with a 3.26 earned run average and six strikeouts.

Sherdel was an above-average hitting pitcher during his fifteen-year major league career. He posted a .223 batting average (214-for-960) scoring ninety-six runs, with thirty-five doubles, five triples, nine home runs, eighty-six RBI and drawing sixty-three bases on balls.

He was used as a pinch hitter and played a few games at both right field and first base.

Death
Sherdel died in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 72.