User:RenamedUser jaskldjslak901/Dickie Kerr

Richard Henry "Dickie" Kerr (July 3, 1893 - May 4, 1963) was an American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played four seasons for the Chicago White Sox from 1919-1925. Kerr is best known for being the only "clean" starting pitcher for the White Sox in the 1919 World Series.

Kerr broke into organized baseball at the age of 19 with the Paris team in a Class D League in 1913. He moved up the minor league hierarchy, being rejected by several Major League teams for being too small. After pitching the 1918 season with the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association White Sox owner Charles Comiskey bought his contract.

As a rookie, he won 13 games and a earned run average of 2.88. After Red Faber became injured prior to the start of the 1919 World Series, Kerr became manager Kid Gleason selection as the third pitcher behind Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Williams. He won both his starts in the 1919 World Series, which would lead to the permanent suspensions of Cicotte, Williams, and six other teammates in the Black Sox Scandal.

Kerr would win 21 games during the 1920 season. In 1921, he went 19-17 and led the league in giving up 357 hits in 308 2/3 innings pitched. After the season, he was suspended from organized baseball for playing exhibition games against former Black Sox players. Kerr attempted a comeback in 1925, pitching in 12 games and compiling a record of 0-1 in 36 2/3 innings, mostly out of the bullpen. In later years he scouted and managed minor league teams, and was the person who convinced Stan Musial to focus on hitting.

Playing Career
Kerr earned a little less than $3,000 in his first season with Chicago. The White Sox that season was split into two groups. An "educated side" led by college graduate and second baseman Eddie Collins and a "less educated side" led by first baseman Chick Gandil. Kerr was part of Collins group. Both sides rarely spoke and there was very little cooperation with each other.

1920 - 1921
Kerr won 20 games in 1920.

In 1921, the White Sox, removed from all its starts fell from second place in the division to seventh. Kerr still won 19 games.

Kerr finished his Major League Baseball career with a record of 53 wins against 34 losses for a winning percentage of .609. His career ERA over three-plus seasons was 3.84.

Later Career
Kerr managed the Daytona Beach Islanders a Class-D League in the St. Louis Cardinals. During his tenure there, Kerr encountered a young prospect by the name of Stan Musial. He convinced the 19 year old Musial, a sore-armed pitcher to convert to the outfield and to focus on his hitting. Musial later named his first son Richard after Kerr. Musial gave a house to Kerr for a birthday present in 1958. Kerr died of cancer in Houston home, two months shy of his 70th birthday.