Bill Sherdel was born on Saturday, August 15, 1896, in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania. Sherdel was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 22, 1918, with the St. Louis Cardinals. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Bill Sherdel baseball stats page.
"I depend on a slow ball, control, knowledge of batters, and nerve to win my games in the National League. All of them are indispensable to a man who wants to be considered a money pitcher." - Sherdel, Bill. Wee Willie Sherdel: The Cardinals' Winningest Left-Hander. Coulson, John G. Author. Friesen Press Publishing. 11 June 2018. Page 259.
Bill Sherdel |
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Biographical Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bill SherdelBill Sherdel Pitching Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
1918 | 22 | Cardinals | 35 | 16 | 14 | 6 | 12 | .333 | 2.71 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 182.1 | 744 | 174 | 55 | 78 | 3 | 49 | 5 | 40 | 0 | 3 | 1 | - |
1919 | 23 | Cardinals | 36 | 10 | 16 | 5 | 9 | .357 | 3.47 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 137.1 | 567 | 137 | 53 | 66 | 3 | 42 | 1 | 52 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - |
1920 | 24 | Cardinals | 43 | 7 | 28 | 11 | 10 | .524 | 3.28 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 170.0 | 697 | 183 | 62 | 72 | 1 | 40 | 1 | 74 | 1 | 11 | 0 | - |
1921 | 25 | Cardinals | 38 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 8 | .529 | 3.18 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 144.1 | 611 | 137 | 51 | 62 | 7 | 38 | 3 | 57 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - |
1922 | 26 | Cardinals | 47 | 31 | 11 | 17 | 13 | .567 | 3.87 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 242.0 | 1,085 | 298 | 104 | 132 | 12 | 62 | 3 | 79 | 1 | 5 | 0 | - |
1923 | 27 | Cardinals | 39 | 26 | 9 | 15 | 13 | .536 | 4.32 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 225.0 | 999 | 270 | 108 | 127 | 15 | 59 | 3 | 78 | 4 | 6 | 1 | - |
1924 | 28 | Cardinals | 35 | 10 | 20 | 8 | 9 | .471 | 3.42 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 168.2 | 710 | 188 | 64 | 77 | 9 | 38 | 9 | 57 | 1 | 5 | 0 | - |
1925 | 29 | Cardinals | 32 | 21 | 9 | 15 | 6 | .714 | 3.11 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 200.0 | 837 | 216 | 69 | 77 | 8 | 42 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - |
1926 | 30 | Cardinals | 34 | 29 | 2 | 16 | 12 | .571 | 3.49 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 234.2 | 992 | 255 | 91 | 103 | 15 | 49 | 1 | 59 | 0 | 5 | 0 | - |
1927 | 31 | Cardinals | 39 | 28 | 9 | 17 | 12 | .586 | 3.53 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 232.1 | 971 | 241 | 91 | 109 | 17 | 48 | 5 | 59 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - |
1928 | 32 | Cardinals | 38 | 27 | 10 | 21 | 10 | .677 | 2.86 | 20 | 0 | 5 | 248.2 | 1,041 | 251 | 79 | 96 | 17 | 56 | 1 | 72 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - |
1929 | 33 | Cardinals | 33 | 22 | 6 | 10 | 15 | .400 | 5.93 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 195.2 | 910 | 278 | 129 | 144 | 14 | 58 | 4 | 69 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - |
1930 | 34 | Cardinals | 13 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | .600 | 4.64 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 64.0 | 284 | 86 | 33 | 34 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - |
1930 | 34 | Braves | 21 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 5 | .545 | 4.75 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 119.1 | 518 | 131 | 63 | 73 | 10 | 30 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - |
1931 | 35 | Braves | 27 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 10 | .375 | 4.25 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 137.2 | 604 | 163 | 65 | 70 | 13 | 35 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - |
1932 | 36 | Braves | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
1932 | 36 | Cardinals | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 4.76 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.2 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD | ||
15 Years | 514 | 272 | 163 | 165 | 146 | .531 | 3.72 | 159 | 11 | 26 | 2,709.1 | 11,604 | 3,018 | 1,120 | 1,326 | 149 | 661 | 40 | 839 | 26 | 54 | 3 | - |
Bill SherdelBill Sherdel Hitting Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
1918 | 22 | Cardinals | 35 | 62 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .242 | .266 | .371 |
1919 | 23 | Cardinals | 40 | 48 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .271 | .300 | .313 |
1920 | 24 | Cardinals | 49 | 63 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .222 | .258 | .317 |
1921 | 25 | Cardinals | 39 | 44 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .114 | .188 | .114 |
1922 | 26 | Cardinals | 48 | 88 | 11 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .193 | .211 | .273 |
1923 | 27 | Cardinals | 45 | 83 | 13 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .337 | .389 | .398 |
1924 | 28 | Cardinals | 49 | 75 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .318 | .253 |
1925 | 29 | Cardinals | 33 | 73 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .205 | .256 | .315 |
1926 | 30 | Cardinals | 36 | 90 | 9 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .244 | .253 | .356 |
1927 | 31 | Cardinals | 39 | 72 | 9 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .194 | .266 | .264 |
1928 | 32 | Cardinals | 38 | 84 | 10 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .226 | .293 | .321 |
1929 | 33 | Cardinals | 33 | 70 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .229 | .250 | .314 |
1930 | 34 | Cardinals | 13 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .105 | .227 | .105 |
1930 | 34 | Braves | 21 | 42 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .095 | .136 | .119 |
1931 | 35 | Braves | 27 | 46 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .304 | .347 | .326 |
1932 | 36 | Braves | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
1932 | 36 | Cardinals | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 2.000 |
Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
15 Years | 549 | 960 | 96 | 214 | 35 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 86 | 63 | 0 | 96 | 44 | 0 | 1 | 13 | .223 | .271 | .298 |
Bill SherdelBill Sherdel Fielding Stats |
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Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
1918 Cardinals | P | 35 | 16 | 547 | 52 | 1.5 | 52 | 6 | 46 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 2.57 |
1919 Cardinals | P | 36 | 11 | 412 | 54 | 1.5 | 50 | 5 | 45 | 4 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .926 | 3.28 |
1920 Cardinals | P | 43 | 7 | 510 | 58 | 1.3 | 57 | 7 | 50 | 1 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .983 | 3.02 |
1921 Cardinals | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 18.00 |
1921 Cardinals | P | 38 | 8 | 433 | 48 | 1.3 | 45 | 5 | 40 | 3 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .938 | 2.81 |
1922 Cardinals | P | 47 | 31 | 726 | 51 | 1.1 | 46 | 5 | 41 | 5 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .902 | 1.71 |
1923 Cardinals | P | 39 | 26 | 675 | 52 | 1.3 | 47 | 6 | 41 | 5 | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .904 | 1.88 |
1924 Cardinals | P | 35 | 10 | 506 | 36 | 1.0 | 36 | 6 | 30 | 0 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.92 |
1924 Cardinals | RF | 2 | 1 | 24 | 3 | 1.5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 3.38 |
1925 Cardinals | P | 32 | 21 | 600 | 48 | 1.5 | 48 | 6 | 42 | 0 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 2.16 |
1926 Cardinals | P | 34 | 29 | 704 | 54 | 1.6 | 53 | 9 | 44 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .981 | 2.03 |
1927 Cardinals | P | 39 | 28 | 697 | 44 | 1.1 | 39 | 3 | 36 | 5 | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .886 | 1.51 |
1928 Cardinals | P | 38 | 27 | 746 | 44 | 1.2 | 42 | 6 | 36 | 2 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .955 | 1.52 |
1929 Cardinals | P | 33 | 22 | 587 | 38 | 1.2 | 37 | 1 | 36 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .974 | 1.70 |
1930 Cardinals | P | 13 | 7 | 192 | 11 | 0.8 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.55 |
1930 Braves | P | 21 | 14 | 358 | 29 | 1.4 | 27 | 5 | 22 | 2 | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .931 | 2.04 |
1931 Braves | P | 27 | 16 | 413 | 24 | 0.9 | 24 | 4 | 20 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 1.57 |
1932 Braves | P | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .000 | 0.00 |
1932 Cardinals | P | 3 | 0 | 17 | 3 | 1.0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 4.76 |
Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
P Totals | 514 | 273 | 8,128 | 646 | 1.3 | 617 | 77 | 540 | 29 | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .955 | 2.05 | |
RF Totals | 2 | 1 | 24 | 3 | 1.5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 3.38 | |
1B Totals | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2.0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 18.00 | |
15 Years | 517 | 274 | 8,155 | 651 | 1.3 | 622 | 82 | 540 | 29 | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a | .955 | 2.06 |
Bill SherdelBill Sherdel Miscellaneous Stats |
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Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
1918 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 62.0 | 6.2 | 7.8 | 0.82 | 1.97 | 2.42 |
1919 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 4 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 6.0 | 9.6 | 1.24 | 3.41 | 2.75 |
1920 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 6 | 0 | n/a | 63.0 | 12.6 | 31.5 | 1.85 | 3.92 | 2.12 |
1921 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 6.3 | 11.0 | 1.50 | 3.55 | 2.37 |
1922 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 1 | n/a | 88.0 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 1.27 | 2.94 | 2.31 |
1923 Cardinals | 0 | 1 | .000 | 5 | 1 | n/a | 83.0 | 10.4 | 9.2 | 1.32 | 3.12 | 2.36 |
1924 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 12 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 8.3 | 9.4 | 1.50 | 3.04 | 2.03 |
1925 Cardinals | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 | 1 | n/a | 73.0 | 0.0 | 14.6 | 1.26 | 2.39 | 1.89 |
1926 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 2 | n/a | 90.0 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 1.20 | 2.26 | 1.88 |
1927 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 72.0 | 12.0 | 14.4 | 1.23 | 2.29 | 1.86 |
1928 Cardinals | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 84.0 | 8.4 | 10.5 | 1.29 | 2.61 | 2.03 |
1929 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 70.0 | 17.5 | 8.8 | 1.19 | 3.17 | 2.67 |
1930 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 9.5 | 0.0 | 2.23 | 4.08 | 1.83 |
1930 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 14.0 | 14.0 | 0.87 | 1.96 | 2.26 |
1931 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 9.2 | 15.3 | 0.97 | 2.22 | 2.29 |
1932 Braves | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.40 |
1932 Cardinals | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.00 | 1.59 | 1.59 |
Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
15 Years | 2 | 1 | .667 | 27 | 5 | n/a | 106.7 | 10.0 | 11.2 | 1.27 | 2.79 | 2.20 |
Bill SherdelBill Sherdel Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
1918 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $1,800.00 | n/a | - |
1919 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $2,100.00 | n/a | - |
1920 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $2,700.00 | n/a | - |
1921 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $3,500.00 | n/a | - |
1922 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $4,500.00 | n/a | - |
1923 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $5,100.00 | n/a | - |
1924 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $5,300.00 | n/a | - |
1925 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $5,500.00 | n/a | - |
1926 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $7,500.00 | n/a | Stats |
1927 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $8,000.00 | n/a | - |
1928 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $10,000.00 | n/a | Stats |
1929 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $12,500.00 | n/a | - |
1930 St. Louis Cardinals | n/a | $12,500.00 | n/a | - |
1930 Boston Braves | n/a | " " | n/a | - |
1931 Boston Braves | n/a | $10,500.00 | n/a | - |
1932 Boston Braves | 24 | $9,500.00 | n/a | - |
1932 St. Louis Cardinals | 25 | " " | n/a | - |
Bill Sherdel Stats by Baseball Almanac |
William Henry Sherdel was a Major League Baseball player who pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals (1918-1930, 1932) and Boston Braves (1930-1932). When Bill, his nickname, made it to the show in 1918, he became the second player from the tiny borough of McSherrystown (Pennsylvania) to reach the majors. Do you know who preceded him? [Answer]
Bill Sherdel Baseball Card | 1931 W517 Baseball Card (#6)
Baseball Almanac Research Library
Bill Sherdel, in St. Louis Cardinals franchise history, ranks third all-time in games pitched (465), fourth in wins (153) & innings pitched (2,450.2), fifth in games started (242) & hit batsmen (51), and eighth in complete games (144)! Wee Willie's 153 wins are the most ever by a Cardinal left-handed pitcher! When Sherdel defeated the Philadelphia Phillies on June 12, 1927, it was his one-hundred seventh victory in St. Louis, passing the all-time Cardinals record for most wins by a lefty. Do you remember whose record he broke? [Answer]
Bill Sherdel | The Bristol Herald | 13 June 1927Baseball Almanac Research Library
The dust jacket on an excellent Bill Sherdel biography (Wee Willie Sherdel: The Cardinals' Winningest Left-Hander) included the following career synopsis:
Wee Willie Sherdel was a very humble, courageous, left-handed pitcher who became one of the all-time great southpaws in St. Louis Cardinals history. The son of a German blacksmith in a small Pennsylvania village, Willie's dream was to become a major league pitcher — a rather big dream for a small boy. Not the most talented or biggest, he worked hard and learned from the greats like Eddie Plank, Branch Rickey, and Grover Cleveland Alexander. Sherdel's best years were in the 1920s while Rickey was developing the farm system concept and the Cards were playing in two World Series. Known for his slow ball, Willie was given the honor of pitching the first game against Ruth, Gehrig and the powerful Yankees in both Series.
Although labeled a hard-luck pitcher in the Series, Sherdel performed many great feats on the diamond. Since his retirement in 1932, he remains the Redbirds' winningest left-hander and fourth all-time winner. Willie also has pitched the third-most games and fourth most innings. Like all pitchers, he loved to talk about his hitting. Among Cardinals' pitchers, Sherdel owns the fourth-most career home runs and fifth-best batting average for his .337 in 1923.
Did you know that when Bill Sherdel returned to the Cards in '32, and took the field on May 6th, he became the first player in franchise history to wear #32? Did you know that Hall of Fame manager John McGraw once told the media, "Sherdel is not only a southpaw, but he is one of the best pitchers in the country. He is a student of the game." Sherdel's Sporting News profile included the following excerpt, "Wee Willie Sherdel relied on his pinpoint accuracy rather than a hard fastball. He was famous for his quick-pitch 3rd strike to Babe Ruth in 1928 World Series. The pitch was overruled and Ruth subsequently homered."