Billy Pierce

Walter William Pierce (April 2, 1927 – July 31, 2015) was a left-handed starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1945 to 1964, spending the bulk of his career with the Chicago White Sox. A seven-time All-Star, Pierce earned the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award for the American League in both 1956 and 1957. He led the AL in complete games three times and once each in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. On June 27, 1958, he came within one batter of throwing a perfect game. He was a central figure in the White Sox–Yankees rivalry, facing Whitey Ford as opposing starters 14 times between 1955 and 1960.