Howie Pollet

Howie Pollet was a left-handed pitcher who played in the major leagues from 1941 to 1956. He spent the bulk of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, with later stints for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago White Sox. Over 14 seasons he compiled a record of 131 wins and 116 losses with a 3.51 earned run average and 934 strikeouts. He was selected to three All-Star Games, in 1943, 1946, and 1949. Pollet led the National League in earned run average twice, posting a 1.75 mark in 1943 and a 2.10 mark in 1946. In 1946 he also led the league in wins with 21, and in 1949 he went 20-9 and led the league in shutouts with five. He was part of Cardinals teams that won the World Series in 1942 and 1946, his career interrupted by military service during World War II. After his playing career he served as the Cardinals' pitching coach from 1959 to 1964, a tenure that included the team's 1964 championship.