Joe Hoerner

Joseph Walter Hoerner (November 12, 1936 – October 4, 1996) was a left-handed relief pitcher from Dubuque, Iowa who spent 14 seasons in Major League Baseball. Signed by the Chicago White Sox before the 1957 season, he was drafted by the Houston Colt .45s in the 1961 minor league draft and made his big league debut on September 27, 1963. Hoerner appeared for seven clubs — Houston, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Kansas City, Texas, and Cincinnati — working exclusively out of the bullpen across 493 career appearances. During his first six full seasons (1966–1971), he posted a combined ERA of 2.16, ranking among the lowest of any relief pitcher in the majors over that span.