Gerald Staley A well-regarded starting pitcher early in his 15-year major league career and a first class reliever after joining the Chicago White Sox in 1957. Gerald Staley threw sidearm, tossing a sinkerball, and occasionally a fluttering knuckleball. Gerry Staley debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals as a 27-year-old rookie in 1947. In 1949 the 6 ft, 195-pounder was 10-10 with a 2.73 ERA ( 2nd lowest in the NL). For the Cardinals Staley strung-up four consecutive years of over 200 innings pitched per/season, 1950-53, posting records of 13-13, 19-13 and 17-14. A NL All Star in ’53, he was traded to Cincinnati in 1955 after going 7-13 w/l… then to NY Yanks in mid-year. On September 30 1950 Staley and teammate George Red Munger each pitched a shutout in double header wins over the Cubs. Placed on waivers Gerry Staley was picked by the Chicago White Sox in mid-’56. Playing for ex-teammate and now Sox manager Marty Marion he was converted to the bullpen And now added a slider to his pitching arsenal. ‘I’d played with Marty, and Marty knew what I could and couldn’t do,’ said Staley. ‘I liked playing with him as a teammate.’ Gerry Staley went 8-3 w/l in 26 games in relief in his initial season in Chicago. In 1957 he worked 47 games had 5-1 record and helped the Sox move up in the standings. In 1959 when the White Sox won their first pennant in 40 years, Gerald Staley had a 8-5 record, with a stingy 2.24 ERA, and worked in a major league leading 67 games. He helped the Go Go White Sox win the pennant by getting Cleveland’s hard-hitting Vic Power to ground to short for a double play with the baseball loaded. In 1960 Gerry Staley went 13-8 in 61.3 innings, 52 games – all in relief. Gerry Staley career stats 134-111, 3.70 ERA, 640 Games, 186 GS, 58 GC, 9 Shutouts, 2070 hits in 1981.6 innings, 61 saves 727 Ks, 529 Ws, 187 Hrs allowed. Baseball History |