Larry Dierker

==Playing career==

==Playing career==

[[File:LarryDierkerHOU.png|thumb|1966 photocard of Dierker with the Houston Astros]]

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He was signed by the [[Houston Colt.45s]] at age 17 after winning a bidding war with teams such as the [[Chicago Cubs]] to sign him for $55,000. Dierker made his major-league pitching debut on his 18th birthday – and [[strikeout|struck out]] [[Willie Mays]] in the first inning. He pitched {{frac|2|2|3}} innings while allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits, and three walks while having three strikeouts; he was credited with the loss while starting his career with a 6.75 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU196409220.shtml|title=San Francisco Giants at Houston Colt .45s Box Score, September 22, 1964}} He pitched in two other games that season, both being the last pitcher for the team, although they were both in losses. In 1965, he appeared in 26 games while garnering a 7–8 record, a 3.50 ERA, and 109 strikeouts in 146.2 innings. The following year, he went 10–8 with a 3.18 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 29 game appearances and 187 innings pitched. He pitched in just 15 games for the 1967 season, though he went 6–5 with a 3.36 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 99 innings. His 1968 season was not much better as he went 12–15 in 32 games with a 3.31 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 233.2 innings. He pitched the Opening Day game for the Astros that season. He pitched a [[complete game]] against the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], allowing four runs on six hits as the Astros pulled a 5–4 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU196804100.shtml|title=Pittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros Box Score, April 10, 1968}}

He was signed by the [[Houston Colt. 45s]] at age 17 after winning a bidding war with teams such as the [[Chicago Cubs]] to sign him for $55,000. Dierker made his major-league pitching debut on his 18th birthday – and [[strikeout|struck out]] [[Willie Mays]] in the first inning. He pitched {{frac|2|2|3}} innings while allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits, and three walks while having three strikeouts; he was credited with the loss while starting his career with a 6.75 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU196409220.shtml|title=San Francisco Giants at Houston Colt .45s Box Score, September 22, 1964}} He pitched in two other games that season, both being the last pitcher for the team, although they were both in losses. In 1965, he appeared in 26 games while garnering a 7–8 record, a 3.50 ERA, and 109 strikeouts in 146.2 innings. The following year, he went 10–8 with a 3.18 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 29 game appearances and 187 innings pitched. He pitched in just 15 games for the 1967 season, though he went 6–5 with a 3.36 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 99 innings. His 1968 season was not much better as he went 12–15 in 32 games with a 3.31 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 233.2 innings. He pitched the Opening Day game for the Astros that season. He pitched a [[complete game]] against the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], allowing four runs on six hits as the Astros pulled a 5–4 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU196804100.shtml|title=Pittsburgh Pirates at Houston Astros Box Score, April 10, 1968}}

In 1969, he became the Astros' first 20-game [[win (baseball)|winner]], while compiling a 2.33 [[earned run average]], 20 [[complete game]]s and 232 strikeouts over 305 [[innings pitched|innings]]. He was elected to the National League [[1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team. He went 16–12 the following season in 37 games with a 3.87 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 269.2 innings pitched. In 1971, he went 12–6 in 24 game appearances while having a 2.72 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 159 innings pitched while being named to the [[1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], although an elbow injury ended his season after August.{{cite web | url=https://baseballpastandpresent.com/interviews/larry-dierker/an-interview-with-larry-dierker/ | title=An interview with Larry Dierker – Baseball: Past and Present | date=August 2014 }} In 1972, he went 15–8 while having a 3.40 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 31 game appearances and 214.2 innings. He appeared in 14 games in 1973 due to an injury to his shoulder, going 1–1 while having a 4.33 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 27 innings. Dierker toiled with rotator cuff injuries for the next couple of years. He rebounded the following year, going 11–10 with a 2.90 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 223.2 innings and 33 games. He went 14–16 the next year while having a 4.00 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 232 innings and 34 games. 1976 was his last full season of play and his last with the Astros. He went 13–14 with a 3.69 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 187.2 innings and 28 games. On July 9 of that year, Dierker [[no-hitter|no-hit]] the [[Montreal Expos]] 6–0 before 12,511 fans at the [[Astrodome]], recording eight strikeouts along the way.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197607090.shtml|title=Montreal Expos at Houston Astros Box Score, July 9, 1976}} On November 23, 1976, he was traded (along with Jerry DaVanon) to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] for [[Bob Detherage]] and [[Joe Ferguson (baseball)|Joe Ferguson]].

In 1969, he became the Astros' first 20-game [[win (baseball)|winner]], while compiling a 2.33 [[earned run average]], 20 [[complete game]]s and 232 strikeouts over 305 [[innings pitched|innings]]. He was elected to the National League [[1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team. He went 16–12 the following season in 37 games with a 3.87 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 269.2 innings pitched. In 1971, he went 12–6 in 24 game appearances while having a 2.72 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 159 innings pitched while being named to the [[1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], although an elbow injury ended his season after August.{{cite web | url=https://baseballpastandpresent.com/interviews/larry-dierker/an-interview-with-larry-dierker/ | title=An interview with Larry Dierker – Baseball: Past and Present | date=August 2014 }} In 1972, he went 15–8 while having a 3.40 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 31 game appearances and 214.2 innings. He appeared in 14 games in 1973 due to an injury to his shoulder, going 1–1 while having a 4.33 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 27 innings. Dierker toiled with rotator cuff injuries for the next couple of years. He rebounded the following year, going 11–10 with a 2.90 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 223.2 innings and 33 games. He went 14–16 the next year while having a 4.00 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 232 innings and 34 games. 1976 was his last full season of play and his last with the Astros. He went 13–14 with a 3.69 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 187.2 innings and 28 games. On July 9 of that year, Dierker [[no-hitter|no-hit]] the [[Montreal Expos]] 6–0 before 12,511 fans at the [[Astrodome]], recording eight strikeouts along the way.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU197607090.shtml|title=Montreal Expos at Houston Astros Box Score, July 9, 1976}} On November 23, 1976, he was traded (along with Jerry DaVanon) to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] for [[Bob Detherage]] and [[Joe Ferguson (baseball)|Joe Ferguson]].