Major League Baseball Player. A pitcher, he after a heart condition forced him to switch over to a sidearm delivery. While pitching with Davenport of the minor leagues, he suffered a heart attack. Doctors found no lasting damage to his heart, but advised him to change his pitching style. The switch to a sidearm delivery not only proved to be the remedy for his heart condition, but it helped the port-sider become one of the top short relievers in baseball. Signed as an amateur free agent by the Chicago White Sox in 1957, he was picked by the expansion Houston Colt 45's in the minor league draft of November of 1961. After playing mostly in the minors for the next 2 seasons he was then selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the Rule 5 major league draft on November 29, 1965. Known as a clubhouse prankster, his highest ERA in the years from 1966 to 1971 was 2.89. He recorded career bests of 17 saves and a 1.47 ERA for the Cardinals in 1968, and on June 1st of that year, he tied a NL record for consecutive strikeouts by a relief pitcher, with six. In 1969 Hoerner was involved in the famous Curt Flood trade. Though Flood did not report to the Phillies, Hoerner did, and led the NL with nine relief wins in 1970. He accrued a lifetime won-loss record of 39-36 with 99 saves and a 2.99 ERA in 493 games. He also appeared in two World Series with the Cardinals. One interesting note about his career is that Hall of Famer Hank Aaron never got a hit off him in 22 career at-bats. Joe Hoerner was accidentally killed in a farming accident.
Major League Baseball Player. A pitcher, he after a heart condition forced him to switch over to a sidearm delivery. While pitching with Davenport of the minor leagues, he suffered a heart attack. Doctors found no lasting damage to his heart, but advised him to change his pitching style. The switch to a sidearm delivery not only proved to be the remedy for his heart condition, but it helped the port-sider become one of the top short relievers in baseball. Signed as an amateur free agent by the Chicago White Sox in 1957, he was picked by the expansion Houston Colt 45's in the minor league draft of November of 1961. After playing mostly in the minors for the next 2 seasons he was then selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the Rule 5 major league draft on November 29, 1965. Known as a clubhouse prankster, his highest ERA in the years from 1966 to 1971 was 2.89. He recorded career bests of 17 saves and a 1.47 ERA for the Cardinals in 1968, and on June 1st of that year, he tied a NL record for consecutive strikeouts by a relief pitcher, with six. In 1969 Hoerner was involved in the famous Curt Flood trade. Though Flood did not report to the Phillies, Hoerner did, and led the NL with nine relief wins in 1970. He accrued a lifetime won-loss record of 39-36 with 99 saves and a 2.99 ERA in 493 games. He also appeared in two World Series with the Cardinals. One interesting note about his career is that Hall of Famer Hank Aaron never got a hit off him in 22 career at-bats. Joe Hoerner was accidentally killed in a farming accident.
Bio by: Frank Russo
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