Bridgeport in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Billy Pierce
19
Photographed by Sean Flynn
1. Billy Pierce Marker
Pitcher
White Sox (1949-61)
Started three All-Star games
Led AL in strikeouts in 1953 (186), ERA in 1955 (1.97) and wins in 1957 (20)
Seven-time All-Star
Most victories by a Sox left-hander (186)
Erected by Chicago White Sox.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1953.
Location. 41° 49.842′ N, 87° 38.116′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Bridgeport. It can be reached from the intersection of 35th Street and Shields Avenue. The marker is one of 12 posted on bollards outside of Gate 4 (behind home plate) at Guaranteed Rate Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox baseball team. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333 West 35th Street, Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Frank Thomas (here, next to this marker); Jackie Robinson (here, next to this marker); Ted Lyons (here, next to this marker); Mark Buehrle (here, next to this marker); Paul Konerko (here, next to this marker); Carlton Fisk (here,
this page online
More about this marker. Pierce's marker is one of 12 dedicated to each of the numbers the Chicago White Sox have retired, including the #42 worn by Jackie Robinson and retired by Major League Baseball in 1997.
Regarding Billy Pierce. The Detroit-area native Billy Pierce began his career with the Detroit Tigers before being traded before the 1949 season to the White Sox. With the Sox he became one of the most feared left-handed pitchers in baseball and perhaps the finest pitcher of the "Go-Go White Sox" era, which culminated in an appearance in the 1959 World Series. However, Pierce pitched only four scoreless innings of relief for the Sox in that series, as Manager Al Lopez decided against starting him. The Sox lost the series to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.
Pierce has in recent years appeared on the Golden Era Committee ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame, but he has not yet been selected. He died in 2015.
Also see . . .
1. Billy Pierce career stats (Baseball Reference)
Photographed by Sean Flynn, October 28, 2023
2. Guaranteed Rate Field, Gate 4
The Billy Pierce Marker is off-camera to the right.
2. Billy Pierce: Society of American Baseball Research.
Excerpt: "He died of gallbladder cancer on July 31, 2015. Said White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in tribute to Pierce: 'He epitomized class, not just as a ballplayer on those great Go-Go White Sox teams of the 1950s, but as a gentleman and as a human being who devoted so much of his life to helping others.'"(Submitted on November 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Additional keywords. Chicago White Sox; Major League Baseball
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 200 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 2, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
