Barry Lersch – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Barry Lee Lersch put together a six-year stint in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher, playing from 1969 to 1974 with the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals. He grew up in Denver, Colorado, born on September 7, 1944, and made his mark during a time when baseball was going through some pretty big changes.

Lersch retired from Major League Baseball after the 1974 season, making his last appearance on September 21, 1974, with the St. Louis Cardinals. Over 169 games, he logged an 18-32 record, a 3.82 ERA, and 317 strikeouts. Sure, his win-loss numbers look modest at first glance, but honestly, Lersch brought a lot more to the table than the stats show.

From playing amateur ball in Colorado to debuting with the Phillies on April 8, 1969, Lersch’s journey really highlighted the kind of grit it takes to make it in pro baseball. He gives us a window into what it was like for the everyday players who kept Major League teams running in the early ’70s, showing both the tough parts and the good moments of the game back then.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Barry Lee Lersch was born September 7, 1944, in Denver, Colorado, and learned the game during his high school years in Aurora. He kept on with baseball at Mesa College, building a foundation that led to his shot with the Phillies.

Birth and Hometown

Barry Lee Lersch came into the world on September 7, 1944, in Denver. He spent his childhood in the Denver metro area, mainly in Aurora, where he’d end up going to high school.

He grew up in Colorado through the ’40s and ’50s. Aurora really shaped his early baseball years.

Lersch always kept his Colorado ties close. He moved back to Aurora later in life and passed away there on October 4, 2009, at 65 after a heart attack.

If you’re into astrology, that makes him a Virgo. The local baseball scene in Denver during his childhood definitely played a part in sparking his love for the sport.

Education and High School Athletics

Barry Lersch attended Hinckley High School in Aurora, where he started to show off his pitching skills. Those high school days really set him up for what came next.

After Hinckley, he moved on to Mesa College in Colorado. Back then, it was called Mesa State College, and it became a big part of his growth as a pitcher.

Lersch worked on his game at Mesa and caught the eye of pro scouts. One of his college teammates later said Lersch was already showing real talent.

His college years gave him the space to grow as both a player and a student. That time at Mesa was key in getting him ready for the pros.

Notable Amateur Achievements

Lersch capped off his amateur career by signing with the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent on December 27, 1964. That move kicked off his professional journey.

His performances at Mesa College stood out enough to draw attention from big league teams. Former teammates remembered him as a guy with a lot of raw talent.

Making the jump from amateur to pro baseball was a huge step for Lersch. What he accomplished as an amateur laid the groundwork for his big league debut on April 8, 1969, at age 24.

Those early years really showed off the pitching skills that would make him a solid piece of the Phillies’ roster for five seasons.

Path to Major League Baseball

Barry Lersch started his road to the majors at Mesa State College, where scouts took notice of his arm. The New York Mets actually picked him in the fifth round of the 1968 draft, but he found his way to the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

Signing With the Phillies Organization

The Phillies brought Barry Lersch into their system through the draft in 1968. The Mets had picked him 84th overall in the fifth round, but he ended up with Philadelphia.

His time at Mesa State College really put him on the map for MLB scouts. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 175 pounds, he had the build teams wanted.

The Phillies saw him as a pitcher who could help deepen their staff. Signing him was part of their push to get more pitching talent through the draft.

Minor League Progression

Lersch worked his way up through the Phillies’ minor league teams in the late ’60s. The organization tried him in different pitching roles, both starting and coming out of the bullpen.

He showed he could handle pro hitters in the minors. Lersch’s control and his knack for getting outs stood out.

Coaches in Philadelphia helped him fine-tune his mechanics and add more pitches. That stretch in the minors got him ready for the jump to the majors.

Transition to the Majors

Barry Lersch made his big league debut on April 8, 1969, with the Phillies at 24. He faced the Chicago Cubs, pitching 4.1 innings, giving up 4 hits and 2 earned runs, and striking out one.

That debut came just 213 days after his 24th birthday, making him the 12,772nd player in MLB history. It was the payoff for all his work in the minors.

He got early experience both starting and relieving. The Phillies mostly used him out of the bullpen as a rookie, where he pitched in 10 games and picked up two saves.

Philadelphia put a lot of trust in Lersch, and he proved them right by becoming a regular part of their pitching staff for several years.

MLB Career Overview

Barry Lersch pitched in the majors for six seasons, from 1969 to 1974, finishing with an 18-32 record, a 3.82 ERA, and 317 strikeouts. He spent most of his career with the Phillies before wrapping up with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Philadelphia Phillies Years

Lersch made his MLB debut on April 8, 1969, with the Phillies in a wild Opening Day game at Wrigley Field. He ended up giving up a walk-off two-run homer to Willie Smith in the eleventh, and the Phillies lost 7-6.

He spent five years with Philadelphia, from 1969 to 1973. Most of the time, he worked out of the bullpen.

Career Stats with Philadelphia:

• Games Pitched: 168 out of his 169 career games
• Starts: 53
• Innings Pitched: 570⅓
• Complete Games: 9
• Saves: 6

The Phillies struggled while Lersch was there, and nearly all his career decisions happened in a Philadelphia uniform.

His biggest highlight with the Phillies was a complete game shutout against the Montreal Expos on September 30, 1972, at Jarry Park. He only allowed two hits that day.

St. Louis Cardinals Season

The Phillies traded Lersch and Craig Robinson to the Atlanta Braves for Ron Schueler at the Winter Meetings on December 3, 1973. He ended up finishing his career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974.

Lersch appeared in just one game for the Cardinals that season. His final MLB outing came on September 21, 1974, against the Cubs.

In that last game, he pitched 1.1 innings, gave up three hits, five walks, and six earned runs. He didn’t record any strikeouts in his final appearance.

That 1974 season closed out his six-year MLB career at age 30.

Notable Career Highlights

Lersch had some memorable moments that went beyond just the numbers. Before turning pro, he pitched the winning game in the 1964 Midnight Sun Game in Alaska, beating the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks 10-5.

Career Totals:

• Win-Loss Record: 18-32
• ERA: 3.82
• Strikeouts: 317
• Hits Allowed: 536
• Walks: 172

He stood 6 feet tall and weighed 175 pounds. He batted as a switch hitter and threw right-handed.

That September 30, 1972 shutout against Montreal was probably his best game ever. Throwing a two-hitter like that showed what he could do as a starter.

Lersch played during the early ’70s, a time when relief pitching was starting to become a bigger deal in the majors.

Statistical Performance and Playing Style

Barry Lersch put up solid, if not flashy, numbers during his six years in the big leagues. His 3.82 ERA and 317 career strikeouts show he belonged, even if his 18-32 record hints at some rough luck with run support and team performance.

Pitching Statistics and Achievements

Lersch piled up 317 strikeouts over 570.1 innings. His best year was 1970, when he went 6-3 with a 3.26 ERA in 42 games.

He showed his versatility by pitching in 169 games, 53 of them starts. His career WHIP was 1.241, a sign of decent control.

His most productive stretch came with the Phillies from 1970 to 1972. Over those three years, he threw more than 450 innings and kept his ERA below 3.80.

In 1971, he was a real workhorse, pitching 214.1 innings and starting 30 games. That year really showed he could handle a starter’s workload.

Win–Loss Record and ERA

Lersch finished with an 18-32 record, which says more about the teams he played for than his pitching. His 3.82 ERA was about average for that era.

His best win percentage came in 1970, when he went 6-3. In 1971, he had a tough year, finishing 5-14 even though his ERA was a respectable 3.78.

ERA by Season:

• 1969: 7.13 (didn’t pitch much)
• 1970: 3.26 (his best)
• 1971: 3.78
• 1972: 3.04 (second best)
• 1973: 4.39

His career ERA+ was 97, just a bit below league average after adjusting for parks and era.

WHIP, Saves, and Strikeouts

Lersch kept his career WHIP at 1.241, letting about 1.24 runners on per inning. His best WHIP came in 1971, at 1.180.

He picked up six saves, mostly in relief. His strikeout rate was 5.0 per nine innings, which was about normal for pitchers back then.

Strikeouts by Season:

• 1970: 92
• 1971: 113 (career high)
• 1972: 48
• 1973: 51

His strikeout-to-walk ratio was 1.84. Not amazing by today’s standards, but decent for the time. He did issue 172 walks over his career, so control sometimes got away from him.

Complete Games and Shutouts

Lersch finished nine games in his career and had one shutout, which came in 1972. He completed three games each in 1971 and 1972.

That shutout was during his best run as a starter with the Phillies. Being able to go the distance like that was more common in the ’70s, but still impressive.

Most of his complete games happened between 1970 and 1972, when he was at his peak. When he had his command working, he could pitch deep into games.

That lone shutout was probably the highlight of his time on the mound.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Barry Lersch wrapped up his Major League career in September 1974 with the St. Louis Cardinals. After leaving baseball, he moved back to the Denver area, where he’d spent his early years.

Final MLB Season in 1974

Lersch wrapped up his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974. The Cardinals bought his contract from the Atlanta Braves, who had picked him up in a trade from Philadelphia back in December 1973.

He played his last game on September 21, 1974, at just 29 years old. By then, he had a career record of 18-32 and a 3.82 ERA over 169 major league games.

He pitched right-handed and spent six seasons in the majors, from 1969 to 1974. Most of those years, he wore a Philadelphia Phillies uniform, then had short runs with Atlanta and St. Louis.

He kicked off his career on April 8, 1969, making his debut against the Chicago Cubs.

Transition Out of Professional Sports

After he left Major League Baseball, Lersch returned to the Denver area. He’d graduated from Denver East High School in 1962 and then went to Mesa College.

Pat Moriarity, Lersch’s old teammate who played left field on their 1964 Mesa College team, kept in touch after both came back to Denver. Moriarity remembered Lersch as “a tremendously talented guy” back in those days.

Lersch stayed close to his baseball roots through friendships with former teammates and coaches. Mack Gendreau, his college teammate, recalled that Lersch had “awesome stuff” and “all the talent in the world.”

He settled in Aurora, Colorado, and lived there until he died of a heart attack on October 4, 2009, at age 65.

Legacy and Recognition

Barry Lersch’s career stats still show up in major baseball databases, even decades after he stopped playing. His 317 career strikeouts and 3.82 ERA are out there for baseball researchers and fans to look up whenever they want.

Historical Records and Milestones

Lersch’s numbers put him among the recorded pitchers of the early 1970s. With 317 strikeouts over six seasons, he made a solid mark for pitchers from that era.

His 18-32 win-loss record and 3.82 ERA reflect the tough times a lot of pitchers faced during those offense-heavy years. Lersch appeared in 169 major league games from 1969 to 1974.

He had his best season in 1970 with the Philadelphia Phillies, turning in his strongest stats. That debut on April 8, 1969 started off his six-year run in the majors.

Baseball databases still keep his full stat line, including his time with both the Phillies and the Cardinals.

References in Baseball Databases

Baseball Almanac keeps detailed records of Lersch’s stats and bio. You can find his full game logs and season breakdowns from 1969 through 1974 there.

Retrosheet offers up play-by-play data from every game Lersch pitched in. That info helps researchers dig into his performances and the game situations he faced.

Several baseball reference sites track his journey from the New York Mets draft in 1968 to his last year with St. Louis. His player pages are still live, serving as handy resources for anyone curious about 1970s baseball.

Impact on Future Players

Lersch made the jump from Mesa College to the major leagues, and honestly, his story stands out as proof that junior college baseball can really work. When he played in the 1964 Junior College World Series championship game, he showed just how much talent could come out of that program.

His teammate, Mack Gendreau, pointed out Lersch’s pitching—especially that curveball and fastball mix. Those pitches got him noticed and put him on the radar for pro scouts.

Lersch and a few other Mesa College teammates reached professional baseball, showing that the program actually produced major league talent back in the 1960s.