970 "20-WIN CIRCLE": LARRY DIERKER

On the blog today, we add former Houston Astros ace Larry Dierker to my 1970 "20-Win Circle" sub-set, celebrating the 20-game winners of the 1969 season:

Dierker had himself an excellent year in 1969, his sixth in the Majors while still only 22 years of age!

He posted a record of 20-13 over 39 appearances, 37 of them starts, with a brilliant 2.33 earned run average in 305.1 innings.

He completed 20 of those starts and tossed four shutouts along the way, striking out 232 batters, garnering him his first All-Star berth as well.

Incredibly Dierker made his Big League debut at the age of 17 with the (tehn) Houston Colt .45's, appearing in three games and going 0-1 with a 2.00 ERA over three games and nine innings pitched.

He’d finish his playing career in 1978 with the St. Louis Cardinals, his only season outside of Houston, going 2-6 with a 4.58 ERA over 11 appearances before retiring with a record of 139-123 with a very nice 3.31 ERA over 356 games and 2333.2 innings pitched.

NO-HITTERS SPECIAL SUB-SET: LARRY DIERKER. JULY 9TH, 1976

The next no-hitter chronologically profiled in my long-running thread through the decade, the Astros’ Larry Dierker’s gem spun against the Montreal Expos on July 9th, 1976:

Dierker came into the game with a record of 7-8, carrying an earned run average above 4.00, but he had his A-game going as he proceeded to strikeout eight batters against four walks.
He even helped his own cause with a sacrifice fly, contributing to the six runs that led to a 6-0 victory just days after the nation’s Bicentennial celebration.
The 29-year-old was already in his twelfth season in the Big Leagues, all with the Houston organization, and would finish the season with a record of 13-14 along with an ERA at 3.69 over 28 appearances, all starts, with four shutouts and seven complete games.
He’d finish his playing career the following year, with the St. Louis Cardinals, going 2-6 with a 4.58 ERA over 11 appearances before retiring with a record of 139-123 with a very nice 3.31 ERA over 356 games and 2333.2 innings pitched.