Howie Pollet

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Howard Joseph Pollet (June 26, 1921 — August 8, 1974) was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and 1950s. A three-time All-Star in 1943, 1946 and 1949, twice he led the National League in earned run average (1.75 in 1943 and 2.10 in 1946).

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Pollet signed his first professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, and it was as a Cardinal that he achieved his greatest success. In 1941, he won 20 of 23 decisions and led the A1 Texas League in ERA (1.16) and strikeouts (151) as a member of the Houston Buffaloes. The scintillating performance earned Pollet a promotion to the Cards that season: as a rookie, he won 5 and lost 2, with another outstanding ERA, 1.93. Pollet twice won 20 games for St. Louis: in 1946, when he won 21 of 31 decisions, and in 1949, when he posted a 20-9 mark and led the NL in shutouts with five.

He was traded to the second-division Pittsburgh Pirates on June 15, 1951, and thereafter struggled to post a winning record. During his 14-year career, he won 131 and lost 116 (.530) with a career ERA of 3.51. As a Cardinal (1941-43; 1946-51), his record was 97-65; as a member of the Pirates, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox (1951-56), he won 34 and lost 51.

Pollet returned to the field in 1959 as the Cardinals' pitching coach, serving through 1964. In his last season there, St. Louis won the world championship. He then moved back to his adopted city of Houston, Texas in 1965, serving as pitching coach of the Astros for one season.

Pollet was a partner of his Buffaloes manager and former Cardinal pilot Eddie Dyer in insurance, real estate and energy businesses in Houston. He retired from baseball and resumed his business career after the 1965 season, and died in Houston at age 53 in 1974.