Larry Dierker
FameRank: 3

"As player"

* Houston Astros/Houston Colt .45s / Astros (–)

* St. Louis Cardinals

"As manager"

* Houston Astros (–)

/highlights=

* 2× Major League Baseball All-Star Game/All-Star (1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game/1969, 1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game/1971)

* NL Manager of the Year (1998)

* Houston Astros#Retired numbers/Houston Astros #49 retired

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"Lawrence Edward Dierker" (born September 22, 1946) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, manager (baseball)/manager, and Sports commentator/broadcaster. During a 14-year baseball career as a pitcher, he pitched from 1964–1977 for the Houston Astros/Houston Colt .45s/Astros and the St. Louis Cardinals. He also managed the Astros for five years (1997–2001).

More Larry Dierker on Wikipedia.

In my opinion, he's the only one in this franchise who should have a retired number.

225

Two or three months ago I decided to devote some energy to literacy. I came to realize that it was a problem in school, with kids getting through school, getting passed along without really learning to read and write.

214

Gene had such a friendly, smooth and comfortable style that listening to the game was like listening to nice music. It was just pleasant. Gene's style is what impressed me the most.

180

I think he's the best pitcher that I've seen in the 40 years that I've been in the major leagues.

173

By teaching the parent to read, the children increase their opportunity to share in the wonderful world of educational enlightenment. In addition to helping the adults pursue higher education and obtain better jobs, their children now have a mom and dad to read them bedtime stories.

163

His offensive numbers are not even as good as they should be because of the Astrodome.

118

I started taking courses to teach adult literacy and try to appear in every event I can to encourage people to think about it and realize how important it is.

117

He almost never throws a ball over the middle of the plate and still doesn't walk anyone.

113

It's amazing. It's been so much fun to watch.

112