Herm Starrette - #4 - Pitching Coach

Born:  Statesville, N.C., 11/20/1936

Died: Statesville, N.C., 6/2/2017

B-R, T-R...  6'1", 190 lbs

 

Herm Starrette came to the Phillies in 1979, while Danny Ozark was still the manager of the team. Starrette lasted with the team for three years, leaving when Dallas Green left the manager's post following the 1981 season. Starette was a bit of a vagabond as a coach, with stops in Atlanta, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, Baltimore and Boston. All told, Starrette coached for over 30 years in professional baseball. In 1980, Starrette presided over a pitching staff that included Steve Carlton, Dick Ruthven, and Tug McGraw. Starette's pitching staff managed a 3.47 ERA for the 1980 season, and sparkled during the stretch run against Montreal and the playoffs against Houston and Kansas City.

 

As a player, Starrette's tenure was much shorter, managing to sip three cups of coffee with the Baltimore Orioles from 1963-1965. Starrette totaled just 46 innings in the major league, though he managed a low lifetime ERA of 2.54.

Lifetime Playing Statistics

Year

Team

IP

W

L

S

K

ERA

1963

Orioles

26

0

1

0

13

3.46

1964

Orioles

11

1

0

0

5

1.64

1965

Orioles

9

0

0

0

3

1.00

TOTALS

 

46

1

1

0

21

2.54

Phillies Publications

From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:

 

Age: 43, turns 44 on Nov. 20... Born- Statesville, N.C., 11/20/36... Home- Statesville... B-R, T-R... 6'1", 190... Marries, wife's name Betty Lou; one daughter, Lisa... 1956 Cool Springs High School grad... Attended Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, N.C.

 

In his second year as Phillies pitching coach... Came to the Phillies after five years as a pitching coach in the majors, the last two years with the San Francisco Giants... Worked with Atlanta for three previous seasons... Pitched nine seasons in the Baltimore organization, including three at the major league level (1-1 record)... Began his coaching career at Rochester in 1967 and served as the Orioles minor league pitching instructor from 1968-1973 when he moved to the Braves.

From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:

 

Age: 44, turns 45 on Nov. 20... Born- Statesville, N.C., 11/20/36... Home- Statesville... B-R, T-R... 6'1", 190... Marries, wife's name Betty Lou; one daughter, Lisa... 1956 Cool Springs High School grad... Attended Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, N.C.

 

In his third year as Phillies pitching coach... Came to the Phillies after five years as a pitching coach in the majors, the last two years with the San Francisco Giants... Worked with Atlanta for three previous seasons... Pitched nine seasons in the Baltimore organization, including three at the major league level (1-1 record)... Began his coaching career at Rochester in 1967 and served as the Orioles minor league pitching instructor from 1968-1973 when he moved to the Braves.

From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:

 

Age: 43, turns 44 on Nov. 20... Born- Statesville, N.C., 11/20/36... Home- Statesville... B-R, T-R... 6'1", 190... Marries, wife's name Betty Lou; one daughter, Lisa... 1956 Cool Springs High School grad... Attended Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, N.C.

  • Favorite Color:  Carolina Blue
  • Favorite Singer/Group:  Kenny Rogers
  • Favorite Song:  You Decorated My Life
  • Favorite City:  San Diego- Clean air
  • Least Favorite City:  Pittsburgh
  • Person You'd Most Like To Meet:  Bo Derek
  • Boyhood Idol(s):  Ted Williams
  • Biggets Turn-On:  Pete Rose signing with the Phillies
  • Biggest Turn-Off:  Excuses
  • Favorite Subject in School:  Spelling and Reading
  • Favorite TV Show:  Dallas
  • Favorite Book:  None
  • Person You Most Admire:  George Bamberger
  • Greatest Achievement:  None- Someday a World Series- How about in 1980!
  • Most Memorable Moment:  Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's home run record (I was a coach with the Braves)
  • Hobbies:  Fishing, Golf
  • Other Comments:  One of my most memorable moments in baseball was pitching 17 innings against Gaylord Perry. Game was called a one-one tie after 17 innings. Played game over and I beat him in the 18th. Billy DeMars hit a HR off him to win the game.