Starting Pitcher
1975-1980, 1986
Career w/Phillies: 734.2 IP / 36-42 / 4.45 ERA / 339 K
Lerch lived up to his name, with a thread-thin 6’5”, 190 pound frame. Picked in the eighth round in the 1973 draft, Lerch made his big-league debut on Sept. 14, 1975, giving up five runs in an inning during a blowout win against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. His best season was 1979 — despite a losing record of 10-13, he recorded a stellar 3.74 ERA. But his most memorable moment? Probably hitting two home runs in the division clinching victory over the Pirates — his two shots proved to be the difference. He also knocked a homer in that wild 23-22 win in Wrigley in 1979. His .206 lifetime average remains a pretty stellar mark for pitchers.
Comment: At No. 100, Lerch gets in because he survived a couple poor years and played a supporting role during the Phils’ dynasty years. His numbers scream average — even a little under that, but he remains a memorable name in Phils’ lore.