Major League Baseball Player. For seven season (1947 to 1953), he was a left-handed pitcher with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Indians. Born Leland Victor Brissie, he attended Ware Shoals High School in South Carolina and was enrolled at Presbyterian College in South Carolina, when World War II intervened. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted with the United States Army and was stationed in the European Theater. He was nearly killed when an artillery shell exploded close to him. The result was a severely damaged left leg and the possibility of amputation. Brissie pleaded with the Army doctor to save his leg. He was able to do so. However, Brissie required more than a year of painful physical therapy and was left with a limp that he would have for the rest of his life. His war experience earned him a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. A book titled "The Corporal Was a Pitcher: The Courage of Lou Brissie" by Pulitzer Prize-winning sports journalist Ira Berkow was published in 2009. In spite of the odds, he was able to land a spot with the Philadelphia Athletics and mark his Major League debut on September 28, 1947. He became a staple within their starting rotation through the 1950 season. In his first full season (1948), he produced 14 wins and the following year (1949), Brissie topped that total with 16 victories for which earned him All-Star status. He was acquired by the Indians during the 1951 season and went on to the role of reliever. He pitched in a career-high 56 games with Philadelphia and Cleveland that year. In 234 regular season games, he compiled a 44 win and 48 loss record with a 4.07 ERA in 897 innings pitched. After retiring as a player, he served as a Major League scout with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves. He later worked in the private sector. He remained active in baseball-related functions prior to his death.
Major League Baseball Player. For seven season (1947 to 1953), he was a left-handed pitcher with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Indians. Born Leland Victor Brissie, he attended Ware Shoals High School in South Carolina and was enrolled at Presbyterian College in South Carolina, when World War II intervened. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted with the United States Army and was stationed in the European Theater. He was nearly killed when an artillery shell exploded close to him. The result was a severely damaged left leg and the possibility of amputation. Brissie pleaded with the Army doctor to save his leg. He was able to do so. However, Brissie required more than a year of painful physical therapy and was left with a limp that he would have for the rest of his life. His war experience earned him a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. A book titled "The Corporal Was a Pitcher: The Courage of Lou Brissie" by Pulitzer Prize-winning sports journalist Ira Berkow was published in 2009. In spite of the odds, he was able to land a spot with the Philadelphia Athletics and mark his Major League debut on September 28, 1947. He became a staple within their starting rotation through the 1950 season. In his first full season (1948), he produced 14 wins and the following year (1949), Brissie topped that total with 16 victories for which earned him All-Star status. He was acquired by the Indians during the 1951 season and went on to the role of reliever. He pitched in a career-high 56 games with Philadelphia and Cleveland that year. In 234 regular season games, he compiled a 44 win and 48 loss record with a 4.07 ERA in 897 innings pitched. After retiring as a player, he served as a Major League scout with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves. He later worked in the private sector. He remained active in baseball-related functions prior to his death.
Bio by: C.S.
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