Jack Berly

Who was Jack Berly?

John Chambers "Jack" Berly was a Major League Baseball pitcher.

Berly was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He made his major league debut for the St. Louis Cardinals on April 22, 1924. Making four appearances, all in late relief, he gave up five runs over eight innings pitched. Berly would not return to the majors for seven seasons.

In 1928 Berly joined the Rochester Red Wings of the Triple-A International League, then managed by Billy Southworth. The Red Wings won three straight IL pennants in 1928-1930, and Berly went 33-22 in those seasons, winning the IL earned run average title in 1930.

In 1931 the New York Giants acquired Berly. He had seven wins with eight losses in 27 games. In 1932-1933 he pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies, mostly in relief.

Berly returned to Rochester in 1934, beginning a period of eight years' service in the International League with the Red Wings, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Maple Leafs. He returned to Rochester in late 1940, just in time to play on his fourth IL pennant winner. His IL career ended in 1941. Over 11 IL seasons he had a won-lost record of 101-84, with a 3.68 ERA in 1610 innings pitched.

Berly was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame in 1955. In 1977, he died in Houston, Texas.