Lavern Jack Pierce (June 2, 1949 – September 13, 2012) was an American professional

baseball player Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

. Pierce played in parts of three seasons in the majors from until with the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...

and

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

. He also played with the

Nankai Hawks The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. They compete in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) as a member of the Pacific League. The team was formerly known as the Nankai Hawks and was based in Osaka. ...

in Japan in 1977. However, Pierce is better known for his exploits in minor league baseball. As of 1998, he ranked ninth all-time in minor league home runs with 395.

Early years

Pierce was born in

Laurel, Mississippi Laurel is a city in and the second county seat of Jones County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 17,161. It is located northeast of Ellisville, the first county seat, which contains the first coun ...

, in 1948. He attended San Jose High School in

San Jose, California San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley and largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2020 popul ...

, and

San Jose City College San José City College (SJCC) is a public community college in San Jose, California. Founded in 1921, SJCC is located in the West San Jose neighborhood of Fruitdale. History The college was founded in 1921, opening its doors to students in Sept ...

Professional baseball

Minor leagues

Pierce was drafted by the

in the third round of the 1969 Major League January Draft-Secondary Phase. He began his professional baseball career in 1970 with the Braves' rookie league team in Mission Valley, Idaho, the

Magic Valley Cowboys The Magic Valley Cowboys were a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League for a total of 17 seasons between 1952 and 1971. The team was based in Twin Falls, Idaho — the largest city within the Magic Valley region — and succeeded the ...

, where he hit 16 doubles and nine home runs in 281 at bats. In 1971, Pierce next played with the Single A Kinston Eagles of the Carolina League, where he compiled a .292 batting average, tied for the Carolina League lead with 29 doubles and ranked second with 20 home runs. In 1972, he played with the Double A

Savannah Braves The Savannah Braves were a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League (1964–2020), Southern League and the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves from 1971 to 1983. They were located in Savannah, Georgia, Savannah, G ...

of the Southern League where he hit .292 with 29 doubles, 23 home runs, and 103 RBIs.

Atlanta Braves

Pierce began the 1973 season with the Triple A

Richmond Braves The Richmond Braves were an American minor league baseball club based in Richmond, Virginia, the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves from 1966 to 2008. Owned by the parent Atlanta club and colloquially referred to as the ...

of the

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...

. After 11 games, he was batting .343 with two home runs and 11 RBIs when he was called up by the

. Pierce made his major league debut on April 27 and tallied only one hit for a .050 batting average in his brief 11 game call-up before being sent back to Richmond. In 1974, Pierce told the Braves he did not want to return to Richmond and was sent instead to the

Charros de Jalisco The Charros de Jalisco ( en, Jalisco Horsemen) are a professional baseball team in the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico, Mexican Pacific League based in Zapopan, Jalisco. Their home ballpark is Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco y Atletismo, Estadi ...

of the

Mexican Pacific League The Mexican Pacific League (), known as Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico for sponsorship reasons or simply LMP for its acronym in Spanish, is a professional baseball winter league based in Northern Mexico. The ten-team regular season schedule run ...

. He compiled a .306 batting average and ranked second in the Mexican League with 28 home runs, earning himself another call-up to Atlanta, where he again managed only a single hit in nine at bats for a .111 batting average.

Detroit Tigers

In early 1975, Pierce asked the Braves to trade him. He was traded in March to the

in exchange for

Reggie Sanders Reginald Laverne Sanders (born December 1, 1967) is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He played professionally with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves, S ...

. Pierce began the 1975 season with Detroit's Double A

Evansville Triplets The Evansville Triplets were a Minor League Baseball team of the Triple-A American Association (AA) from 1970 to 1984. They were located in Evansville, Indiana, and played their home games at Bosse Field. The Triplets served as a farm club for th ...

of the

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

, where he hit .282 with nine home runs and 25 RBIs in 36 games. Detroit's first baseman

Nate Colbert Nathan Colbert Jr. (April 9, 1946 – January 5, 2023) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman from 1966 to 1976, most prominently as a member of the newly formed San Diego Padre ...

struggled early in the 1975 season, and Pierce was called up at the end of May. Pierce said at the time: "I think I'm as good a first baseman as most anyone. But I've never had a chance to prove it." On June 15, 1975, the Tigers sold Colbert to the

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...

, and Pierce became the team's starting first baseman. He appeared in 53 games for the 1975 Tigers, 47 of them as the Tigers' starting first baseman. In his short time with the Tigers, he committed 13 errors at first base, ranking third among American League first basemen for the entire 1975 season. At the plate, he hit .235 with eight home runs in 170 at bats. In early August 1975, Pierce lost the job as Detroit's starting first baseman to

Danny Meyer Daniel Meyer (born March 14, 1958) is a New York City restaurateur and the Founder & Executive Chairman of the Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG). Background and early career Meyer was born and raised in a reform Jewish family in St. Louis, M ...

. Pierce appeared in his last major league game on September 12. In late September, Pierce acknowledge that his fielding had been subpar: "I know I made some mistakes in the field . . . Dumb mistakes . . . mistakes that I never made before in my life. I messed up -- I know that."

Minor leagues, Mexico and Japan

Pierce returned to Mexico, where he homered 36 times, winning the first of three homer crowns. He hit .331/~.410/.599 for Puebla in 1976 and also topped the Liga with 109 RBI. The next season, Pierce once again found himself in another country, this time Japan, where he signed with the

for the 1977 season. He hit .227/.302/.399 with 13 homers in 291 at-bats. Right before opening day the next year, the Hawks let Pierce go. Pierce returned to America in 1978, signing a minor league contract with the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...

. In 1978, he played for the

San Jose Missions The San Jose Missions were a Minor League Baseball, minor league baseball team located in San Jose, California. The Missions played from 1977 to 1978 as members of the Triple-A (baseball), AAA Pacific Coast League. The Missions name returned in 19 ...

, and in 1979 for the

Spokane Indians The Spokane Indians are a Minor League Baseball team located in Spokane Valley, the city immediately east of Spokane, Washington, in the Pacific Northwest. The Indians are members of the High-A Northwest League (NWL) as an affiliate of the Color ...

, both Triple-A farm clubs of the Mariners, without getting to the majors. Pierce returned to his old haunts in Mexico, but struggled in his third trip to the Liga, hitting just .198 in 32 games. Jack returned to form somewhat in 1980; while his average was low and he slugged under .500, he did hit a league-best 17 homers in the strike-shortened season, taking his second home run crown. In 1984 the Mexican League began using the lively Commando ball and Pierce took advantage better than most – he raised his average 118 points to .364 with an OBP around .438 and a slugging of .659. He was second to Antonio Lora in RBI (117) and third in homers. A year later he cranked out 40 in his second season for the

Bravos de León The Bravos de León (English: León Braves) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in León, Guanajuato, Mexico. History Cachorros de León (1979–80) Mexican League baseball in León began in 1979 when the Alijador ...

, with 104 runs and 118 RBI, slugging .620. He was third in RBI and second in homers, one behind league leader

Andrés Mora Andrés Mora Ibarra (May 25, 1955 – June 12, 2015) was a Mexican professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors, between and , for the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball ( ...

. 1986 saw Pierce set a Mexican League record with 54 home runs for the Braves. The old mark had been 46 by

Héctor Espino Héctor "El Niño" Espino (6 June 1939 – 7 September 1997) was a Mexican professional outfielder, first baseman and manager. He has been called "The Mexican Babe Ruth". Born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Espino he played from 1960 through 1984 in b ...

– in addition to Pierce, Nick Castaneda (53) and

Willie Aikens Willie Mays Aikens (born October 14, 1954) is an American professional baseball first baseman who played in Major League Baseball for the California Angels, Kansas City Royals, and Toronto Blue Jays between 1977 and 1985. He had established hims ...

(46) at least matched the old record. Pierce hit .381, scored 111, drove in 148, slugged .783 and had an OBP around .464. Pierce also spent some time as Leon's player-manager that year. After slipping to .277/~.372/.516 with 24 homers in 1987, Pierce retired. As of 2000, his 294 homers in the Liga were 8th in league history, the best by a U.S. native. Pierce had hit .300 and slugged .553 in his 11 years in Mexico.

Later years

Pierce was elected to the

Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame The Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Profesional de México (in English, Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame), commonly called the Salón de la Fama (Hall of Fame) is a baseball hall of fame and museum located in Monterrey, Nuevo León. ...

in 2001. He was the batting coach of the

Sultanes de Monterrey The Sultanes de Monterrey ( en, Monterrey Sultans) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Monterrey, Mexico. They compete in the Northern Division. The team also joined the Mexican Pacific League for the 2019–20 season f ...

team. Pierce died from a

pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of an pulmonary artery, artery in the lungs by a substance that has moved from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream (embolism). Symptoms of a PE may include dyspnea, shortness of breath, chest pain p ...

Monterrey Monterrey ( , ) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León, Mexico, and the third largest city in Mexico behind Guadalajara and Mexico City. Located at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, the city is anchor ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

at the age of 64.

References

;General references * ''Great Baseball Feats, Facts & Firsts'', by

David Nemec David Nemec (born December 10, 1938) is an American baseball historian, novelist and playwright. Early life and education Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Nemec spent most of his adolescence in Bay Village, Ohio. In his senior year of high school he was ...

* ''The Mexican League: Comprehensive Player Statistics'', by Pedro Treto Cisneros
Japanbaseballdaily by Gary Garland
* Death announcement from the Sultanes tea

(Spanish)
KioskoMayor.com – Jack Pierce obituary
(Spanish) ;Inline citations

External links

Salon de la Fama page for Pierce
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierce, Jack 1948 births 2012 deaths African-American baseball players Alacranes de Campeche players American expatriate baseball players in Japan American expatriate baseball players in Mexico Rojos del Águila de Veracruz players Angeles de Puebla players Arizona Diamondbacks scouts Atlanta Braves players Azules de Coatzacoalcos players Baseball players from Mississippi Bravos de León players Charros de Jalisco players Deaths from pulmonary embolism Detroit Tigers players Evansville Triplets players Kinston Eagles players Magic Valley Cowboys players Major League Baseball first basemen Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Nankai Hawks players Nippon Professional Baseball first basemen Sportspeople from Laurel, Mississippi Rieleros de Aguascalientes players Richmond Braves players San Diego Padres scouts San Jose City Jaguars baseball players San Jose Missions players Saraperos de Saltillo players Savannah Braves players Spokane Indians players Tigres del México players Toronto Blue Jays scouts 20th-century African-American sportspeople 21st-century African-American people