Baseball in Wartime - George Eyrich

George Eyrich

Date and Place of Birth: March 3, 1925 Reading, Pennsylvania

Died: June 25, 2006 Reading, Pennsylvania
Baseball Experience: Major League
Position: Pitcher
Rank: Seaman First-Class
Military Unit: US Navy

Area Served: Pacific Theater of Operations

Major League Stats: George Eyrich on Baseball-Almanac

George L Eyrich was born on March 3, 1925 in Reading, Pennsylvania. A standout pitcher at Reading High School he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1943 and made his major league debut on June 13. Making nine relief appearances for the Phillies before being called to military service later in the month, he had an ERA of 3.38.

Seaman First-Class Eyrich served aboard the SS Elwood Haynes, a liberty ship, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He also served on the SS Howell Lykes, a transport, which ferried troops to Australia, New Guinea and New Caledonia.

Discharged in 1946, Eyrich was optioned by the Phillies to Utica of the Eastern League but spent most of the season with Terre Haute of the Three-I League. He was 13-16 with Wilmington of the InterState League in 1947 and 13-9 with the same club the following year setting an InterState League record by appearing in 45 games. His best post-war season was with Omaha of the Western League in 1951, when he was 18-11 with a 2.39 ERA. Eyrich continued to pitch in the minor leagues until 1954.

George Eyrich passed away on June 25, 2006 in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Created May 30, 2008.