Pol Perritt

William Dayton "Pol" Perritt (August 30, 1891 – October 15, 1947), sometimes referred to as Poll Perritt or Polly Perritt, was an American baseball pitcher. He played professional baseball for ten years from 1912 to 1921.

A native of Louisiana, Perritt began his career in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1912 to 1914. After signing a contract with a Federal League team in December 1915, he reneged in March 1915 and signed a contract with the New York Giants. He was one of the leading pitchers in the National League from 1914 to 1918, compiling an 81–62 win–loss record and a 2.46 earned run average (ERA) during that period. He was six feet, two inches tall and weighed 168 pounds. He batted and threw right handed.

Professional baseball Minor leagues Perritt began his professional baseball career in 1912 in the Cotton States League playing for the Vicksburg Hill Billies and the Greenwood Scouts. He compiled an 18–18 record in that league.

St. Louis Cardinals Perritt joined the St. Louis Cardinals in September 1912 and compiled a 1–1 record and 3.19 ERA in six games in the closing weeks of the season. In 1913, Perritt appeared in 36 games for the Cardinals, 21 as a starter, and compiled a 6–14 record and 5.25 ERA. However, New York Giants manager John McGraw entered into a trade with the Cardinals for rights to Perritt and induced Perritt to renege on his contract with the Federal League. Federal League officials reacted angrily to the Giants' signing of Perritt, noting that it "presaged a general renewal of the baseball war" for which the Federal League had set aside a $100,000 war fund.

During the 1915 season, Perritt appeared in 35 games and compiled a 12–18 record with a 2.66 ERA.

In 1916, Perritt appeared in 40 games, 29 as a starter and had 17 complete games. He compiled an 18–11 record with a 2.62 ERA.

Perritt had the best season of his career in 1917 as he helped the Giants win the National League pennant. That year, Perritt appeared in 35 games, compiled a 17–7 record and ranked among the National League leaders with a .708 winning percentage (third) and a 1.88 ERA (third). In mid-May, John McGraw finally persuaded him to return. However, Peritt was unable to get into shape and pitched only 19 innings during the 1919 season with a career-high 7.11 ERA. Despite having appeared in only 19 innings and having left the team early, Perritt appealed to the National Commission for a full share of the Giants' prize money for finishing in second place. The New York players were not pleased with Perritt's action, but agreed to a settlement, giving Perritt a half share.

After the 1919 season, Perritt announced that he was retiring from baseball to attend to his oil interests. Perritt did appear in four games late in the 1920 season with the San Antonio Bears in the Texas League. and appeared in eight games, all as a relief pitcher, at the end of the 1920 season. Despite the lack of playing time, Perritt compiled a career best 1.80 ERA in 15 innings pitched for the 1920 Giants. One writer, after watching Perritt pitch in Cuba, wrote: "Perritt's arm seems to be as good as it ever was and I look forward to him to be a help to the Giants next year."

Perritt returned to the Giants in the spring of 1921. He appeared in five games for the club, compiling a 2–0 record despite an ERA that rose from 1.80 in 1920 to 3.86 in innings pitched in 1921. After being released by the Tigers, Perritt signed with the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association. He finished the 1921 season with the St. Joseph Saints in the Western League.

Later years As late as 1923, Perritt was still playing semi-pro baseball with the Cleary Athletic Club in Los Angeles. In 1925, he served as a player-manager for a team in Covina, California. After retiring from baseball, Perritt became an oil operator in Louisiana. He lived in Arcadia, Louisiana, and died in 1947 at age 56 in Shreveport, Louisiana.