William Partlemore Kirk (July 19, 1934 – October 26, 2009) was an American professional baseball player. His career extended from 1954–1956 and 1959–1964, but the , left-handed pitcher made only one Major League appearance for the Kansas City Athletics during the season.

Kirk signed a Major League contract with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1954. That year, he registered a 12–9 record with a 3.32 ERA for Class D Welch Miners. Kirk stayed with the Athletics when the team moved to Kansas City in 1955, pitching for six minor league teams before being promoted to the majors late in the 1961 season. While playing for Class-A Lancaster Red Roses, he had pitched a no-hitter at Stumpf Field in July 1960.

Bill Kirk

Kirk's lone MLB appearance came as a starting pitcher on September 23, 1961, facing the visiting Cleveland Indians at Municipal Stadium. He gave up four earned runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out three in three innings of work, giving up home runs to Chuck Essegian and Johnny Romano. Kirk did not take the loss (that went to Dave Wickersham in a 9–5 Cleveland triumph), but never appeared in a major league game again.

Bill Kirk

In 1964, Kirk pitched and coached for Class-A York White Roses. It was his last baseball venture in a career that spanned 11 years.

Bill Kirk

Following his playing career, Kirk worked as an advertising and marketing executive. Bill Kirk died in Lititz, Pennsylvania, at the age of 75.

References

External links

Baseball Reference

BR minor leagues

Retrosheet

The Deadball Era

Obituary

1934 births

2009 deaths

Albany Senators players

Baseball players from Pennsylvania

Chattanooga Lookouts players

El Paso Texans players

Hot Springs Bathers players

Kansas City Athletics players

Lancaster Red Roses players

Major League Baseball pitchers

Sportspeople from Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Baseball players from York County, Pennsylvania

Pocatello Bannocks players

Portland Beavers players

Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides players

Shreveport Sports players

Welch Miners players

York White Roses players

People from Coatesville, Pennsylvania

Sportspeople from Chester County, Pennsylvania