Lawrence Edward Dierker (born September 22, 1946) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, manager, and broadcaster. During a 14-year baseball career as a pitcher, he pitched from 1964–1977 for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros and the St. Louis Cardinals. He also managed the Astros for five years (1997–2001).\n', '

Signed by the Colt .45s at age 17, Dierker made his major-league pitching debut on his 18th birthday – and struck out Willie Mays in the first inning. He pitched 2 2/3 innings while allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits, three walks while having three strikeouts; he was credited with the loss while starting his career with a 6.75 ERA. He pitched in two other games that season, both being the last pitcher for the team, although they were both in losses. In 1965, he appeared in 26 games while garnering a 7-8 record, a 3.50 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 146.2 innings. In the following year, he went 10-8 while having a 3.18 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 29 game appearances and 187 innings pitched. He pitched in just 15 games for the 1967 season, though he went 6-5 with a 3.36 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 99 innings. His 1968 season was not too much better as he went 12-15 in 32 games with a 3.31 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 233.2 innings. \n', '

In 1969, he became the Astros\' first 20-game winner, while compiling a 2.33 earned run average, 20 complete games and 232 strikeouts over 305 innings. He was elected to the National League All-Star team that season. He went 16-12 the following season on 37 games while having a 3.87 ERA and 191 strikeouts on 269.2 innings pitched. In 1971, he went 12-6 on 24 game appearances while having a 2.72 ERA and 91 strikeouts on 159 innings pitched while being named to the All-Star Game, although an elbow injury ended his season after August. In 1972, he went 15-8 while having a 3.40 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 31 game appearances and 214.2 innings. He appeared in just 14 games in 1973 due to injuries, going 1-1 while having a 4.33 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 27 innings. He rebounded a bit the following year, going 11-10 with a 2.90 ERA and 150 strikeouts on 223.2 innings and 33 games. He went 14-16 the next year while having a 4.00 ERA and 127 strikeouts on 232 innings and 34 games. 1976 was his last full season of play along with his last with the Astros. He went 13-14 while having a 3.69 ERA and 112 strikeouts on 187.2 innings and 28 games. On July 9 of that year, Dierker no-hit the Montreal Expos 6-0 before 12,511 fans at the Astrodome, recording eight strikeouts along the way. On November 23, 1976, he was traded (along with Jerry DaVanon) to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bob Detherage and Joe Ferguson. The 1977 season was his last season in baseball. He pitched in 11 games while garnering a 2-6 record with a 4.58 ERA and six strikeouts on 39.1 innings. He garnered his last victory on July 1st with a seven inning, five hit performance while allowing only one run in a 3-1 over the Chicago Cubs. His last appearance was a one inning performance on October 1st against the New York Mets, walking one on no hits and runs. On March 28, 1978, he was released by the Cardinals. \n', '

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