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. His best season was 1917 when he helped lead the Giants to the National League pennant with a 17–7 record and a 1.88 ERA. Perritt also briefly played for the Detroit Tigers in 1921. Over the course of 10 major league seasons, he appeared in 256 games and compiled a 92–78 record with a 2.89 ERA. Early years Perritt was born in Arcadia, Louisiana, in 1891. He was six feet, two inches tall and weighed 168 pounds. He batted and threw right handed. He played semi-pro baseball in 1910 for a team in Homer, Louisiana, and in 1911 for a team in Minden, Louisiana. 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. Perritt emerged as one of the leading pitchers in the National League during the 1914 Cardinals season. He appeared in 41 games, 32 as a starter, and compiled a 16–13 record. He led the National League with 15 batters hit by a pitch and ranked among the National League leaders with a 2.36 ERA (eighth), .552 win percentage (10th), 93 bases on balls (eighth), a 118 adjusted ERA+ rating (ninth), and a 3.7 wins above replacement (WAR) rating (10th). New York Giants Perritt was reportedly "dissatisfied with affairs in St. Louis", and after the 1914 season,