Don Lock
Encyclopedia
Don Wilson Lock is a former professional baseball player who played outfield
in the major leagues
from 1962 to 1969 for the Washington Senators
(1962-67), Philadelphia Phillies
(1968), and Boston Red Sox
(1969). Lock attended Wichita State University
, stood 6'2" (1.88 m) tall and weighed 202 pounds (92 kg). He threw and batted right-handed.
Lock was an outstanding defensive center fielder
and a powerful batter, although he was a poor contact hitter. He signed with the New York Yankees
in 1958 but never appeared in an MLB game for the Yanks. Instead, he was recalled from the Triple-A Richmond Virginians
on July 11, 1962, and traded to Washington for veteran first baseman
and pinch hitter
Dale Long
. Lock played left field that season, but by early he became the Senators' regular center fielder, supplanting the colorful Jimmy Piersall
, who was traded to the New York Mets
.
His two most productive seasons were and , when he hit 27 and 28 home runs and drove home 82 and 80 runs batted in respectively. Overall, Lock appeared in 921 games over eight seasons, batting
.238 with 122 home runs and 373 RBI. He managed in the Red Sox farm system for two seasons (1971-72, with the Winston-Salem Red Sox and Pawtucket Red Sox
) after his playing career ended.
Don Lock currently resides in Kingman, Kansas
. He is brother to JoAnn Lock Roberts.
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
in the major leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from 1962 to 1969 for the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(1962-67), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1968), and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1969). Lock attended Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
, stood 6'2" (1.88 m) tall and weighed 202 pounds (92 kg). He threw and batted right-handed.
Lock was an outstanding defensive center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
and a powerful batter, although he was a poor contact hitter. He signed with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in 1958 but never appeared in an MLB game for the Yanks. Instead, he was recalled from the Triple-A Richmond Virginians
Richmond Virginians
The Richmond Virginians was the name of a minor league baseball Class AAA International League franchise that played in Richmond, Virginia, from 1954 through 1964....
on July 11, 1962, and traded to Washington for veteran first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
Dale Long
Dale Long
Richard Dale Long was a first baseman in professional baseball. Between 1951 and 1963, Long played in Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Browns , Chicago Cubs , San Francisco Giants , New York Yankees and Washington Senators...
. Lock played left field that season, but by early he became the Senators' regular center fielder, supplanting the colorful Jimmy Piersall
Jimmy Piersall
James Anthony Piersall is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. Between 1950 and 1967, he played for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , New York Mets , and Los Angeles/California Angels .While he had a fairly good professional career as a center...
, who was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
His two most productive seasons were and , when he hit 27 and 28 home runs and drove home 82 and 80 runs batted in respectively. Overall, Lock appeared in 921 games over eight seasons, batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.238 with 122 home runs and 373 RBI. He managed in the Red Sox farm system for two seasons (1971-72, with the Winston-Salem Red Sox and Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
) after his playing career ended.
Don Lock currently resides in Kingman, Kansas
Kingman, Kansas
Kingman is a city in and the county seat of Kingman County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,177.-Geography:Kingman is located at...
. He is brother to JoAnn Lock Roberts.