Skip Pitlock
Encyclopedia
Lee Patrick Thomas Pitlock (born November 6, 1947) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. Noted for his unusual wind-up, he had a "herky-jerky" motion which deceived major league batters, and led to 124 career strikeouts in 192.2 innings pitched
.
, and attended Immaculate Conception High School
in Elmhurst, Illinois
. Drafted by the San Francisco Giants
in the eleventh round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft
out of Southern Illinois University
, Pitlock went 10-2 with a 2.20 earned run average
in his first professional season with the Pioneer League Great Falls Giants and California League
Fresno Giants to jump all the way to triple A for his sophomore season.
against Bob Gibson
and the St. Louis Cardinals
, Pitlock was tagged for four runs
in the first three innings and took the loss in his major league debut. His finest performance was a complete game
victory on August 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
, in which he allowed two unearned runs on four hits
and two walks while striking out nine. For the season, Pitlock went 5-5 with a 4.66 ERA in fifteen starts. He also made thirteen starts for the Phoenix Giants, going 10-3 with a 2.46 ERA.
He spent the next two seasons with Phoenix, going a combined 15-21 with a 4.93 ERA. Originally a starter when he signed with the Giants, Pitlock began seeing more work in relief
in & . During Spring training
, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox
for Chuck Hartenstein
and Glenn Redmon
.
out of Spring training
, going 2-2 with a 4.01 ERA in 35 relief appearances, and earning his only career save on June 19 against the Cleveland Indians
. He also made five starts, going 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA.
Pitlock faced just one major league batter, Billy Williams in , and gave up an RBI
single
. He was 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA for the Denver Bears mostly in relief. On June 15, he and Stan Bahnsen
were traded to the Oakland Athletics
for Dave Hamilton
and Chet Lemon
.
Upon his acquisition by the A's, he was assigned to the Pacific Coast League
's Tucson Toros
, and converted back into a starter. He spent one more season as a minor leaguer before retiring.
in 1974, and struck out eighteen times in 25 career at-bats. His one career home run
came on August 8, 1970 against Wade Blasingame
of the Houston Astros
.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. Noted for his unusual wind-up, he had a "herky-jerky" motion which deceived major league batters, and led to 124 career strikeouts in 192.2 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
Early years
Pitlock was born in Hillside, IllinoisHillside, Illinois
Hillside is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,155 at the 2000 census.One notable landmark in Hillside is the Mount Carmel Cemetery. On the grounds of the cemetery are the graves of a number of organized crime figures, such as Al Capone and Dion O'Bannion...
, and attended Immaculate Conception High School
Immaculate Conception High School (Elmhurst, Illinois)
Immaculate Conception High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Elmhurst, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois. IC competes in the Suburban Christian Conference. The Boys athletic teams are nicknamed the "Knights", while the Girls teams are...
in Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage and Cook Counties, Illinois. The population is 46,013 as of the 2008 US Census population estimate.-History:...
. Drafted by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in the eleventh round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft
1969 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Washington Senators tabbed slugging outfielder Jeff Burroughs of Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA as the nation's number one pick...
out of Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
, Pitlock went 10-2 with a 2.20 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in his first professional season with the Pioneer League Great Falls Giants and California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
Fresno Giants to jump all the way to triple A for his sophomore season.
San Francisco Giants
Just about a year to the day after signing with the Giants, Pitlock earned his first call to the major leagues in June, . StartingStarting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
against Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson
Robert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
and the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, Pitlock was tagged for four runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in the first three innings and took the loss in his major league debut. His finest performance was a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
victory on August 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, in which he allowed two unearned runs on four hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and two walks while striking out nine. For the season, Pitlock went 5-5 with a 4.66 ERA in fifteen starts. He also made thirteen starts for the Phoenix Giants, going 10-3 with a 2.46 ERA.
He spent the next two seasons with Phoenix, going a combined 15-21 with a 4.93 ERA. Originally a starter when he signed with the Giants, Pitlock began seeing more work in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in & . During Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for Chuck Hartenstein
Chuck Hartenstein
Charles Oscar Hartenstein [Twiggy] is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for five different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 5' 11", 165 lb., Hartenstein batted and threw right-handed...
and Glenn Redmon
Glenn Redmon
Glenn Vincent Redmon is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who appeared in seven games for the San Francisco Giants in . He batted and threw right-handed....
.
Chicago White Sox
Pitlock went 8-8 with a 4.05 ERA for the Denver Bears in . He earned a job in Chicago's bullpenBullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
out of Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, going 2-2 with a 4.01 ERA in 35 relief appearances, and earning his only career save on June 19 against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. He also made five starts, going 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA.
Pitlock faced just one major league batter, Billy Williams in , and gave up an RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
. He was 4-1 with a 3.91 ERA for the Denver Bears mostly in relief. On June 15, he and Stan Bahnsen
Stan Bahnsen
Stanley Raymond Bahnsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Nicknamed the "Bahnsen Burner," he once made 118 starts over a three year stretch while playing with the Chicago White Sox in the mid 1970s.-New York Yankees:...
were traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Dave Hamilton
Dave Hamilton (baseball)
David Edward Hamilton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who won three World Series championships as a member of the Oakland Athletics in the early 1970s.-Oakland A's:...
and Chet Lemon
Chet Lemon
Chester Earl Lemon is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. A three time All-Star, he was a member of the World Series champion 1984 Detroit Tigers.-Early years:...
.
Upon his acquisition by the A's, he was assigned to the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
's Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
, and converted back into a starter. He spent one more season as a minor leaguer before retiring.
Career stats
A below average fielder and hitter, Pitlock committed four errorsError (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 1974, and struck out eighteen times in 25 career at-bats. His one career home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
came on August 8, 1970 against Wade Blasingame
Wade Blasingame
Wade Allen Blasingame was a Pitcher for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves , Houston Astros and New York Yankees ....
of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.