Don Wilson Lock (July 27, 1936 – October 8, 2017)[1] was an American professional baseball player and outfielder in the Major Leagues from 1962 to 1969 for the Washington Senators (1962–66), Philadelphia Phillies (1967–69), and Boston Red Sox (1969). A native of Wichita, Kansas, Lock attended Kingman High School in Kingman, Kansas, then attended what is now Wichita State University. He stood 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) (1.88 m) tall and weighed 202 pounds (92 kg), and threw and batted right-handed.
| Don Lock | |
|---|---|
 Lock in 1962 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: July 27, 1936 Wichita, Kansas, U.S. | |
| Died: October 8, 2017 (aged 81) Wichita, Kansas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 17, 1962, for the Washington Senators | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 1, 1969, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .238 |
| Home runs | 122 |
| Runs batted in | 373 |
| Teams | |
Lock signed with the New York Yankees in 1958 but never appeared in an MLB game for the team. 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 for Washington that season, but by early 1963 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 1963 and 1964, when he hit 27 and 28 home runs and drove home 82 and 80 runs batted in respectively. Lock led American League center fielders in put-outs, assists and double plays turned in 1963, and all AL outfielders in assists the following year. As a batter, he finished second in the league in strikeouts in both 1963 and 1964.
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), and in part of 1973 for the Wilson Pennants, a co-op team in the Carolina League, after his playing career ended.
References edit
- ^ Eldridge, Taylor (October 9, 2017). "Two-sport Wichita State great, Don Lock, dies at 81 on Sunday". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
External links edit
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Don Lock at SABR (Baseball BioProject)
- Don Lock at Find a Grave