Skip Lockwood
Encyclopedia
Claude Edward Lockwood Jr. (born August 17, 1946 in Roslindale, Massachusetts) is an American
former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He pitched for the Seattle Pilots (1969), Milwaukee Brewers
(1970-1973), California Angels (1974), New York Mets
(1975-1979) and Boston Red Sox
(1980).
, where he earned 14 varsity letters in four years. His school record time in the 100-yard dash in still stands. Lockwood was a third baseman
when he signed with the Kansas City Athletics out of high school in 1964 as an amateur free agent.
Despite batting
only .208 with the Burlington Bees
, he showed decent power with five home run
s in 236 at bats, and was brought up to the majors
for the season. With the A's, he batted only .121 with eleven strikeout
s in 33 at bats, and was back in the minor leagues the next two seasons.
in the 1967
Rule 5 draft
, but, following spring training
, he was returned to his original club, which had moved to Oakland. Upon his return to the Athletics organization, Lockwood was converted to a pitcher
despite having only pitched one inning
with the Modesto Reds
in . On October 15, , he was selected by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 expansion draft. During their first and only season
, he made his major league debut on the mound with the Pilots, going 0-1 with a 3.52 earned run average
in six games.
Lockwood spent the next four years with the franchise following their move to Milwaukee, and spent most of his time with the Brewers as a starting pitcher
. In his final season in Milwaukee, 1973
, he made 22 of his 37 appearances out of the bullpen
. Up to that point, he'd only made seven appearances in relief
.
In 1975, Lockwood joined the New York Mets. It was in New York
that Lockwood truly blossomed as a reliever. In and , Lockwood earned 19 and 20 saves, respectively, and established a Mets season record for Games in 1977 with 63. According to the Mets blog, Amazin' Avenue, Lockwood is the forty-second best player in Mets history. Unfortunately Lockwood played for the Mets during one of the darker times in franchise history (98 losses in 1977, 96 in & 99 in ).
He signed with the Boston Red Sox for the 1980 season, going 3-1 and making one start. The following Spring, he was released by the Red Sox, and retired shortly afterwards. In twelve seasons, Lockwood's career stats are:
with a S.M. in . He is one of the few MIT graduates who have played Major League Baseball. Lockwood was also an accomplished candlepin bowler.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former Major League Baseball
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...
. He pitched for the Seattle Pilots (1969), Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1970-1973), California Angels (1974), 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...
(1975-1979) 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"...
(1980).
Third base
Lockwood attended Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, MassachusettsWest Roxbury, Massachusetts
West Roxbury is a neighborhood in Boston bordered by Roslindale to the north, the Town of Dedham to the east and south, the Town of Brookline and the City of Newton to the west. Many people mistakenly confuse West Roxbury with Roxbury, but the two are not connected. West Roxbury is separated from...
, where he earned 14 varsity letters in four years. His school record time in the 100-yard dash in still stands. Lockwood was a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
when he signed with the Kansas City Athletics out of high school in 1964 as an amateur free agent.
Despite 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 :...
only .208 with the Burlington Bees
Burlington Bees
The Burlington Bees are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Oakland Athletics, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home is in Burlington, Iowa.-History:...
, he showed decent power with five 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...
s in 236 at bats, and was brought up to the majors
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...
for the season. With the A's, he batted only .121 with eleven strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 33 at bats, and was back in the minor leagues the next two seasons.
Pitcher
On November 28, , Lockwood was drafted by the Houston AstrosHouston 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...
in the 1967
1967 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros season was a season in American baseball. It involved the 69-93 Astros ninth-place finish in the National League, 32½ games behind the NL and World Series Champion St...
Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, but, following 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 returned to his original club, which had moved to Oakland. Upon his return to the Athletics organization, Lockwood was converted to a 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...
despite having only pitched one inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
with the Modesto Reds
Modesto Nuts
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Colorado Rockies. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans...
in . On October 15, , he was selected by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 expansion draft. During their first and only season
1969 Seattle Pilots season
The Seattle Pilots season was a season in American baseball. It was the team's inaugural season, having entered Major League Baseball as an expansion team during the offseason...
, he made his major league debut on the mound with the Pilots, going 0-1 with a 3.52 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 six games.
Lockwood spent the next four years with the franchise following their move to Milwaukee, and spent most of his time with the Brewers as a starting pitcher
Starting 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....
. In his final season in Milwaukee, 1973
1973 Milwaukee Brewers season
The Milwaukee Brewers season involved the Brewers' finishing fifth in the American League East with a record of 74 wins and 88 losses.- Offseason :...
, he made 22 of his 37 appearances out of the bullpen
Bullpen
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"...
. Up to that point, he'd only made seven appearances 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...
.
Relief pitcher
Following an off season trade, Lockwood was used almost exclusively as a reliever by the California Angels (35 relief appearances, two starts). With the Angels, he earned his first save.In 1975, Lockwood joined the New York Mets. It was in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that Lockwood truly blossomed as a reliever. In and , Lockwood earned 19 and 20 saves, respectively, and established a Mets season record for Games in 1977 with 63. According to the Mets blog, Amazin' Avenue, Lockwood is the forty-second best player in Mets history. Unfortunately Lockwood played for the Mets during one of the darker times in franchise history (98 losses in 1977, 96 in & 99 in ).
He signed with the Boston Red Sox for the 1980 season, going 3-1 and making one start. The following Spring, he was released by the Red Sox, and retired shortly afterwards. In twelve seasons, Lockwood's career stats are:
Earning a degree
Lockwood graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
with a S.M. in . He is one of the few MIT graduates who have played Major League Baseball. Lockwood was also an accomplished candlepin bowler.