Bob Locker

Robert Awtry Locker

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 200 lb.
• School Iowa State University
• High School George High School
• Debut April 14, 1965
• Final Game June 20, 1975
• Born March 15, 1938 in George, IA USA
• Died August 15, 2022 in Bozeman, MT USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Bob Locker pitched in 576 games but never started a game in the Major Leagues, unusual for a player in his era.

Locker led the Three-I League in strikeouts with 215 in 1961 during a 15-12 2.57 ERA season. He then missed 1962-1963 due to military service. He came back in 1964 to tie for the Pacific Coast League lead in wins with a 16-9 2.59 ERA season.

He was the losing pitcher in Game 4 of the 1972 ALCS pitching for the Oakland A's against the Detroit Tigers. He came on in the bottom of the 10th with the A's up, 3-1. He gave up singles to Dick McAuliffe and Al Kaline. Joel Horlen and Dave Hamilton were not able to get out of the jam and the A's lost the game, 4-3, in 10 innings. The A's did win the series and the World Series. Locker pitched a third of an inning in the World Series, giving up 1 hit.

His first Baseball Card appearance was in the 1965 Topps set.

Notable Achievements

• AL Games Pitched Leader (1967)
• Won a World Series with the Oakland Athletics in 1972

Further Reading

• Keith J. Scherer: "Bob Locker", in Chip Greene, ed.: Mustaches and Mayhem, Charlie O's Three-Time Champions: The Oakland Athletics 1972-74, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2015, pp. 240-246. ISBN 978-1-943816-07-1

Related Sites

• Bob Locker at the SABR Bio Project