Chuck Locke

Charles Edward Locke

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut September 16, 1955
• Final Game September 23, 1955
• Born May 5, 1932 in Malden, MO USA
• Died January 9, 2015 in Poplar Bluff, MO USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Eighteen-year-old Chuck Locke was signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Browns before the 1950 season and was farmed out in his first pro season to the Pittsburg Browns of the Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League and pitched one of his best seasons in the minors with a 11-7 effort and a 2.45 ERA. The right-hander worked his way slowly up the ladder and after winning 18 games for the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League he got a late-season call-up to the Baltimore Orioles in 1955.

Locke was very effective in the only two appearances he made in the majors allowing no runs or hits in three innings of relief. He recalled his debut: "Erv Palica made a start against the Washington Senators in Baltimore and was in trouble every inning. They had me up and throwing in the bullpen the whole game until I was finally called in. I was pinch hit for by George Kell."

The following year in spring training Chuck pitched well and threw six scoreless innings in his final appearance but was sent out to the Vancouver Mounties of the Pacific Coast League where he didn't fare well, going 2-9 with a 4.58 ERA. He left baseball two seasons later. This wound up his pro career, showing nine seasons in the game with a 82-97 record and a 3.63 ERA. He did have some pleasant memories.

In a photo that ran on the national wire services and in the Sporting News, Locke was photographed with the blonde bombshell actress Jayne Mansfield. Chuck remembers: "She was at an exhibition game during spring training that was being played for the Spencer Tracy Foundation. She was there with her husband to throw out the first pitch, and then I had my picture taken with her."

Locke resided in Poplar Bluff, MO, and retired in 1995 after 37 years with MFA Mutual and later Shelter Mutual as an insurance adjuster handling fire loss and personal injury claims. He passed away in 2015¸ at the age of 82.

Sources

• Baseball Players of the 1950s
  

Related Sites

• BR Minors page