Don Kreke

Donald Francis Kreke

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 195 lb.
• School Belleville Area Junior College
• High School Mater Dei High School
• Born January 16, 1952

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Don Kreke played in the minor leagues from 1971 to 1976. He and his cousin Paul threw 4 consecutive no-hitters in high school. He was originally taken by the Cincinnati Reds in the 21st round of the 1970 amateur draft, one pick after future Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter, but did not sign. However, he did sign after being taken by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1st round of the secondary phase of the 1971 amateur draft. With the Walla Walla Phillies in 1971, Kreke went 8-2 with a 3.45 ERA in 13 games (12 starts); in 86 innings, he had 100 strikeouts. He followed that with a 15-7 record, 13 complete games and a 3.14 ERA in 27 starts for the Spartanburg Phillies. He was 10-8, 3.77 for the Reading Phillies in 1973 and 6-11, 5.25 for the same club in 1974. His K/9 IP ratio fell to 3.8, after being 7.0 the year before and 8.5 in 1972. In 1975, he rebounded to go 14-6, 3.42 in 27 games (25 starts) between two clubs, completing 12 games. He joined the Pittsburgh Pirates system for 1976, but spent just 2 games there.

Overall, Kreke went 53-34 with 42 complete games in 111 games (106 starts) over six seasons. In 710 innings, he allowed 716 hits and 236 walks (1.341 WHIP), while striking out 518 batters.

His son, Jordan Kreke, played in the minor leagues from 2009 to 2012. His cousin Paul would be drafted out of high school in 1971, but went on to junior college and never played professionally.