Jack Virkstis

John Virkstis Jr.

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 175 lb.
• School Davenport University
• High School Union High School
• Born July 31, 1931 in Grand Rapids, MI USA
• Died August 22, 2013

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Starting pitcher Jack Virkstis pitched in the Chicago White Sox system from 1949 to 1951 and again in 1954.

With the Madisonville Miners in 1949, the 17-year-old Virkstis was 9-5 with a 3.58 ERA in 18 games. The next year, he was 18-9 with a 3.04 ERA in 32 games for the Superior Blues, allowing only 172 hits in 219 innings. He tied Louis Vavro for first in the Northern League in innings pitched, was second in walks (150, behind Michael Schultz's 160) and tied Robert Hartig behind Ray Kirchoff for second in wins. With the Waterloo White Hawks and Colorado Springs Sky Sox in 1951, Virkstis was 6-16 with a 4.69 ERA in 38 games. He did not play in 1952 or 1953. Returning in 1954, he was 0-5 with a 6.94 ERA in 15 games for the White Hawks.

Overall, Virkstis was 33-35 with a 4.00 ERA in 103 games.

He served with the United States Marines during the Korean War.