Jake Striker

Wilbur Scott Striker

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
• School Heidelberg College
• High School Sulphur Springs (OH) High School
• Debut September 25, 1959
• Final Game April 24, 1960
• Born October 23, 1933 in New Washington, OH USA
• Died March 7, 2013 in Dallas, OR USA

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Biographical Information

"Jake" Striker was originally signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1952. In addition to his three games in the majors, he pitched nine years in the minors, getting at least 75 victories. In perhaps his best season, he was 17-11 fore the Mobile Bears in 1958.

In his big league debut on September 25, 1959, at the age of 25, Striker tossed 6 2/3 innings of solid baseball, allowing only two earned runs for a 2.70 ERA and the win. He went 0 for 1 with a walk at the plate in what was be the only game in which he appeared for the Indians.

The only player from Heidelberg College to reach the Majors as of 2006, Striker was traded on December 6, 1959 with Dick Brown, Don Ferrarese and Minnie Minoso to the Chicago White Sox for Johnny Romano, Bubba Phillips and Norm Cash.

That basically sealed the fate for his fairly promising career. He only appeared in two games with the White Sox in 1960, both relief appearances. In 3 2/3 innings of work, he posted a 4.91 ERA, striking out one and walking one.

His Major League career ended on April 24, 1960. Overall, he went 1 and 0 with a 3.48 ERA in 3 games in his career. He walked 5, struck out 6 and gave up one home run (to Casey Wise) in 10 1/3 innings of work.

Overall, he wore three uniform numbers in his short two-year career. He wore 23 with the Indians and 20 and 31 with the White Sox.

Striker died in 2013 at age 79.