Steve Gerkin

Stephen Paul Gerkin
(Splinter)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 162 lb.

• Debut May 13, 1945
• Final Game August 10, 1945
• Born November 19, 1912 in Grafton, WV USA
• Died November 8, 1978 in Bay Pines, FL USA

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Biographical Information

Right-hander Steve Gerkin entered professional baseball a little late in life as a thirty-year-old rookie in 1943 with the Lancaster Red Roses of the class B Interstate League. He quickly proved he could still pitch by winning 20 and losing 11 (the 20 wins tied him for the league lead) and helped his team to the league championship and play-off title. He was also chosen for the All-Star Team.

Steve missed the following season on the diamond as he was called up for military service in the United States Army during World War II. From what happened to Steve in 1945, one would think he probably wishes he had served a little longer in the military.

He was with the Lancaster team again in 1945, pitching well, when Connie Mack called him to Shibe Park to help his fumbling Philadelphia Athletics club. Steve made his debut with the Athletics on May 13, 1945 and was beaten by the St. Louis Browns, 8-2. A lot has been written about the Athletics and their 1945 season. However after all is said and done, they were undoubtedly one of the worst teams in the history of the major leagues. Mack led them to a 52-98 record, 34 1/2 games in arrears. This poor showing also left Gerkin with one of baseball's least coveted records. For his major league time, he recorded 12 losses without a single win, but had a career 3.62 ERA, when Mack sent him back to Lancaster on August 10th. There, he finished out the year with a 6-4 record and a 3.00 ERA.

Gerkin's 0-12 year gave him the uncontested American League record for futility tied only in the majors by the National League's Russ Miller of the 1928 Philadelphia Phillies. No other major league pitcher amassed as many losses in a winless season until Terry Felton went 0-13 for the 1982 Minnesota Twins. It's unfair to say Gerkin is an 0-12 pitcher. After all, he was a good minor league pitcher off and on from 1936 to 1953, interspersing his professional years with semi-pro seasons all over the United States, Mexico and Cuba. For example, he was a minor league All-Star in 1943, 1946, 1947 and 1953 (at the age of 40).

He led the Interstate League with 20 wins in 1943. He went 7-5 with a 3.48 ERA for two clubs in the Mexican League in 1949, walking only 17 in 101 innings. In 1946 and 1947, he led the Western International League and the American Association in appearances with 47 and 83, respectively, the last figure being an Organized Baseball single-season record (since broken) that earned him the American Association MVP Award for 1947. He appeared in the 1947-1948 Cuban Winter League, going 5-4 with a 4.36 ERA in 30 games for Marianao and allowing 3 runs in 5 innings and going 0-1 for Habana; his 32 outings led the circuit. In 1951 he won 6 games and lost 4 for the Lakes-Denison team of the semi-pro Iowa State League, walking just 12 batters in 98 1/3 innings.

Gerkin ended his minor league run in 1953 at the age of 40. Steve chalked up 71 wins with 43 losses and a 3.96 ERA while appearing in 253 games in his six years in the minors. He never had a losing season.

After baseball, Steve became a chef in Maryland before retiring to Florida in 1968. Gerkin died eleven days short of his 66th birthday on November 8, 1978 at Veterans Hospital in Bay Pines, FL.

Notable Achievements

• 1947 MVP American Association Minneapolis Millers