William Alan Laskey (born December 20, 1957) is an American former professional baseball player who was a pitcher for six seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1982 to 1986 and in 1988. He played for the San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos, and Cleveland Indians. Laskey stands 6 feet 5 inches (196 cm) tall and weighs 190 pounds (86 kg). When he played he batted and threw right-handed.
| Bill Laskey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: December 20, 1957 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 23, 1982, for the San Francisco Giants | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 13, 1988, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 42–53 |
| Earned run average | 4.14 |
| Strikeouts | 325 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Early life
editWilliam Alan Laskey was born on December 20, 1957, in Toledo, Ohio. He attended Woodward High School and graduated in 1975, where he excelled in baseball. He was inducted into Woodward High School's Hall of Fame in 1999 and the City of Toledo's Hall of Fame in 2002.[1]
College career
editLaskey played collegiately for Monroe Community College and Kent State University. In 1977, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2]
Professional career
editDrafts and minor leagues
editLaskey was drafted twice by the Detroit Tigers in the 1977 MLB draft. On January 11, he was drafted in the eighth round of the January Draft-Regular Phase from Monroe Community College (Rochester, NY), but did not sign. On June 7, he was drafted in the first round (23rd overall) of the June Draft-Secondary Phase, but did not sign. On June 6, the Kansas City Royals drafted Laskey in the second round of the 1978 MLB draft in the June Draft-Secondary Phase from Kent State University (Kent, OH), and he signed.
On December 11, 1981, Laskey was traded along with Rich Gale to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Jerry Martin.[3][4]
San Francisco Giants (1982–1985)
editOn April 23 at Candlestick Park, Laskey made his Major League debut in relief against the Los Angeles Dodgers. On April 28 at Candlestick Park, in a 7–0 win over the Montreal Expos, Laskey started his first Major League game and pitched his first career Major League complete game and shutout. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Laskey recorded his first career Major League hit and run batted in, an RBI single off Bill Gullickson to right field that scored Jack Clark. To end the top of the fifth inning, Laskey struck out Tim Raines for his first career Major League strikeout.[5] In 1982, Laskey was selected to the MLB All-Star Game but was persuaded by Tommy Lasorda to relinquish his roster spot to make room for a soon-to-retire Phil Niekro as a gesture. Niekro went on to pitch five more years, and Laskey was never selected for another All-Star Game. Laskey has said he "never should have trusted Tommy Lasorda." That year, as a rookie, Laskey won a career-high and team-leading 13 games. He received the Rookie Right Handed Pitcher of the Year Award from Baseball Digest and Topps Baseball Cards in 1982. Laskey led the Giants in wins, ERA and most innings pitched in 1982 and 1983.
Montreal Expos (1985)
editOn August 1, 1985, Laskey was traded along with Scot Thompson to the Montreal Expos in exchange for Dan Driessen.[6]
Second stint with the Giants (1986)
editOn October 24, 1985, Laskey was traded back to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Alonzo Powell and George Riley. On May 2 at Candlestick Park, against the Chicago Cubs, Laskey recorded his first career Major League hold. On May 13, 1986, at Wrigley Field, in a 6–5 win over the Chicago Cubs, Laskey recorded his first career Major League save.
Detroit Tigers
editOn February 4, 1987, Laskey signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers.
Cleveland Indians (1988)
editOn January 1, 1988, Laskey signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians.
Post-playing career
editLaskey served as the head coach of the girls varsity softball team at Aragon High School in San Mateo, California. He retired with a 78–62–3 overall record as their coach. He also coached at Palo Alto High School and Crystal Springs Uplands School.[7][8] Laskey has also had a broadcasting career. He was formerly a baseball analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area, and is now a radio host and on-air personality for KNBR, hosting Extra Innings with Bill Laskey.[9] He is President of Celebrity Connection, a sports talent agency. Laskey also runs the Giants fantasy camp.[10]
References
edit- ^ "1999_laskey".
- ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ "Giants Win as Gale Hits First Homer in Majors". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. June 6, 1982. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
- ^ "Rich Gale – Society for American Baseball Research".
- ^ "Chances are there will never be a day in".
- ^ "Two months after Dan Driessen demanded a trade, the Montre". Associated Press.
- ^ "Palo Alto pitcher's no-hitter was just perfect this time".
- ^ "News from the Field: Bill Laskey". September 21, 2016.
- ^ "Extra Innings with Bill Laskey | KNBR".
- ^ "Bill Laskey | Giants Fantasy Camp | San Francisco Giants". MLB.com.
External links
edit- Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet, or Pura Pelota