1961 Topps #26, Wes Stock

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Wes Stock's 1961 Topps #26 baseball card is shown
here, both front and back:

http://home.triad.rr.com/ovis/images/026_Stock-a.jpg

http://home.triad.rr.com/ovis/images/026_Stock-b.jpg

Wes Stock was a product of the Orioles farm system,
which produced some pitching talent in the late 50s and
early 60s. This group of pitchers, dubbed the "Kiddie
Korps", included Wes, Jack Fisher, Chuck Estrada,
Steve Barber, Milt Pappas, Jerry Walker, and Billy O'dell.

Wes was brought up by the Orioles in 1959, but only
pitched 13 innings, stretched over 7 games that year
before being sent back down to the minors.

He was brought back up in 1960 and, in a relief role,
pitched in 17 games that year. Relief duty was what
Wes was cut out for. The right hander only started 3
games out of his 321 game career. In his 37 innings
pitched in 1960, Wes had a very nice 2.88 ERA.

In 1961, the year of this card, Wes was 5-0, with an
ERA of 3.01 in 72 innings pitched.

On May 26, 1963, Wes entered the Orioles record
books by winning both games of a double header
against the Cleveland Indians, a record that still
stands. (Don Aase holds the opposite of this Orioles
record, by losing both games of a double header on
8/28/86 against Oakland)

Wes continued in his reliever role with the Orioles
until June of 1964, when he was traded to the K.C.
Athletics. For the rest of '64, with Kansas City, he
got even more work, pitching in 50 games for them,
with a terrific 1.94 ERA.

In 1965 his ERA ballooned to 5.24, but, although
he was used less in 1966, he brought his ERA back
down to 2.66. This would be Wes' last year as a
player, as he only pitched one inning in 1967.

He had a lifetime ERA of 3.60.

Wes would stay on with the Athletics in 1967 as a
pitching coach. He would also coach the Brewers
from 1970-1972, Oakland from '72-'76, Seattle from
'77 to '81, and Oakland again from '84-86.

In 1982 and 1983 Wes did television color commentary
for the Mariners, and in 1987 produced a video on
pitching called "The Science of Pitching", which I
think can still be found with a little effort.
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John Wade