The Orioles announced this morning that former All-Star pitcher Jerry Walker passed away over the weekend. He was 85.
Walker, a 6’1″ right-hander, signed with Baltimore out of East Central University in Oklahoma. Even though he was just 18 years old at the time, the O’s sent Walker straight to the big leagues. He remarkably managed a 2.93 ERA over 13 appearances (three starts) down the stretch in 1957. The O’s sent him down the following season and gave him nearly a full year in the minors to build up as a starting pitcher. In 1959, Walker got a shot at Baltimore’s rotation.
During his age-20 season, Walker turned in the best year of his career. He fired 182 innings of 2.92 ERA ball while recording 100 strikeouts. Between 1959-62, MLB hosted two All-Star Games per season. The American League tabbed Walker to open the second All-Star contest in 1959.
At 20 years and 172 days, he remains the youngest starting pitcher in All-Star Game history. (Just behind him on that list are Fernando Valenzuela, Dwight Gooden, Mark Fidrych, Vida Blue, yesterday’s NL starter Paul Skenes, and Denny McLain.) Walker started opposite Don Drysdale and got the win against a National League lineup that included Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks and Stan Musial.
Walker pitched one more season in Baltimore, working to a 3.74 ERA across 118 innings. The O’s traded him to the then-Kansas City A’s going into the 1961 campaign in a deal that netted them outfielder Dick Williams and reliever Dick Hall. Walker struggled over two seasons in the Kansas City rotation. The A’s eventually swapped him to the Indians for Chuck Essegian (who’d coincidentally gone to K.C. alongside Walker in the 1961 trade before being quickly sold to Cleveland). Walker worked out of the Cleveland bullpen for two seasons. He finished his playing career in the upper minors in 1967.
That preceded a much lengthier second act in various off-field roles. Walker worked as a scout, minor league manager and MLB pitching coach well into the 1980s. He worked his way up to general manager of the Tigers in 1993, leading the front office for one season in which the team went 85-77. Walker held roles in the Cardinals and Reds front offices into the 2010s.
Over parts of eight MLB campaigns, Walker turned in a 4.36 earned run average. He compiled a 37-44 record with 326 strikeouts across 747 innings. Walker tossed 16 complete games, seven of which came during the ’59 season in which he made All-Star history. MLBTR sends our condolences to Walker’s family, loved ones, and various former teammates and colleagues throughout the industry.
Thought it said Jordan Walker. Got scared for a sec. RIP to him
Same boat. I thought it said Tyler Perry.
I don’t read good.
That’s FartCop for ya.
I’m fighting for my life out here, Keith.
I don’t read well.
Andy Dufresne
Welcome to the club. With a little work, I bet we can both be well readers in no time.
He wrote some good train songs.
Jerry saved Early Wynn’s 300th win when he pitched several innings of relief vs. KC.
Lou- You May have played in that game in 1963.Early pitched the first five innings and Walker the last four.I remember it well.
Wynn retired the next day as he had his 300 wins.
Rest In Peace Jerry Walker.
I played for Milwaukee that year.
One of the ‘Baby Birds’. Young starting pitchers that Paul Richards brought in. They were the pitching staff of the O’s team that went onto win WS’s and contend for years.
Milt Pappas. Steve Barber. Dave McNally. Jack Fisher. Later Jim Palmer. Others.
Ol time baseball, called it “the Oriole way.” RIP
Wally Bunker.
Walker pitched a sixteen inning shutout in 1959 against the White Sox. Unbelievable these days! sabr.org/gamesproj/game/september-11-1959-orioles-…
RIP
RIP Jerry…..
Imagine the thrill Jerry had facing Ken Boyer, Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Stan Musial and Eddie Matthews in that All-Star Game.
Have a sweet PSA 9 Jerry Walker card.
RIP.
He was a Bonus Baby (look it up), signed for 20K out of school.
Bonus Babies had to be on the active MLB roster for two whole years. That silly rule, invoked to penalize clubs paying big bucks to young kids and to prevent bidding wars, helped burn out a lot of young guys who needed prep in the minors.
Here’s a list of them, some HOFers, many never made it:
baseball-almanac.com/legendary/Bonus_Babies.shtml#….
Got traded for a couple of Dicks.
Walker was a bonus baby. The Orioles had to put him directly onto the 1957 roster. The rules were changed prior to 1958 which allowed the Orioles to option Walker. For bonus babies see Harmon Killebrew.