Bill Laskey – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Bill Laskey’s baseball story is about a pitcher who burst onto the Major League Baseball scene and then faced the same ups and downs that so many pros do. Born in Toledo, Ohio, this righty played six major league seasons from 1982 to 1986, stepped away for a year, and then came back for one last season in 1988 with the Cleveland Indians.

Laskey retired from Major League Baseball in 1988 after his stint with the Indians. He kept playing in the minor leagues until 1991. His MLB journey took him to three teams: the San Francisco Giants, Montreal Expos, and Cleveland Indians. He found his best success early on with San Francisco.

At 6-foot-5, Laskey towered on the mound. His career shows what it’s like to go from a promising rookie to adapting roles as a pro. After he left the majors, he stuck around the game, jumping into baseball broadcasting and staying close to the sport he loved.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

William Alan Laskey was born December 20, 1957, in Toledo, Ohio. That’s where he started building his baseball foundation.

He went to Toledo Woodward High School and played college ball at Kent State University for just one year.

Childhood and Family

William Alan Laskey came into the world on December 20, 1957, in Toledo. Growing up in this blue-collar city on Lake Erie, he found himself surrounded by folks who really cared about baseball.

Toledo’s youth baseball programs gave him plenty of chances to play and improve his skills. He learned the basics and started figuring out what he could do on the mound.

His family always cheered him on, which definitely helped. That support made a big difference as he started to show some real talent as a pitcher.

The local baseball scene in Toledo pushed him to compete with some tough players. Those early games and tournaments gave him a taste of what it’d take to keep moving up.

High School Career

He went to Toledo Woodward High School and graduated in 1975. During those years, he stood out as one of the top players on the team.

College scouts and pro teams noticed his pitching. What he learned at Woodward laid the groundwork for everything that came next.

High school baseball in Toledo was competitive, and Laskey used those games to sharpen his pitching. He learned to keep his cool when the pressure was on.

His performances caught the eye of college recruiters. They saw his potential and wanted him on their teams.

Collegiate Baseball at Kent State University

After high school, Laskey joined Kent State University in 1978. He played for the Kent State Golden Flashes for just one season.

That short college stint was actually pretty important. Playing at the college level brought new challenges and pushed him to get better.

During that year, he kept working on his pitching. The coaches at Kent State helped him prepare for the next step.

Professional scouts took notice of his progress. The Kansas City Royals drafted him in the 2nd round of the 1978 amateur draft, so he left college after just one season.

Jumping into pro baseball so early showed just how much talent he had. Looking back, it was probably the right move for his career.

Path to the Major Leagues

Bill Laskey’s route to the majors started with the amateur draft and took him through a few minor league systems. He spent time with the Kansas City Royals organization before finally breaking out as a starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants in 1982.

MLB Draft and Minor League Development

Laskey first attended Monroe County Community College, then moved to Kent State University, where he really started honing his pitching. At 6’5” and 190 pounds, he definitely looked the part on the mound.

He became known for his soft-throwing style and great control. That approach stuck with him as he moved up the ranks.

Laskey started his minor league career in the late ‘70s. He focused on sharpening his command and learning how to handle tougher hitters.

Kansas City Royals Organization

He spent his early pro years in the Royals’ minor league system. The coaches there worked with him on using his natural control and adjusting his college style for the pros.

Instead of trying to blow hitters away, Laskey leaned into his strengths. Coaches liked his patience and his willingness to throw strikes.

The Royals gave him the experience he needed to eventually make it to the big leagues. That time in the minors really set him up for what was next.

Breakthrough with the Giants

The San Francisco Giants picked up Laskey and gave him his shot in the majors. He made his MLB debut on April 23, 1982, at age 24, facing the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Just five days later, on April 28, Laskey got his first major league win. He threw a complete game shutout against the Montreal Expos in only his second appearance.

The Giants quickly saw he could be a reliable starter. He went 13-12 in 1982, leading the team in wins and cementing his spot in the rotation.

That rookie year earned him a spot on the 1982 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. Not bad at all for a first season in the bigs.

Major League Baseball Career Highlights

Bill Laskey finished his MLB career with a 42-53 record over 160 games. He did his best work with the San Francisco Giants from 1982 to 1986, leading the team in wins his first two years before things got a lot tougher later on.

San Francisco Giants Tenure

Laskey made a splash with the Giants in 1982. He posted a 13-12 record as a rookie and led the team in wins.

His first big league victory came on April 28, 1982—a complete game shutout against the Expos in just his second game.

He kept it going in 1983, going 13-10 in only 25 games and again leading the Giants in wins.

That early success landed him on the 1982 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. His size and steady delivery made him a key part of the Giants’ rotation.

Notable Seasons: 1982 to 1986

Laskey’s career started strong, but the momentum didn’t last. In his first two seasons, he went 26-22, showing he could be a reliable starter.

He was at his most durable in 1984, pitching over 200 innings. That year, he proved he could handle a heavy workload.

After 1983, though, he struggled. Over his last four MLB seasons, he managed just a 16-31 record and had trouble staying consistent.

The 1985 season was especially rough. He started 5-11 with a 3.55 ERA in 19 starts before the Giants traded him to Montreal on August 1.

Montreal Expos Years

The Giants sent Laskey and outfielder Scot Thompson to Montreal for first baseman Dan Driessen. Things didn’t get any easier for Laskey with the Expos.

He pitched in 11 games for Montreal, starting seven. He went 0-5 with a 9.44 ERA, which was the lowest point of his career.

After the season, the Expos traded him back to San Francisco. Montreal got pitcher George Riley and minor leaguer Alonzo Powell in return.

Laskey made 20 relief appearances for the Giants in 1986. He wrapped up his major league career with Cleveland in 1988.

Final MLB Seasons and Retirement in 1988

Bill Laskey’s big league days ended after he took a year off in 1987, then came back for one final season with the Cleveland Indians in 1988. He worked out of the bullpen that year, a big change from his earlier starting role.

Time with the Cleveland Indians

Laskey joined the Indians for the 1988 season after spending most of his career with the Giants. This was his last shot at the majors.

Cleveland gave him a chance to keep playing, but as a reliever this time. He’d spent nearly all his previous MLB time as a starter.

After missing all of 1987, he returned to the majors ready for one last run. That year away might’ve helped him gear up for his final campaign.

1988 Season Overview

He pitched in 17 games for Cleveland in 1988, all out of the bullpen. He went 1-0 with a 5.18 ERA over 24.1 innings.

Laskey struck out 17 and walked 6, showing a bit more control than in some earlier years. He gave up 32 hits and 14 earned runs in that final season.

The veteran even picked up a save. His last MLB game came on August 13, 1988, against the Texas Rangers, where he pitched 3.2 innings, allowed 6 hits, and struck out 2.

Relief Appearances and Final Performance

Switching to relief pitching was a big shift for Laskey. He finished six games and earned his last save in the majors.

In his final outing, he allowed just one earned run and struck out two. That closed out a six-season MLB career stretching from 1982 to 1988.

After his last big league game, Laskey played a bit longer in the minors until 1991. He spent time in the Royals, Braves, and Rangers systems before officially calling it a career.

Pitching Style and Career Performance

Bill Laskey’s six-year MLB run was more about eating up innings than racking up strikeouts. He posted a 4.14 ERA over 745.1 innings from 1982 to 1988. His rookie season was his high point, and things got tougher as he moved from starter to reliever.

Pitching Strengths and Weaknesses

Laskey’s main strength was his durability, especially early on. In 1982, he completed seven games and tossed 189.1 innings with a 3.14 ERA.

He hit his peak in 1984, logging 207.2 innings over 34 starts. That showed he could handle a heavy workload for the Giants.

But he struggled to strike batters out. His strikeout rate was just 3.9 per nine innings, which was pretty low for that era.

Control issues started to pop up later in his career. His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning) jumped from 1.210 in 1982 to 1.470 by 1985.

Things really fell apart during his short time in Montreal in 1985. He posted a 9.44 ERA in 11 games there.

Career Statistics and ERA

Laskey wrapped up his career with a 42-53 record and a 4.14 ERA over 159 games. His best ERA came as a rookie in 1982—3.14, which he never quite matched again.

He wasn’t a big strikeout pitcher, finishing with 325 over six years. That’s about 54 a season when he was playing regularly.

ERA by Team:

• San Francisco Giants: 3.84 ERA (5 seasons)
• Cleveland Indians: 5.18 ERA (1988)
• Montreal Expos: 9.44 ERA (part of 1985)

Hitters managed 784 hits off him in 745.1 innings, so they had some success. His home run rate of 0.9 per nine innings was okay, but nothing special.

In 1988, he moved to the bullpen for Cleveland, pitching in 17 games and not starting any.

Legacy and Post-Retirement Contributions

After his playing days, Bill Laskey dove into different roles in baseball and around his local community. He found his groove as a high school softball coach, a television analyst, and even became an official Giants ambassador.

Coaching and Sports Media Roles

Laskey started coaching softball at Aragon High School in San Mateo. He used his experience as a professional pitcher to help young athletes grow their skills.

He didn’t stop there. He jumped into sports media as an analyst for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Laskey gave commentary and broke down baseball games and players, drawing on what he knew from his own time in the majors.

These jobs kept him close to the game. Coaching and broadcasting let him share his knowledge with a whole new generation.

Ambassadorship with the Giants

The San Francisco Giants brought Laskey back as an official team ambassador. They wanted to recognize what he’d done for the franchise from 1982 to 1986.

As a Giants ambassador, Laskey shows up at events and connects with fans and the Bay Area community. He’s kind of a bridge between the team and everyone who loves them.

This role really shows the strong relationship between Laskey and the Giants. The organization appreciated his professionalism and made sure to keep that connection alive after he retired.

Community Involvement

Laskey worked at Aragon High School, showing just how much he cares about youth sports. He coached high school athletes, which let him give back to the next generation.

He took on different roles around the San Francisco Bay Area, and you can really see how much he values his roots. Laskey decided to stick around and help out with local sports programs.

He stayed active in baseball and sports education through coaching, media gigs, and working as a team ambassador. These things kept him close to the game that really shaped his life.