Ed Rakow – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ed Rakow pitched right-handed in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1967. His career really shows both the excitement and, honestly, the harsh realities of professional sports.

Born Edward Charles Rakow on May 30, 1935, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he earned the nickname “Rock” and managed to put together a seven-season career in the big leagues, even while dealing with more than his fair share of challenges.

Rakow hung up his cleats in 1967 after his last game on September 28 with the Atlanta Braves. That wrapped up a career that covered 195 major league games and four different teams.

He started out with the Los Angeles Dodgers, breaking into the majors at 24. After that, he moved on to the Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers, and finally the Atlanta Braves.

Over his career, Rakow racked up 484 strikeouts and built a reputation for being a pitcher who wouldn’t back down from even the best hitters.

Ed Rakow’s career offers a window into the tough world of pro athletes in the 1960s. He fought for recognition in Pittsburgh and eventually made it to the sport’s highest level.

His journey through several teams and his battles with arm problems really show both the ups and downs that defined baseball back then.

Early Life and Background

Edward Charles Rakow was born on May 30, 1935, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a Gemini, if that matters to anyone.

His path to Major League Baseball wasn’t exactly easy. He grew up with just his mom at first, and things only settled down after she remarried.

Birth and Family Origins

Rakow was actually born as Edward Charles Ciuksza to Geraldine Stella Ciuksza in Pittsburgh. Geraldine’s parents were Polish immigrants who’d come to the U.S. around the early 1900s.

Geraldine raised Ed by herself for a while. The 1940 U.S. census lists her as a 25-year-old living with her parents and siblings in Pittsburgh, with little Ed, who was five at the time.

In about 1948, Ed and his mom took the Rakow surname when Geraldine married Frederick Carl Rakow. Fred, a Pittsburgh native and World War II Marine, was seven years younger than Geraldine.

The family settled in the Eighth Ward of Pittsburgh, just a couple miles north of Forbes Field. Fred landed a good job with a road paving equipment company, so things got a lot more stable for everyone.

Education and Early Baseball Experiences

Growing up so close to Forbes Field, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Steelers, it’s no wonder Ed got hooked on sports. He put that energy into athletics during prep school and American Legion ball.

Ed learned the game from local legend Dick Romano, who spent decades mentoring young players. Romano even coached future Pirates pitcher Jim Sadowski and a bunch of minor leaguers.

After high school, Rakow played for the semipro St. John club in the Greater Pittsburgh Federation League at Sullivan Field. Back then, he mostly caught and played first base.

He wasn’t just a baseball guy. In 1955, Rakow played quarterback and defensive end for the semi-pro Bloomfield Rams. But in 1956, he lost the QB spot to Johnny Unitas after the future Hall of Famer got cut by the Steelers.

Professional Baseball Career Beginnings

Rakow’s pro baseball journey really got going after a random encounter in 1956 that led to signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He worked his way through the minors for a few years before debuting with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1960.

Signing With Brooklyn Dodgers

Rakow’s baseball path took a sharp turn at a wedding in October 1956. The Pirates had already turned him down at a few tryouts, probably because he was just 5’11” and 178 pounds—hardly the prototype for a big league pitcher.

He was working as a truck driver and machine operator when he met Brooklyn Dodgers scout Howard “Doc” Ruppan at a friend’s wedding. That meeting changed everything for the 21-year-old.

Ruppan liked what he saw at a tryout and offered Rakow a minor league contract, along with a $250 signing bonus. Not a fortune, but it was his ticket into pro baseball.

This was a big shift from what Rakow expected. He’d basically given up on pro ball and settled for sandlot baseball in Pittsburgh, mostly catching and playing first base for the St. John club.

Minor League Years

In spring 1957, Rakow impressed at the Dodgers’ Vero Beach camp and moved up from Class-D to the Reno Silver Sox in the California League (Class C). He walked 113 batters and gave up 16 homers, but still managed 12 wins and 190 innings.

The next year, he moved up to the Green Bay Bluejays in the Three-I League (Class-B). Manager Pete Reiser became a big fan of Rakow, who everyone called “Rock.”

Rakow threw a four-hit shutout against Burlington on April 28, even though it was freezing. Later, when injuries hit, he started both games of a doubleheader.

He tied for the league lead in wins (15) and shutouts (3) that season. Better control helped him cut down on walks.

By 1959, Rakow made it to the Montreal Royals in the International League (Class-AAA). He tossed a two-hit shutout against Rochester and outdueled future MLB star Mike Cuellar in a 10-inning complete game.

Arm trouble slowed him down in late June. The team sent him to Victoria in the Texas League, where he won six out of seven games under manager Reiser.

MLB Debut With Los Angeles Dodgers

Rakow’s strong spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1960 got him a spot on the Major League Baseball roster. He led the team with a 2.00 ERA in Grapefruit League games, setting himself up as the second reliever behind Ed Roebuck.

He made his MLB debut on April 22, 1960, at Busch Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals. Coming in during the eighth with the Dodgers down 10-7, he gave up a homer to the first batter, Daryl Spencer.

A couple weeks after that, Rakow got his first major league start against the Phillies. He lost 4-2, giving up a three-run homer to Jimmie Coker in the sixth.

His early outings didn’t go smoothly. In five relief appearances, he allowed 11 runs and 14 hits in six innings, and his ERA shot up to 11.37.

On June 7, the Dodgers sent him to the Spokane Indians in the Pacific Coast League. Rakow bounced back with a 12-6 record and a 3.26 ERA, helping Spokane finish in first place at 92-61.

The Dodgers brought him back in September for a look. He made two solid appearances, including a season-ending start against Chicago where he gave up just two earned runs over seven innings.

Kansas City Athletics Years

Rakow’s career took off when he joined the Kansas City Athletics in 1961. That trade finally let him start regularly and put up his best Major League Baseball seasons.

Trade to Athletics and Immediate Impact

The Dodgers traded Rakow to the Kansas City Athletics on March 30, 1961. In return, they got right-handed pitcher Howie Reed and $40,000.

Rakow actually welcomed the move. “The Dodgers were good to me,” he said, “but with all the pitchers they had, there was no way I could make that staff. Coming to Kansas City was the biggest break of my career.”

The Athletics had one of the league’s worst pitching staffs, finishing with the second-worst team ERA in 1960. For Rakow, this meant he finally had a shot at regular playing time, something he never could get with the Dodgers.

He started 1961 in the bullpen and had some control issues at first.

Things changed after May 22, when he posted a 1.57 ERA over his next 11 outings. That stretch included 27⅓ innings and got him his first Major League Baseball win on July 2 against the Minnesota Twins.

Key Seasons and Milestones

Manager Eddie Lopat took Rakow under his wing during spring training in 1962. The former pitcher worked closely with him to sharpen his skills and improve his command.

The extra coaching paid off quickly. Rakow earned the team’s “Best Young Pitcher” title in a poll of baseball writers. Manager Hank Bauer picked him as the Opening Day starter for 1962.

1962 Season Highlights:

• Opening Day: Complete game 4-2 win over Minnesota Twins
• First shutout: 1-0 win against Washington Senators on May 20
• Season totals: 14 wins, 11 complete games, 2 shutouts

Rakow’s 1962 season was easily his best in the majors. He led the team in wins (14), starts (35), complete games (11), shutouts (2), innings (235⅓), and strikeouts (159).

Those 14 wins made him the ace of the Athletics’ staff. The team finished 72-90, but Rakow was the steady hand in the rotation.

He spent three full seasons with the Athletics from 1961 to 1963. Even though the teams didn’t win much, Rakow proved he could handle a heavy workload and be a reliable starter.

Detroit Tigers and Major Trades

Rakow joined the Detroit Tigers in November 1963 in a big three-player trade that sent Rocky Colavito and Bob Anderson to Kansas City. Detroit got a good deal, as Rakow gave them solid pitching over two seasons.

Notable Trade Details

The Detroit Tigers picked up Ed Rakow on November 18, 1963, in a blockbuster trade with the Kansas City Athletics. Detroit sent Rocky Colavito and Bob Anderson to Kansas City and got back three players: Jerry Lumpe, Dave Wickersham, and Rakow.

This was a big move for Detroit. Colavito was a star outfielder, but the Tigers got three solid players in return. Lumpe was an established second baseman, Wickersham a reliable pitcher, and Rakow brought experience from Kansas City.

Detroit wanted depth rather than just one star. Al Kaline, the Tigers’ best outfielder, apparently backed the move to get Rakow, showing he believed in him.

Performance With Detroit Tigers

Rakow had his best season with Detroit in 1964. He finished 8-9 with a 3.72 ERA over 42 games. He started 13 times and came out of the bullpen 29 times, proving he could do both jobs.

He pitched 152.1 innings that year and struck out 96. Rakow kept his walks down to 59 and allowed 155 hits. He picked up three saves, showing he could handle pressure.

In 1965, Rakow only pitched in six games, posting a 6.08 ERA before his Detroit stint ended. All told, he went 8-9 with a 3.91 ERA in 48 appearances for the Tigers.

Final MLB Season and Retirement

Rakow’s pro baseball career wrapped up in 1967 after a short run with the Atlanta Braves. That marked the end of his seven-year big league adventure.

His final season saw him split time between the Braves’ AAA Richmond club and 17 games with the big league team before he decided to retire.

Time With Atlanta Braves

After the Detroit Tigers released Rakow in May 1966, the Boston Red Sox picked him up, but he stayed in triple-A baseball. At the end of the 1966 season, the Red Sox traded him to the Atlanta Braves organization.

Rakow started 1967 with the Braves’ AAA Richmond club. Even though he was in the minors, the veteran right-hander eventually earned a call-up to the big league roster.

He pitched in 17 games for the Atlanta Braves during the second half of the 1967 season. His last major league appearance happened on September 28, 1967, in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.

In that final outing, Rakow pitched one inning. He gave up five hits and four earned runs, with no strikeouts or walks.

That last performance was honestly a rough way to say goodbye to his major league career, but it marked the end of his time at the top of professional baseball.

Career Wrap-Up and Retirement in 1967

Rakow wrapped up his major league career after the 1967 season. He pitched in 195 games over seven seasons from 1960 to 1967, taking the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers, and Atlanta Braves.

The right-handed pitcher finished his MLB career with 484 strikeouts, 20 complete games, and five saves. Over 761⅓ innings, he gave up 771 hits and 304 walks.

After his last big league season, Rakow kept playing at the AAA level with Richmond in 1968. That year became his 12th and final professional season before he retired from baseball for good.

He retired at age 32, ending a career that had started with a lot of promise. Arm and shoulder problems, which first showed up in his minor league days, really limited what he could do in the majors.

Career Achievements, Stats, and Legacy

Ed Rakow put together a 36-47 record across seven MLB seasons, pitching for four different teams. His best year was 1962, when he led the Kansas City Athletics in several pitching categories and got recognized as the team’s top starter.

MLB Career Statistics Overview

Rakow appeared in 195 games during his major league baseball career from 1960 to 1967. He pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers, and Atlanta Braves.

His career stats included 36 wins and 47 losses, which kind of tells the story of both his talent and the tough teams he played for. In 1962, the right-hander struck out 159 batters, which was a standout season for him.

Rakow’s era stats showed he could be effective, even when pitching for teams that struggled. That 1962 season really stood out as the highlight of his MLB career.

Signature Games and Highlights

Rakow’s most memorable game happened on April 10, 1962, when he started Opening Day for Kansas City against Minnesota. He went the distance for a complete game win, beating the Twins 4-2 and ending Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew’s nine-game home run streak against the Athletics.

He picked up his first career shutout on May 20, 1962, tossing a five-hitter in a 1-0 victory over Washington. That August, he notched another 1-0 shutout against the Senators.

Rakow made his major league debut on April 22, 1960, against St. Louis at Busch Stadium. He gave up a home run to his first batter, but that moment kicked off his seven-year MLB journey.

Reputation and Influence in Baseball

Fellow players and managers noticed Rakow’s talent throughout his career. Detroit Tigers star Al Kaline once said, “he’s the toughest for me to hit,” and added, “he really shows me something.”

Manager Eddie Lopat believed Rakow could win 20 games in 1963, which shows just how high the expectations were for him. International League historian Harry Simmons even compared him to Don Drysdale, saying Rakow “could be the best pitcher to come along” since the Hall of Famer.

Rakow dealt with arm troubles later on, but people still respected him as a competitor who handled pressure. They called him “Rock,” a nickname that fit his steady presence on the mound during his era of professional baseball.