Skip Pitlock – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Skip Pitlock isn’t exactly a household name in baseball circles, but his unique pitching style and brief major league career definitely made an impression on those who saw him pitch. This left-handed pitcher with his “herky-jerky” wind-up spent six seasons in pro ball before calling it quits in 1975 at just 27 years old.

That funky delivery helped him rack up 124 strikeouts in only 192 innings, and he did it all while bouncing between two big league teams.

Born Lee Patrick Thomas Pitlock in Hillside, Illinois, he grew up just outside Chicago and eventually pitched for both the San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox. His odd motion worked well enough that teams took notice, and the World Champion Oakland Athletics actually wanted him included in trade talks, even though he didn’t play much.

Pitlock’s story stretches from his amateur days to his last game in 1975. He showed that you don’t need overpowering speed to make it; deception and timing can get you far. He had some standout moments, like facing championship teams and even hitting a home run as a pitcher, all while fighting for consistent playing time in the majors.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Skip Pitlock’s road to professional baseball started in the Chicago suburbs. He worked his way up through high school and college ball, eventually catching the eye of major league scouts.

He went from Illinois high school baseball to Southern Illinois University, where he played well enough to get picked in the 1969 MLB Draft.

Childhood and Education

Lee Patrick Thomas “Skip” Pitlock was born on November 6, 1947, in Hillside, Illinois. He grew up in the Chicago area during the 1950s and 60s.

Pitlock attended Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. That’s where he got his first real taste of organized baseball.

He started developing as a left-handed pitcher during high school. His odd wind-up and delivery began to take shape back then.

Pitlock’s talent started to show during those years. College recruiters and scouts started paying attention to him.

Southern Illinois University Playing Career

After high school, Pitlock went to Southern Illinois University. The school’s baseball program gave him a shot at playing at a higher level.

At SIU, he continued to work on his pitching. That left-handed delivery and unique motion helped him stand out from the crowd.

Facing better competition in college helped prepare him for pro ball. He needed that experience to handle what was coming next.

His time at Southern Illinois put him on the radar of major league scouts. Playing college ball turned out to be a crucial step for him.

Draft Selection in 1969

The San Francisco Giants picked Pitlock in the eleventh round of the 1969 MLB draft. He was the 256th overall pick that year.

The Giants took him straight out of Southern Illinois University. That draft pick kicked off his pro baseball journey.

Getting picked in the eleventh round showed that scouts saw something special in Pitlock. His funky pitching motion and being a lefty probably helped his case.

That draft day was a huge milestone for Pitlock. It opened the door for him to chase his baseball dreams.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Skip Pitlock pitched in the majors for five seasons from 1970 to 1975, splitting time between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox. He leaned on his quirky pitching style to strike out 124 batters in 192 innings.

MLB Debut and First Season

Pitlock made his MLB debut on June 12, 1970, with the San Francisco Giants at just 22. He faced the St. Louis Cardinals, throwing five innings, giving up five hits, and striking out two.

That rookie year, Pitlock pitched in 18 games, starting 15 of them. The Giants clearly trusted him enough to give him plenty of starts, and he picked up five wins that season.

After that first year, he didn’t make it back to the majors until 1974. He spent the next few seasons honing his craft in the minors, waiting for another shot.

Pitching Style and Strengths

People remember Pitlock for his weird, “herky-jerky” pitching motion. That wind-up became his trademark on the mound.

His deceptive delivery helped him rack up strikeouts. Batters just couldn’t figure him out, which explains those 124 strikeouts in less than 200 innings.

He really shined in some big games, like when he held the 1974 World Champion Oakland Athletics to just one hit over 5.1 innings. That oddball style worked even against the best hitters in baseball.

Career Highlights and Milestones

Pitlock’s best moment at the plate came on August 8, 1970. He smacked his only big league home run off Houston Astros pitcher Wade Blasingame, helping the Giants win 6-5.

He got another shot in the majors with the Chicago White Sox in 1974. That year, he pitched in 40 games, starting five, and picked up three wins.

His last major league outing came on April 10, 1975, against the Oakland Athletics. He faced one batter, and that was it—he finished his MLB career with an 8-8 record and a 4.53 ERA over 59 games.

San Francisco Giants Tenure

Skip Pitlock’s time with the San Francisco Giants lasted from 1970 to 1973. That’s where he broke into the majors and started to find his footing as a pitcher.

He had a strong rookie season as a starter, then gradually shifted into relief, and eventually got traded to the Chicago White Sox.

1970 Season Performance

Pitlock’s big league debut was on June 12, 1970, against the St. Louis Cardinals and Bob Gibson. It didn’t go great—he gave up four runs in three innings and took the loss.

Even with that tough start, he showed flashes of what he could do. He finished his rookie season 5-5 with a 4.66 ERA in fifteen starts.

He had a standout game on August 3, 1970, throwing a complete game win against the Dodgers. He allowed just two unearned runs on four hits and two walks, striking out nine.

He even hit his only career home run that year, taking Wade Blasingame deep on August 8, 1970. While up with the Giants, he also pitched for the Phoenix Giants in the minors, posting a 10-3 record and a 2.46 ERA in thirteen starts.

Transition to Relief Pitcher

In 1971 and 1972, Pitlock’s role with the Giants changed a lot. Though he started out as a starter, the team started using him in relief more often.

He spent most of those two seasons with the Phoenix Giants in the minors. He struggled a bit, going 15-21 with a 4.93 ERA over those years.

The Giants tried using his “herky-jerky” wind-up out of the bullpen, hoping it would work better in shorter bursts. They wanted to see if that odd motion would throw hitters off in relief appearances.

He just couldn’t quite find his groove as a starter during that time. Command and consistency were issues for him in longer outings.

Trade to Chicago White Sox

On February 8, 1973, the Giants traded Pitlock to the Chicago White Sox for Chuck Hartenstein and Glenn Redmon. That move ended his three-year run in San Francisco.

The trade gave Pitlock a fresh start. He’d shown some promise with the Giants, but things never really clicked for him there.

The Giants probably saw the deal as a way to get more proven players. For Pitlock, heading to Chicago meant another shot to prove himself in the majors.

Chicago White Sox Years

Pitlock joined the Chicago White Sox in 1974 after the trade from San Francisco. He got his only big league save and mostly worked out of the bullpen, until his short 1975 stint ended his MLB career.

1974 Season Achievements

Skip Pitlock made his mark with the White Sox in 1974. He pitched in 40 games that season.

He posted a 2-2 record with a 4.01 ERA in 35 relief appearances. The highlight came on June 19, 1974, when he picked up his only career save against the Cleveland Indians.

He started five games that year, going 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA. His “herky-jerky” motion still fooled batters, helping him get outs when it counted.

The 1974 season was his busiest in the majors. He threw more innings and appeared in more games than in any other year.

Role in Team Bullpen

The White Sox mostly used Pitlock as their long reliever in 1974. That role fit him pretty well, honestly.

Chicago counted on him to eat innings out of the bullpen. His lefty delivery gave hitters a different look.

That herky-jerky wind-up made him tough on certain batters. He could rack up strikeouts in the right spots.

The team leaned on him for longer relief outings. When starters struggled, Pitlock could step in and pitch multiple innings.

His ability to both start and relieve gave the White Sox options. The coaches liked having a guy who could do a bit of everything.

Notable Appearances and Games

Pitlock’s June 19, 1974 save against Cleveland was probably his best White Sox moment. He closed out a wild 15-4 win.

He had a fantastic outing against the 1974 Oakland Athletics, holding the champs to just one hit over 5.1 innings. That performance really caught Oakland’s attention.

The Athletics liked what they saw so much that they demanded Pitlock in a 1975 trade. That deal sent him and Stan Bahnsen to Oakland for Chet Lemon and Dave Hamilton.

Pitlock’s last big league game came on April 10, 1975. He faced just one batter, Billy Williams, and gave up an RBI single.

That trade to Oakland ended his White Sox days. Even though the A’s wanted him, Pitlock never pitched in another major league game after that single 1975 appearance.

Final Playing Years and Retirement in 1975

Skip Pitlock’s baseball journey wrapped up in 1975 with the Chicago White Sox. That season marked the end of a short but memorable three-year run in the majors.

His last appearance came in just one game, closing out a career that started with promise back in 1970 with the Giants.

1975 Trade and Final MLB Appearance

Pitlock stayed with the White Sox for his final season after joining them in 1974. His funky windup had helped him put up decent numbers the year before.

But 1975 was nothing like his previous seasons. He pitched in only one game for Chicago that year.

The stats say it all—he faced just one batter, allowed a hit, and didn’t record a strikeout or a walk.

That lone outing turned out to be the end of his MLB career. At 27, Pitlock’s time in the big leagues was over, split between the Giants and White Sox.

Minor League Assignments and Last Season

In 1975, Pitlock probably spent some time in the minors, but his major league stats barely moved. His career totals ended up at 8 wins, 8 losses, and a 4.53 ERA over 59 games.

He pitched 192.2 innings in the majors and racked up 124 strikeouts. That funky pitching motion of his stuck around, even as his chances in the big leagues faded.

The White Sox decided to let Pitlock go after the 1975 season. His final numbers tell the story of a guy who had flashes of potential but just couldn’t stick as a regular major leaguer.

Retrosheet Statistical Records

Retrosheet has all the details from Pitlock’s last season. In 1975, his usage dropped off hard compared to 1974, when he got into 40 games.

His fielding stats actually got better for a while—he posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 1970—but by 1974, that number had slipped to .789. In his only game in 1975, he didn’t get any fielding chances at all.

Career totals through 1975:

• Games: 59
• Wins: 8
• Losses: 8
• ERA: 4.53
• Strikeouts: 124
• Innings pitched: 192.2

The stats back it up—1975 marked Pitlock’s final professional season. He wrapped up a career that spanned parts of six years in pro ball.

Legacy, Impact, and Post-Baseball Life

Skip Pitlock’s time in the majors was short, but he left a bit of a mark with that oddball delivery and a few clutch outings. After he retired, he mostly faded from the public eye, though folks who played with or against him still remember that unusual delivery and some big moments against powerhouse teams.

Career Statistics and Achievements

From 1970 to 1975, Pitlock put together an 8-8 record and a 4.53 ERA in 59 big league games. He struck out 124 hitters in 192 innings, fooling plenty of batters with his unpredictable style.

Maybe his best day came in 1974, when he held the World Champion Oakland A’s to just one hit over 5.1 innings. That game was such a standout that the A’s actually wanted him included in a 1975 trade for Chet Lemon.

Pitlock spent seven seasons in the minors from 1969 to 1976. Down there, he posted a 3.87 ERA and a 51-44 record in 206 games.

Personal Life after Baseball

Not much is out there about Pitlock’s life after he walked away from baseball in 1975. Born in Hillside, Illinois, he wrapped up his pro career at just 27 after his last appearance on April 10, 1975.

While lots of ex-players move into coaching or TV, Pitlock seems to have stepped away from the baseball world completely. There’s almost nothing about what he did next.

Looks like he chose to keep things private after baseball ended. That’s not unusual for players from his era—they often just went back home and lived regular lives.

Influence on Teams and Teammates

Pitlock’s “herky-jerky” pitching motion really set him apart. That quirky delivery fooled batters, at least for a while, and made him a real asset to both the Giants and the White Sox.

In 1974, the White Sox used him as their long relief pitcher. He took on multiple innings whenever the team needed it, and honestly, that kind of reliability brought some much-needed stability to the bullpen during his busiest season.

The Oakland Athletics actually asked for him specifically in the Chet Lemon trade, which says a lot about the respect other teams had for his skills. Even so, after that trade, Pitlock didn’t pitch in another major league game.

His career was brief, but it made a point—sometimes, a unique skill can open doors at the highest level of baseball, even if it doesn’t last forever.