Wes Stock – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Wes Stock put together a solid nine-year run as a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, spending his career with the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Athletics from 1959 to 1967.

Born Wesley Gay Stock on April 10, 1934, in Longview, Washington, he became one of the reliable setup men of his era. He appeared in 321 games and started just three times.

Stock retired from professional baseball in 1967 at age 33, wrapping up his playing days with a 27-13 record and a reputation as a dependable middle reliever. In his final season, he began shifting from player to coach with the Athletics. That marked the end of a career that started after he signed with Baltimore for $4,000 following his college years at Washington State.

Stock’s journey started in small-town Washington and ended with his last pitch in the majors. His story is about dedication and perseverance, the kind you need to stick around at baseball’s top level.

He didn’t just play—he coached, did some broadcasting, and influenced the game through the pitchers he mentored after his playing days.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Wesley Gay Stock came into the world on April 10, 1934, in Longview, Washington. He grew up in Allyn, a small town where his family ran a few businesses.

His baseball story began at Shelton High School. He pitched for the local team and graduated in 1952.

Stock earned a walk-on spot at Washington State College. He developed his skills for three seasons before signing a pro contract.

Family Background and Childhood in Washington State

Wes Stock grew up in Allyn, a tight-knit community where his family played a big part in local business. His dad ran a tavern, a grocery store, and a service station with a post office attached.

His mom worked as the town’s postmistress. The Stock family really was at the center of things.

The family business gave him stability as a kid. Small-town life shaped his character and work ethic.

His parents pushed him to finish college before thinking about pro baseball. They cared a lot about education.

Stock honed his athletic skills while helping with family chores. The community rallied around local sports, so he got early chances to play organized baseball.

His pitching ability stood out even as a young kid in Allyn.

Shelton High School Baseball Experience

Stock attended Shelton High School and pitched for their baseball team. He graduated in 1952.

During high school, he also played for the town team, which gave him experience against older players.

He really got serious about baseball during his junior year in 1951. That’s when his talent started to shine.

The small school meant he got plenty of playing time and could work on his mechanics.

Playing both high school and town team ball gave him a taste of different competition levels. That helped him get ready for college baseball at Washington State.

College Years at Washington State

Stock walked on with the Cougars at Washington State College, now Washington State University. Coach Buck Bailey led the team, and Stock played three seasons.

He grew from a raw talent into a real prospect. In 1955, he earned honorable mention for college division all-star teams.

At 6-foot-2 and 188 pounds, he impressed scouts with his strong arm and control. Three years at Washington State let him fine-tune his mechanics and face tough competition.

Scouts noticed his progress. After college, Stock signed with the Baltimore Orioles for $4,000. Don McShane scouted him.

His parents’ insistence on college paid off, giving him the maturity and skills for pro baseball.

Professional Playing Career Highlights

Wes Stock built a nine-year career from 1959 to 1967, becoming one of the most reliable relief pitchers of his time.

He pitched out of the Baltimore Orioles bullpen and later joined the Kansas City Athletics. He even put together a career-best winning streak that lasted almost two years.

Baltimore Orioles Debut and Performance

Stock made his MLB debut on April 19, 1959, with the Baltimore Orioles against the Washington Senators. He came in as a reliever in the fifth, faced seven batters, struck out two, and allowed a home run to Jim Lemon.

Just six days later, he picked up his first save in an 11-inning win over the New York Yankees. He entered with Mickey Mantle on base and got Elston Howard, Moose Skowron, and Enos Slaughter out to lock down the 2-1 victory.

After seven games, Baltimore sent him down to Triple-A Miami because of a sore shoulder. He also spent time with the Vancouver Mounties before making it back to the Orioles in 1960.

By 1961, Stock had become a key setup man in Baltimore’s bullpen, working with Billy Hoeft to support closer Hoyt Wilhelm.

He went 19-4 over five-plus seasons with the Orioles. His steady work as a reliever helped anchor one of the American League’s toughest bullpens in the early ’60s.

Transition to Kansas City Athletics

On June 15, 1964, the Orioles traded Stock to the Kansas City Athletics for catcher Charlie Lau. That sent him from a first-place team to a last-place club—a big shift.

Stock took it in stride, saying, “It’s a little tough to leave a club like Baltimore, but, after all, I get paid for pitching wherever I am.” At the time, he was on a 10-game winning streak and still known as one of the league’s most dependable relievers.

Moving to Kansas City came with challenges. The Athletics were rebuilding, but Stock’s experience gave the young pitching staff some much-needed stability.

He mentored younger players on the roster. Despite the tough situation, Stock adapted to his new role and kept pitching out of the bullpen, sticking with the approach that worked for him in Baltimore.

Role as a Relief Pitcher

Stock appeared in 321 games with only three starts, making him one of baseball’s go-to relief specialists.

He finished his career with a 3.60 ERA, 365 strikeouts, and 22 saves in 517 innings.

Stock’s control and calm in pressure situations set him apart. His pitch mix included a fastball, slider, and changeup. He relied on accuracy more than power.

Managers liked his versatility—he could set up or close, depending on what the team needed.

He was durable, showing up in multiple games each week. That kind of reliability made him a key piece of the Orioles’ and Athletics’ bullpens for nearly a decade.

Career-Defining 1964 Season

Stock’s 1964 season was something special. He stretched his winning streak to 12 games before finally losing to the Chicago White Sox on July 19, 1964, when pitcher Gary Peters hit a home run in the 13th inning.

He hadn’t lost a game in almost two years—his last defeat came on July 12, 1962. That consistency as a reliever was pretty rare.

Stock struggled at the plate, going 0-for-36 with 26 strikeouts before the trade to Kansas City. Still, in his first at-bat as an Athletic, he delivered a bases-loaded RBI single off Steve Ridzik of the Washington Senators. That was a nice highlight in an otherwise tough offensive career.

The 1964 season really marked the high point of Stock’s success. He showed he could deliver at the top level, year after year.

Final Years and Retirement in 1967

Wes Stock’s baseball career wrapped up in 1967 after nine seasons in the majors.

His last year brought an end to a run that saw him pitch in 321 games, mostly as a reliever for the Kansas City Athletics.

Last Games and Season Overview

Stock’s 1967 season was his last. He stayed with the Kansas City Athletics, sticking to the relief role he’d owned for most of his career.

By then, Stock had shown he was a reliable bullpen option. Over nine years, he racked up 27 wins and 13 losses.

He struck out 365 batters in his career, which says a lot about his effectiveness as a relief specialist—especially in an era when bullpen roles were just starting to evolve.

The 1967 season came during a rough patch for the Athletics, who would move to Oakland after that year. Stock’s retirement happened right as the team’s Kansas City chapter closed.

Release and Retirement from Major League Baseball

Stock left Major League Baseball at the end of the 1967 season. He retired at 33 after one last year with Kansas City.

That decision ended a career that began in 1959 with the Orioles. He only played for two teams during his MLB run—Baltimore and Kansas City.

He spent almost every appearance in relief, with just three starts out of 321 games. That really sums up his role.

After retiring as a player, Stock moved into coaching in pro baseball. He found a way to stay close to the sport that had been his life for nearly ten years.

Pitching Style, Stats, and Impact

Stock earned his reputation as a reliable reliever with a 3.60 ERA and 365 strikeouts in 321 games.

His strong bullpen presence became the defining feature of his nine-year career with Baltimore and Kansas City.

Pitching Arsenal and Bullpen Contribution

Stock made his mark as a dominant relief specialist from 1959 to 1967. He pitched in 321 games, almost always out of the bullpen.

He threw right-handed and stood 6-foot-2, about 190 pounds, which gave him a good angle on the mound. Stock’s success came from throwing strikes and keeping hitters guessing.

He posted 22 saves, a solid number for an era before closers were really a thing. He pitched 517â…“ innings, allowed 434 hits, and walked 215.

His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) was about 1.25—not bad for a reliever in his day. Stock’s knack for limiting baserunners made him valuable in high-leverage situations.

Career Statistics and Notable Achievements

Stock finished with a 27-13 record and a .675 winning percentage in his nine seasons. His 3.60 ERA stacked up well among 1960s relievers.

He struck out 365 batters for an average of about 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings—pretty solid for that era.

Stat Total
Games 321
Wins 27
Losses 13
ERA 3.60
Strikeouts 365
Saves 22

Stock played good defense, too, with a .980 fielding percentage—25 points better than the league average during his career.

He made his biggest bullpen contributions with the Orioles from 1959 to 1964. Stock’s steady hand in relief helped make Baltimore’s pitching staff one of the best in those years.

Transition to Coaching and Influence

When Wes Stock finished his playing days in 1967, he wasted no time and jumped right into coaching. People in baseball quickly recognized him as one of the sport’s most respected pitching instructors.

He coached for over twenty years. During that time, he worked with World Series champions and helped shape the careers of countless major league pitchers.

Early Roles as Minor League Pitching Coach

Stock started coaching the same year he retired, taking the pitching coach job for the Kansas City Athletics in 1967. Oddly enough, he even suited up for one more game that year before fully embracing his coaching path.

In 1968, the New York Mets brought him on as a minor league pitching instructor. He spent two years, from 1968 to 1969, working with young arms throughout their farm system.

During those seasons, Stock really honed his coaching philosophy. He always pushed pitchers to use the same motion for every pitch—simple, but it worked. That idea became the core of his teaching style.

The time in the minors taught Stock how to guide raw, untested talent. Those lessons definitely paid off when he moved up to the majors.

Tenure with New York Mets and the Miracle Mets

Stock’s stint with the Mets happened right as the team pulled off one of baseball’s wildest underdog runs. As a minor league pitching instructor in 1968 and 1969, he played a part in developing pitchers while the franchise transformed itself.

In 1969, the Mets won their first World Series title. Stock mainly worked in the minors, but the pitchers he helped develop contributed to the organization’s big leap.

His time with the Mets taught him a lot about building pitching depth. The organization’s focus on young talent matched Stock’s natural knack for teaching.

Word spread about Stock’s ability to work with up-and-coming pitchers. Other teams started to notice and look his way for coaching help.

Major League Coaching with Athletics, Brewers, Mariners

Stock’s big break as a major league coach came when he joined the Milwaukee Brewers as pitching coach from 1970 to 1972. He worked with young pitchers like Skip Lockwood, Bill Parsons, and Jim Slaton, and people took notice of his skill in developing talent.

In 1973, the Oakland Athletics hired him and handed him a staff full of stars. He worked with names like Vida Blue, Catfish Hunter, and Rollie Fingers. Stock helped Blue bounce back after a tough 1972, guiding him to a 20-9 record in ’73.

He stayed with the Athletics until 1976. Then, in 1977, he became the first pitching coach for the expansion Seattle Mariners. For five seasons, he pieced together a staff from players other teams had given up on, working with three different managers along the way.

Stock left the dugout for two years to work as a Mariners TV broadcaster. But he wasn’t done coaching—he returned to the Athletics from 1984 to 1986 for one last run. He finally retired from baseball in 1994 at age 60. That’s a 27-year coaching career, which is nothing to sneeze at.

Contributions to World Series Winning Teams

Stock’s biggest coaching triumph came with the Oakland Athletics dynasty in the mid-1970s. He served as pitching coach for the World Series champs in 1973 and 1974.

The ’73 A’s had three pitchers with 20 wins: Ken Holtzman (21-13), Catfish Hunter (21-5), and Vida Blue (20-9). Stock’s work with Blue stands out—he helped him add a changeup and breaking ball to his arsenal.

Stock always stressed mental prep and keeping mechanics consistent. He turned Blue from a guy who just threw hard into a smarter, more complete pitcher.

Stock’s connection with Hunter went way back to their Kansas City days in 1965. That history helped him relate to veteran pitchers and keep their confidence high.

Post-Playing Legacy and Personal Life

When Wes Stock’s playing days ended in 1967, he found new ways to stick around the game. He spent years coaching and even tried his hand at broadcasting. He split his retirement between Washington state and Arizona, but baseball always stayed close.

Broadcasting and Media Involvement

Stock joined the Seattle Mariners broadcast team as a TV commentator for the 1982 and 1983 seasons. He worked alongside Rick Rizzs and Dave Niehaus in the booth for selected games during those years.

Before that, he’d served as the Mariners’ first pitching coach from 1977 to 1981. Broadcasting gave Stock the chance to share his baseball smarts with fans in a totally different way.

His broadcasting run was short compared to his long coaching career. After two seasons on TV, he went back to coaching with the Oakland A’s.

Broadcasting was just one part of Stock’s post-playing life. It added another layer to a baseball career that already had plenty of depth.

Life After Baseball and Retirement Activities

Stock officially retired from professional baseball in 1994. He spent his last years in the game as a minor league pitching instructor, which had him traveling constantly—sometimes to the Dominican Republic, sometimes to different minor league towns.

He kept homes in both Scottsdale, Arizona and Treasure Island, Washington. Stock grew up in Allyn, Washington, so he found himself drawn back to the Pacific Northwest when he retired.

Neuropathy in his feet forced Stock to use a cane, and honestly, it slowed him down quite a bit. Even so, his love for baseball just never faded, not even in his 80s.

“I enjoyed it,” Stock said about his baseball career. “Sure, it left me with bad feet and a bad back, but I’d do it all over again, even if it meant sitting in a chair for 40 years.”

He turned 80 on April 10, 2014. Looking back, he felt good about his 43 years in professional baseball.

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