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 Steve
Dalkowski was one of the most feared pitchers in baseball in the
late 50s and early 60s. Although he never fired a single pitch in the
major leagues, the flame-throwing lefthander was one of the most talked
about players in baseball. Dalkowski's fast ball, and lack of
control with it, become the stuff of legend. In a cruel twist, in
Spring Training 1963, just when he appeared to have conquered his
wildness, an injury ended the dream. In a 1999 article, The
Sporting News reflected upon the former phenom
"
... Dalkowski gained legendary status with a fastball that many who saw
him pitch believe was 110 mph. The only thing that kept Dalkowski from
ever reaching the majors was that he couldn't throw his fastball with
any sort of control -- in 1960, he set a California League record with
262 walks in 170 innings. He also recorded 262 strikeouts. For his minor
league career, Delkowski had 1,396 strikeouts and 1,354 walks in 995
innings.
Those
who saw Dalkowski pitch believe he was the hardest thrower in baseball
history. In a Newsday article from 1979, several baseball men discussed
Dalkowski's and his blazing fastball. "He was unbelievable,"
said former Orioles manager Earl Weaver. "He threw a lot faster
than (Nolan) Ryan. It's hard to believe but he did."
Dalkowski's
wildness frightened even the bravest of hitters. Ted Williams faced
Dalkowski once in a spring training game and that was enough.
"Fastest ever," said Williams. "I never want to face him
again." Here a just a few examples of how Dalkowski gained
legendary status:
One
night at Kingsport, Dalkowski threw a pitch that tore off part of a
batter's ear. "It made me so scared, I didn't even want to look at
it," said Dalkowski. Many people believe after this incident
Dalkowski feared one of errant pitches would kill someone and that only
contributed more to his wildness.
Dalkowski
won a $5 bet with teammate Herman Starrette, who said Dalkowski couldn't
throw a baseball through a wall. Dalkowski warmed up and then moved 15
feet away from the wooden outfield fence. His first pitch went right
through the boards.
In
one minor league game, Dalkowski threw three pitches that penetrated the
backstop and sent fans scattering.
In
a high school game, Dalkowski threw a no-hit, no-run game with 18
strikeouts and 18 walks.
In
an Eastern League game, Dalkowski struck out 27 and walked 16 while
throwing 283 pitches. In another game, he was pulled in the second
inning after throwing 120 pitches.
At
Aberdeen in the Northern League, Dalkowski threw a one-hitter and lost
9-8.
In
1960 at Class A Stockton, Dalkowski threw a pitch that broke an umpire's
mask in three places, knocking him 18 feet back and sending him to a
hospital for three days with a concussion.
In
1959, Dalkowski set a Northern League record with 21 strikeouts in a
game.
In
1960 at Stockton on the California League, Dalkowski struck out 19 and
limited Reno to four hits but walked nine and lost 8-3.
The
Orioles tried a variety of things to help Dalkowski find the strike zone
with little success. However, Earl Weaver, who was managing in the
Orioles' farm system, helped build Dalkowski's confidence. In one
stretch for Elmira in 1962, Weaver said Dalkowski had a 52-inning
stretch where he struck out 104, walked only 11 and allowed one earned
run.
The
following spring, Dalkowski seemed poised to make the Orioles club.
However, his career was ended on a throw to first. In an exhibition game
against the Yankees, Dalkowski fielded a bunt from pitcher Jim Bouton.
Dalkwoski threw to first and as he did, felt something pop in his arm.
He missed most of the season and when he returned his fastball had
leveled off to 90 mph. He was released by the Orioles organization and
was out of organized baseball by 1966." (The
Sporting News, August 24, 1999)
G IP H BB SO W
L ERA
1957 Kingsport D 15 62 22 129 121 1
8 8.13
1958 Knoxville A 11 42 17 95
82 1 4 7.93
Wilson
B 8 14 7 38 29 0 1 12.21
Aberdeen C 11
62 29 112 121 3 5 6.39
1959 Aberdeen C 12 59 30 110
99 4 3 5.64
Pensacola D 7
25 11 80 43 0 4 12.96
1960 Stockton C 32 170 105 262 262 7 15
5.14
1961 Kennewick B 31 103 75 196 150 3 12
8.39
1962 Elmira A 31 160 117 114 192 7
10 3.04
1963 Elmira AA 13 29 20
26 28 2 2 2.79
Rochester AAA 12 12
7 14 8 0 2 6.00
1964 Elmira AA 8 15
17 19 16 0 1 6.00
Stockton A 20 108
91 62 141 8 4 2.83
Columbus AAA 3 12
15 11 9 2 1 8.25
1965 Kennewick A 16 84 84 52
62 6 5 5.14
San Jose A
6 38 35 34 33 2 3 4.74
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Right-hander Greg Dvorak, another of the Fresno State products to
play on the prairies, had three sensational seasons 1968-69-70 in the
Northern Saskatchewan League. He
had seasons of 8-1, 2.58, 12-0, 1.76 and 7-1, 1.32.
Leroy
Gregory, who suited up with Calgary, Regina, Moose Jaw and
Lethbridge in 1957-58, returned to Canada to play in the Quebec
Provincial League in 1969 and 1970. Gregory, who advanced to
the major leagues as a pitcher,
was the batting champion in 1969 as a first baseman with the
Drummondville Royals. In 1959, he was the MVP of the Fresno State
club, going 12-0 as the team finished third at the College World Series. Left - Gregory accepts a trophy signifying his batting
title. 