Bastock, Del

 

Del Bastock – (1984)

 

Del Bastock

A natural pitcher with a powerful arm, Del entered the professional ranks in 1953 leading the Green Bay Blue Jays, a Cleveland Indian’s minor league team, to a Wisconsin State league championship by winning 15 games and striking out 213 batters in 203 innings.

Exhibiting major league potential in 1952, he was promoted to class C at Sherbrook, Quebec the following year. He experienced immediate success with the Sherbrook Indians and was making preparations to move on to the Reading Indians, a sophisticated Class A team in the Eastern League. Unfortunately on May 2, 1954, the day before his departure, he was struck in the eye with a line drive, shattering his dreams of becoming a major league pitcher.

Before Del’s accident, his destiny seemed certain. Every major league team entertained thoughts of signing Del Bastock. In fact, Branch Rickey had Del pitch an exhibition game at Forbes field. Highly impressed by Del’s ability, Ricky offered him a contract to play for a New Orlean’s team before his senior year.

Bastock finished his senior year at Lorain High and was encouraged to sign with the Cleveland Indians by Ed Molnar. After completing an impressive season with the Lorain High School Steelmen where he pitched consecutive shutouts in the Lake Erie League against Shaw (4 hits), Lakewood (2 hits), Elyria (1 hit), and Euclid (1 hit), Del embarked on a baseball career that never came to fruition.

One of the most talented pitchers to ever come out of Lorain.