| Ron Locke | |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Left |
| Birth Date: | 4 April 1942 |
| Birth Place: | Wakefield, Rhode Island |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | April 23 |
| Debutyear: | 1964 |
| Debutteam: | New York Mets |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | October 4 |
| Finalyear: | 1964 |
| Finalteam: | New York Mets |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 1–2 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 3.48 |
| Stat3label: | Innings pitched |
| Stat3value: | 41⅓ |
| Teams: |
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Ronald Thomas Locke (born April 4, 1942) is an American former professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher listed as 5feet tall and, he appeared in 25 games for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball in,[1] working as a starting pitcher in three and as a relief pitcher in the remainder.
He graduated from South Kingstown High School in Rhode Island, he went to work at General Dynamics Electric Boat and began playing for its baseball team. After posting an 11–0 record with a 0.25 earned run average (ERA), he attended a tryout with the Auburn Mets and earned a minor league contract.[2]
Having begun his minor league career in 1963, he continued in the minors through 1970, briefly joining the Cincinnati Reds' and Philadelphia Phillies' systems in 1966 before returning to the Mets' organization, where he finished his career. He compiled a minor league record of 62 wins and 48 losses, with a 3.05 ERA. In his rookie season, with the Class A Auburn Mets of the New York–Penn League in 1963, Locke struck out 249 men in 217 innings pitched, and won 18 games.[3]
As a Met, Locke was credited with the win in one game, the loss in two others, and posted an ERA of 3.48. In 41⅓ innings pitched, he allowed 46 hits and 22 bases on balls, registering 17 strikeouts. His victory came on August 2 against the Houston Colt .45s at Shea Stadium. Given the starting assignment by his manager, Casey Stengel, Locke surrendered five hits and two earned runs over seven innings, and earned credit for the Mets' 4–2 win. Willard Hunter got the save.[4]