Joe Presko

Born: 10/7/1928 in Kansas City, MO, USA

Died: 2/5/2019 in Kansas City, MO, USA

MLB Debut: 1951-05-03 | Final Game: 1958-05-07

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 165 lbs

Full name: Joseph Edward Presko

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Biography

Joe Presko, born in 1928, was a professional baseball pitcher whose career spanned from 1951 to 1958. He made his Major League debut on May 3, 1951, and concluded his playing days on May 7, 1958. Throughout his career, Presko showcased his skills on the mound, finishing with a record of 25 wins and 37 losses. He posted an earned run average (ERA) of 4.61, accumulating 202 strikeouts and securing 5 saves. Presko played during a transformative era in baseball, when the game was evolving with the introduction of new strategies and the growing importance of bullpen pitchers. Although he faced challenges in securing a winning record, his contributions to his teams reflected the determination and competitive spirit characteristic of pitchers during the mid-20th century. His career remains a testament to the resilience and adaptability required to succeed in the demanding atmosphere of Major League Baseball.

Career Pitching Statistics

W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	ERA	Pitcher PIV
25	37	128	61	15	2	5	490.3	511	251	57	188	202	4.61	0

Career ERA 4.61 vs. league average 3.91 across their career seasons — 17.8% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year	Team	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	Lg ERA	Pitcher PIV
1951	STL	NL	7	4	15	12	5	0	2	88.7	86	34	20	38	3.45	4.04 (+15%)	-
1952	STL	NL	7	10	28	18	5	1	0	146.7	140	66	57	63	4.05	3.70 (-9%)	-
1953	STL	NL	6	13	34	25	4	0	1	161.7	165	90	65	56	5.01	4.14 (-21%)	-
1954	STL	NL	4	9	37	6	1	1	0	71.7	97	55	41	36	6.91	3.90 (-77%)	-
1957	DET	AL	1	1	7	0	0	0	0	11.0	10	2	4	3	1.64	3.83 (+57%)	153.9
1958	DET	AL	0	0	7	0	0	0	2	10.7	13	4	1	6	3.38	3.86 (+13%)	595.7

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
130	156	9	27	2	0	0	5	0	7	26	0.173	0.209	0.186	0.394	-308.5

Career AVG .173 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — 33.2% below league average.

Career OBP .209 vs. league average .330 across their career seasons — 36.8% below league average.

Career SLG .186 vs. league average .388 across their career seasons — 52.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.394 vs. league average 0.718 across their career seasons — 45.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1951	STL	NL	15	37	2	6	1	1	0	5	0.162	—	—	—	—	0.0
1952	STL	NL	28	43	1	4	0	1	2	14	0.093	—	—	—	—	0.0
1953	STL	NL	35	59	6	13	1	2	4	5	0.220	.264 (-17%)	.335 (-20%)	.397 (-40%)	.733 (-31%)	-308.5
1954	STL	NL	38	16	0	4	0	1	0	2	0.250	—	—	—	—	0.0
1957	DET	AL	7	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1958	DET	AL	7	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	—	—	—	—	0.0