| Gerry Janeski | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1946-04-18)April 18, 1946 (age 78) Pasadena, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 10, 1970, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 28, 1972, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 11–23 |
| Earned run average | 4.73 |
| Strikeouts | 105 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Gerald Joseph Janeski (born April 18, 1946) is an American former professionalbaseball player, a right-handedpitcher who appeared in 62 games in theMajor Leagues from 1970 to 1972 for theChicago White Sox andWashington Senators/Texas Rangers.[1] Born inPasadena, California, he was listed as 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and 205 pounds (93 kg).
After graduating fromLa Salle College Preparatory in Pasadena, Janeski signed as a free agent with theBoston Red Sox before the 1965 season, just before implementation of theMajor League Baseball draft. He spent five years in the Bosox' farm system, rising toTriple-A, where he won 15 games (with 14complete games) in 1969 as a member of theLouisville Colonels. That December, the parent Red Sox acquired left-handedstarting pitcherGary Peters, a former two-timeAll-Star, from the White Sox in a four-player trade, and later added Janeski to the deal as compensation on March 9, 1970.
The trade set the stage for Janeski's three-seasonMLB career. He made his debut on April 10, the third game of the White Sox'1970 season, as the starter against the recently relocatedMilwaukee Brewers, and was credited with a 5–4victory, going 71⁄3innings and allowing tenhits, but only threeruns. He also recorded sevenstrikeouts.[2] In his next start, five days later, he threw a three-hit, complete gameshutout against theOakland Athletics,[3] improving hiswon–lost record to 2–0 and lowering hisearned run average to 1.65. Though he remained in the starting rotation through the season, his performance leveled off and the1970 White Sox proved to be perhaps the worst team in franchise history, losing a franchise-record 106 games. Janeski made 35 starts, pitched 2052⁄3 innings, and won ten games— all second on the staff toTommy John. He absorbed 17 defeats, with his ERA climbing to 4.77. On February 9, 1971, the rebuilding White Sox traded him to the Washington Senators foroutfielderRick Reichardt.
He began1971 in the Washingtonbullpen, and made only two starts before May 15. Then, he briefly joined the Senators' rotation over the next five weeks. But he struggled with his control, and by June 29 his record stood at 1–5, with 34bases on balls and 19 strikeouts in 612⁄3 innings pitched. He spent the rest of 1971 with the Senators' Triple-ADenver Bears affiliate, as the parent team struggled through its final year in Washington before transferring toDallas–Fort Worth as the Texas Rangers for the1972 campaign. Janeski worked in only four games for the1972 Rangers, with only one start, on May 23 against the White Sox. He allowed tworuns in the top of the first inning, then held the ChiSox off the scoreboard into the sixth, departing for left-handerMike Paul with twoout, two men on base, and trailing 2–1. Paul ended the threat, but the Rangers could not bounce back, and the 2–1 loss was Janeski's last MLBdecision. Sent to Triple-A after May 28, he spent the remainder of his pro career at the top level of theminor leagues, retiring in 1974.
Over his three full or partial major-league seasons, Janeski compiled an 11–23 record in 62 games and 46 starting assignments, with four complete games, one shutout (against Oakland in the second appearance of hisrookie campaign), onesave, and a 4.73 earned run average. In 280innings pitched, he allowed 330 hits and 104 bases on balls, with 105 strikeouts.
Nicknamed "The Wheat Germ Kid" while pitching for Chicago, he later became a successful real estate agent.[4]