| Pete LaCock | |
|---|---|
 LaCock in 2011 | |
| First baseman | |
| Born: (1952-01-17)January 17, 1952 (age 73) Burbank, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 6, 1972, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 5, 1980, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .257 |
| Home runs | 27 |
| Runs batted in | 224 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Ralph Pierre "Pete"LaCock Jr. (born January 17, 1952) is an American formerMajor League Baseballfirst baseman/outfielder. He batted and threw left-handed. In 1975, LaCock hit the only grand slam of his career during the final appearance ofSt. Louis Cardinals pitcherBob Gibson.
LaCock was selected by theChicago Cubs in the first round (20th pick overall) of the 1970 January Draft-Regular Phase out ofWilliam Howard Taft Charter High School.[1]His minor league career included leading theTexas League with 84bases on balls while playing for theSan Antonio Missions in 1971 and with 13triples and 93bases on balls while playing for theMidland Cubs in 1972.[2]
Due to LaCock's success in the minor league system, he was promoted to the major leagues, where he played for theCubs (1972–1976)[3] and theKansas City Royals (1977–1980).[3] In 1981, he played in Japan for theYokohama Taiyo Whales.[3]
Over nine seasons (715 games), LaCock hit 27home runs with 224RBI and abatting average of .257. He was a good fielder at bothfirst base and in theoutfield, but never became an everyday player. LaCock was often used as apinch hitter and/or defensive replacement, and sometimes as adesignated hitter. He was granted free agency on October 24, 1980, though he never played another major league game.[3]
In 1989, LaCock played for theSt. Petersburg Pelicans andWinter Haven Super Sox of theSenior Professional Baseball Association.[3]
LaCock is perhaps best known for a famous, and possibly apocryphal, story involving Hall of FamerBob Gibson. In 1975, during Gibson's final game, LaCock hit agrand slam home run, becoming the last hitter to get a base hit off Gibson.[4] Gibson retired soon afterwards. Years later, Gibson faced LaCock in anOld-Timers' Day, and he allegedlybeaned him in retaliation and shouted out, "I've been waiting years to do that!"[5]
LaCock managed theNiagara Stars of theCanadian Baseball League in 2003.[6] After serving as the hitting coach forSt. Joe Blacksnakes (now defunct) of theAmerican Association of Independent Professional Baseball during the 2007 season,[2] he was hired in 2008 as hitting coach for theLincoln Saltdogs of the American Association, resigning his position in mid-July.[6] Since then, LaCock has journeyed as a hitting coach with theTucson Toros of theGolden Baseball League in 2009,[6] theNorth American LeagueSchaumburg Flyers in 2010, and theKevin Costner ownedLake County Fielders (also of theNorth American League) in 2011.[7]
In 2012, LaCock served as head coach of the Cronulla Sharks baseball club, in the New South Wales major league competition inSydney, Australia. In 2012, he managed the Prescott Montezuma Federals of the Freedom Pro Baseball League.[8]
LaCock is the son ofHollywood Squares hostPeter Marshall, as well as the nephew of actressJoanne Dru.[2] Since his retirement from baseball, LaCock has competed in severalmarathons andtriathlons, many of which raise funds for theLeukemia Society of America.[6]
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