100 Greatest Red Sox >> #77 Ike Delock

Ike Delock, P, #12 (1952-1963)

84 wins, 75 losses, 329 G, 147 GS, 4.03 ERA, 672 K, 530 BB

Ike Delock appeared in 322 games, 7th most in Red Sox history, including 142 starts (30th place, just behind Babe Ruth and Oil Can Boyd). Pitched in 1207 innings (24th place) and managed to earn 83 wins (23rd most) and 31 saves (19th best) splitting time between starting and relieving.

Delock had several above-average seasons for the Red Sox in the 1950s. He made his major league debut on September 17, 1952 in a relief appearance and loss against the St. Louis Browns. He led the AL with 11 relief wins in 1956 while tying for fourth with nine saves (then not an official statistic). Overall it was his best season, finishing 13-7 with 105 Ks in 128.3 innings. He was better coming out of the bullpen, compiling a 3.08 ERA lifetime in that role. But as his career went on, he was used less and less as a reliever. He was 8th in league with 14 wins during the 1958 season, including 13 wins in a row at one point. He also led Red Sox starters with a team low 3.38 ERA.

On May 11, 1961 Ike outdueled Whitey Ford in a 2-1 win over the Yankees. On August 11, 1962 Delock shut out the Baltimore Orioles - the third shut out in a row for the Boston Red Sox. A knee injury in 1962 limited Delock to 86 innings and a 4-5 record with a 3.75 ERA. After a slow start in 1963, the Red Sox released Delock in June and he finshed up his career in Baltimore. He appeared in 7 games for the Orioles and added 1 more win to his career total.