#12 Jerry Casale

1961 Topps

Jerry Joseph Casale
Pitcher
Bats: Right , Throws: Right
Height: 6' 2" , Weight: 200 lb.
Born: September 27, 1933 in Brooklyn, NY

Drafted 2nd by the Los Angeles Angels from the Boston Red Sox in the 1960 expansion draft.

ANGELS DEBUT:
Starting Pitcher at Boston April 15, 1961. Gave up a lead-off double to Schilling. Gave up 3 runs on 8 hits with 8K in 5.2 innings in a 3-0 loss.
Later traded by the Los Angeles Angels to the Detroit Tigers for Jim Donohue on June 7, 1961.

ANGELS RECORD:
1961
Appeared in 13 games (7 starts) going 1 and 5 with 1 save and a 6.54 ERA.

Jerry answered a question about his fondest memories.

baseball-reference:
Right-hand pitcher Jerry Casale was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1952 season.
After working his way up the Red Sox system Casale was looking forward to the 1956 season when Uncle Sam threw him a curve with his draft notice. The Red Sox, however applied for a deferment. Jerry had a great spring training and received the news that his deferment was accepted. Jerry was walking on water ready to come north when manager Pinky Higgins called him into his office and gave him the news they were sending him back to the minors with the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League. Casale went to San Francisco, won 19 games and lost only 11 for the 6th place Seals.
Casale would spend most of the next two seasons (1957-58) in the United States Military Services returning in time to finally make his debut in the major leagues. He appeared in two games in '58, pitching three innings with no decisions. Jerry proved his case at point, coming back to the majors in 1959, where he went 13-8 for the Red Sox that included three shutouts and three home runs. His four-baggers came against Bob Turley, Russ Kemmerer and Early Wynn. The one against Kemmerer has survived in Red Sox lore. Casale quotes, "I believe I hit the longest home run ever by a Boston player. I hit it over the center field wall over the screen, under the flag. The ball left the park. It was a three-run homer and it happened in my first big league start."
Jerry developed arm problems in 1960, went 2-9 and was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels from the Red Sox in the 1960 expansion daft. The Angels then traded Casale to the Detroit Tigers for Jim Donohue. Jerry would finish up his five year major league career with the Tigers in 1962 with a career mark of 17-24 and a 4.66 ERA. Casale would then drop into the minors in 1963 where he would finish out his eight year minor league run with the Buffalo Bisons with a career 81-55 mark with a 4.38 ERA.

Custom Signature card