Former MLB player from Fayette County dies

Lawrence Donald “Bobby” Locke grew up in the small coal patch community of Rowes Run in Fayette County.

He was one of 10 children of the late John and Anna Misenko Locke and a star football and baseball player for Redstone High School who pitched the Hawks to a 1-0 victory against McKeesport in the WPIAL championship game.

Locke, 86, died Thursday.

The two-sport high school star received a full scholarship to attend Arizona State for football, but he quickly decided baseball was his sport and he signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians in 1953.

He played 18 pro seasons, which included nine years in the major leagues with the Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and California Angels.

He posted a 16-15 career record with an earned run average of 4.02.

He also served with the United States Army in Germany during his baseball career.

During his major league debut, he homered at Fenway Park and faced Ted Williams. He maintained a .255 batting average as a pitcher.

He was inducted into the Mid-Mon Valley Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Locke was an avid outdoorsman and was a registered beauty shop operator.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carma Peters Locke, daughter Lauren Hurley and sons Ken and Robert, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren and sisters Margaret Yagodzinski and Evelyn Chulick.

His sons were outstanding athletes at Connellsville, and Robert played at Mississippi State on a team with Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro.

Friends will be received at the Stephen R. Haky Funeral Home, 603 N. Gallatin Avenue Ext., Uniontown, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday. A remembrance service will be held at 8 p.m. with Rev. Lee Maley officiating.

A graveside memorial service with his family and close friends will be held at a later date at Sylvan Heights Cemetery in Uniontown.