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Joe Hesketh
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Joseph Thomas Hesketh (born February 15, 1959) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from 1984 through 1994 for the Montreal Expos (1984–90), Atlanta Braves (1990) and Boston Red Sox (1990–94). Listed at 6' 2", 170 lb., Hesketh batted and threw left-handed. He was selected by the Expos in the 1980 draft out of the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Key Information

One of the most dominant pitchers in UB history, Hesketh compiled an overall 1.77 ERA, including a notable 0.91 during his junior season. He also had 10 complete games for the Buffalo Bulls and pitched one of the greatest wins in school history – a 4–0 shutout against powerful St. John's team and future major league star Frank Viola. Hesketh also picked up the save in a victory on the road over nationally ranked University of Miami. In 1979, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1] After that, he earned the 1980 ECAC New York-New Jersey District Player of the Year honors, as his six shutouts for the Bulls remain a school record.

In 1984, Hesketh was named the American Association pitcher of the year after going 12–3 with a 3.05 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 147+2⁄3 innings for the Indianapolis Indians. He joined the Montreal Expos late in the season and ended with a 2–2, 1.80 ERA in 11 appearances. His debut on August 7 against the Philadelphia Phillies was unusual, in that he was called for a balk before he delivered his first pitch.[2] In 1985 he was 10–5 with a 3.29 ERA in 25 starts, allowing just 125 hits in a career-high 155+1⁄3 innings into late August, but a home plate collision broke his leg and his season was over. He was considered in the National League Rookie of the Year vote. In 1986 he was bothered by an impinged nerve in his left shoulder, then missed virtually all of 1987. While Hesketh did bounce back to some extent as a reliever, he never completely recovered.

Hesketh was released by Montreal in April 1990. At least a half-dozen teams claimed him, so he ended up in Atlanta by virtue of the Braves' poor record. Although he had recorded five saves, the Braves released him after 31 appearances; the Boston Red Sox then signed him in late July.

In 1991, Hesketh came back of several injury-plagued seasons. He ended with a 12–4 mark in 39 games for Boston, including 17 starts and a career second-best 153+1⁄3 innings, as his .750 won-loss % topped American League pitchers. The next three years he divided his playing time as a starter, middle reliever, and occasional closer. He retired after the 1994 season.

In an 11-season career, Hesketh posted a 60–47 record with a 3.78 ERA in 339 appearances, including 114 starts, four complete games, two shutouts, 79 games finished, 21 saves, 726 strikeouts, 378 walks, and 961+2⁄3 innings of work.

Hesketh is a member of both the UB Athletic Hall of Fame (Class of ’86) as well as the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame (2002). In 2006, he was named the Bulls’ pitching coach by head coach Ron Torgalski. His tenure with the UB Bulls ended after the 2007–2008 season.[citation needed]

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Grokipedia

Joe Hesketh

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Joe Hesketh is an American former professional baseball pitcher known for his Major League Baseball career from 1984 to 1994 with the Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox.[1][2] A left-handed pitcher who batted and threw left, he was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the second round of the 1980 MLB Draft following his time at SUNY Buffalo.[1] He made his MLB debut on August 7, 1984, and spent the majority of his career with the Expos before a brief stint with the Braves in 1990 and then with the Red Sox from 1990 to 1994.[1][2] Born Joseph Thomas Hesketh on February 15, 1959, in Lackawanna, New York, he grew up in the Buffalo area and attended Frontier Central High School in Hamburg, where he was recognized as a top high school pitching prospect.[3] His professional career highlighted his versatility as both a starter and reliever in the major leagues, contributing to teams during a competitive era in the National and American Leagues.[1] Hesketh's roots in Western New York later led to his induction into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, recognizing his achievements in baseball.[3]

Early life

Birth and education

Joseph Thomas Hesketh was born on February 15, 1959, in Lackawanna, New York. [1] A native of the Buffalo area, he attended Frontier Central High School in nearby Hamburg, New York. [1] Hesketh went on to attend the University at Buffalo (State University of New York at Buffalo), where he pitched for the Bulls from 1978 to 1980. [1] During his college career, he compiled a 1.77 ERA over his three seasons, ranking fifth in program history among pitchers with at least 75 innings pitched. [4] He tied for the school record with 10 career complete games and set the career record with six shutouts. [4] In his 1979 junior season, Hesketh posted a 0.91 ERA, which ranks third in single-season program history. [4] Following his standout performance at Buffalo, Hesketh was selected in the second round of the 1980 MLB Draft. [1]

Baseball career

Draft and minor leagues

Joe Hesketh was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the second round, as the 50th overall selection, of the 1980 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft out of the State University of New York at Buffalo. [2] [1] He signed shortly thereafter and began his professional career that same year, performing strongly in his initial exposure to full-season ball. [5] In 1980, Hesketh posted an 8–2 record with a 1.92 ERA in Class A with the West Palm Beach Expos before earning a brief promotion to Double-A Memphis, where he went 1–0 with a 4.05 ERA across three starts. [5] An elbow injury sidelined him for the entire 1981 season. [5] Hesketh returned to action in 1982 at the Class A level with West Palm Beach, compiling a 3–2 record and 2.76 ERA in limited starts. [5] In 1983, the Expos pushed him more aggressively through the system; he started the year at Double-A Memphis with a 6–4 record and 3.04 ERA before earning a midseason promotion to Triple-A Wichita, where he went 5–5 with a 5.09 ERA. [5] His breakout came in 1984 at Triple-A Indianapolis in the American Association, where he dominated with a 12–3 record, 3.05 ERA, and 135 strikeouts over 147.2 innings. [5] This performance earned him a call-up to the majors, and Hesketh made his Major League debut with the Montreal Expos on August 7, 1984. [1]

Major League playing career

Joe Hesketh played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1984 to 1994. [1] He batted and threw left-handed and stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall while weighing 170 pounds. [1] His career included time with the Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox. [1] Hesketh made his major league debut with the Montreal Expos on August 7, 1984. [1] He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Expos through 1990, though he was released or selected off waivers in April 1990, leading to a brief stint with the Atlanta Braves that same year. [1] He then signed with the Boston Red Sox as a free agent in July 1990 and remained with them through the end of his major league tenure in 1994. [1] During his time in the majors, Hesketh appeared in 339 games and started 114 of them, beginning his career primarily as a starting pitcher before shifting toward a combination of starting and relief appearances later on. [1] His final major league game came on August 7, 1994, with the Red Sox, and he was granted free agency after the season. [1] He did not return to the majors after that point. [1]

Career statistics and highlights

Joe Hesketh posted a career record of 60 wins and 47 losses with a 3.78 earned run average (ERA) in Major League Baseball. [1] He appeared in 339 games, including 114 starts, pitching a total of 961.2 innings while recording 726 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.38. [1] A key highlight of his career came in 1985 when he finished eighth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. [1]

Television appearances

Sunday Night Baseball

Joe Hesketh appeared as himself on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball from 1992 to 1994. [6] Credited as "Self - Boston Red Sox Pitcher," his appearances occurred during the later stages of his active Major League Baseball career, likely as a guest in player interviews or related segments. [6] This represents his only known credit in film or television. [6]

Post-playing career

Coaching

After retiring from his Major League Baseball career, Joe Hesketh has served as the pitching coach for the Erie Community College baseball team in his second stint with the program. [7] In this role, he draws on his 11 seasons of MLB experience from 1984 to 1994 with the Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox to mentor pitchers on arm development, expanding their pitching arsenal, and enhancing their mental approach on the mound. [7] As a native of Lackawanna, New York, in the Buffalo area, Hesketh's position at the local community college reflects his strong regional ties and commitment to developing baseball talent in Western New York. [7]

Personal life

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