Insight Pitch: My Life as a Major League Closer

by Skip Lockwood, Fergie Jenkins (Foreword by)

Overview

You're straddling the pitcher's mound in Shea Stadium. The game rests in your hands. Your heart is pounding. Big money is at stake. You feel thousands of eyes burning your jersey as they wait for a pitch. You gulp at the air trying to settle your nerves. It's go time.

Insight Pitch is a sports story that spills over three decades. Retired Major League Baseball pitcher Skip Lockwood tells anecdotes from throughout his career as a ballplayer, starting with his days as a Little Leaguer through his professional tenure with the Kansas City Athletics, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox, before his retirement in 1980. Along the way, he details both the on- and off-the-field shenanigans as well as the enormous psychological process that he underwent each and every time he took the mound.

Readers will find some laughs along the way and marvel as they share the locker room with legends like Jesse Owens, Satchel Paige, Catfish Hunter, and Yogi Berra.

Humorous but insightful, this book makes the perfect addition to any baseball fan's shelf.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683581765
Publisher:	Sports Publishing LLC
Publication date:	03/06/2018
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	894 KB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Skip Lockwood enjoyed a professional baseball career from 1965 to 1980, most of which time he spent pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers (1970-73) and the New York Mets (1975-79). Pursuing his longtime interest in game-day visualization and mental preparations, he proceeded to earn a master's degree from Fairfield University and another master's in science from MIT as a Sloan Fellow. In the following years, he continued to study and practice in the field of sport psychology. Today, he makes frequent appearances and delights audiences with humorous behind-the-scenes baseball stories and inspirational messages of how elite athletes excel despite unyielding pressure.
Skip Lockwood enjoyed a professional baseball career from 1965 to 1980, most of which time he spent pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers (1970-73) and the New York Mets (1975-79). Pursuing his longtime interest in game-day visualization and mental preparations, he proceeded to earn a Masters Degree from Fairfield University and another Masters in Science from MIT as a Sloan Fellow. In the following years, he continued to study and practice in the field of Sport Psychology. Today, he makes frequent appearances and delights audiences with humorous behind-the-scenes baseball stories and inspirational messages of how elite athletes excel despite unyielding pressure.
Fergie Jenkinsis a former Major League Baseball pitcher who had more than 3,000 strikeouts over the course of his career. A three-time All-Star and the 1971 National League Cy Young Award winner, Jenkins was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.

Table of Contents

Prelude ix

Foreword xiii

Introduction xv

Chapter 1 Little League Tryouts 1

Chapter 2 New York Mets Rubber Game, September 28, 1975 16

Chapter 3 The Disabled List, July 1952 28

Chapter 4 Welcome to Shea Stadium, 1975 34

Chapter 5 Longball: Polo Grounds, 1962 68

Chapter 6 Moneyball, 1964 77

Chapter 7 An Unwelcoming Welcome to the Show 91

Chapter 8 The Boonies: Burlington, Iowa, 1964 106

Chapter 9 Running on Empty: Bradenton, Florida, 1965 117

Chapter 10 Kansas City Here I Come, 1965 126

Chapter 11 1966 Changeups 140

Chapter 12 Pitching In 149

Chapter 13 Strike One … Players' Strike, 1972 164

Chapter 14 Moving On 176

Chapter 15 New York, New York, 1975 193

Chapter 16 The Last Hurrah 212

Epilogue: Fenway Park's Centennial Celebration and Player Reunion, 2012 217

Index 227

Editorial Reviews

04/01/2018
For most, being a professional baseball player is just a dream; for Lockwood (b. 1946), that dream turned into a reality. This memoir shares the author's personal perspective of his adventures in Major League Baseball. Starting off as a hitter, he eventually became a successful closer from 1965 to 1980 on teams such as the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox. Lockwood takes readers directly onto the field, vividly capturing what it was like to pitch in the majors during the mid-20th century. His stories are not legendary but will hold dear to the hearts of baseball fans who have or had dreams of being a pitcher. It will interest all with a deep love of the sport, who have imagined what it feels like to be in that moment. His baseball journeys also provide insight into legendary players such as Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Catfish Hunter, and more. Though he was never an elite superstar, Lockwood's story will resonate with baseball hopefuls. VERDICT Casual baseball fans young and old will greatly enjoy this book.—Gus Palas, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL

Library Journal

Joining the Mets in mid-season, Skip quickly became the dependable ‘closer’ we needed. He and I had long conversations about exactly how to prepare for each game and what it meant to leave nothing to chance. As a result, he always pitched with intensity and mental toughness. I told him, ‘Every time you go cross over that foul line, it’s Green Light...it’s Go Time.’ In his new book he takes you with us, onto the field and into the action.”
—Tom Seaver, MLB Hall of Famer, friend, and teammate; author, The Art of Pitching

“Skippy, my boy. Great job on your new book. You’re still throwing strikes.”
—Luis Tiant, Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer and longtime friend

“The mid and late 1970s are hardly remembered as the best of times for the New York Mets, but that’s not Skip Lockwood’s fault. Lost in the midst of mediocrity was some truly fine work out of the bullpen by a man who was as introspective and observant as any player of his generation. Armed with a keen sense of humor and self-deprecation, Skip’s memoir, Insight Pitch, provides a unique look at life in the major leagues before the players enjoyed the riches and security of today’s big leaguers.”

—Howie Rose, Broadcaster, New York Mets, WOR Radio 710 AM, New York

“The stories Skip shares in Insight Pitch of his major league career are sprinkled with humor and sensitivity. He shares with us his feelings and emotions when facing hitters in tough situations. This is a terrific book.”

-Rico Petrocelli, Red Sox Hall of Famer

“Skip Lockwood writes he might have been the "most ill-equipped person" to ever don a major league uniform, yet few seem better suited to tell the story of a baseball life. Skip’s glasses may have fogged up on the mound, but his perspective on the challenges, rewards, and realities of the game as it was truly played couldn’t be more clear-eyed. Hop in the bullpen cart with Skip Lockwood and settle in for a most Amazin’ ride.”

—Greg Prince, Faith and Fear in Flushing

“Insight Pitch was particularly poignant as I read it during my stint playing soccer in the National Championships. It helped me conceptualize.”
—Johann Clendenin, USMC

“From throwing a ball against the wall at his home as a boy to the major leagues, Skip takes us on a remarkable journey. He really knocks it out of the park. This book is a must read for any boy or girl and coaches, for that matter, interested in sports.”
—Dr. Harvey Dulberg

“Joining the Mets in mid-season, Skip quickly became the dependable ‘closer’ we needed. He and I had long conversations about exactly how to prepare for each game and what it meant to leave nothing to chance. As a result, he always pitched with intensity and mental toughness. I told him, ‘Every time you go cross over that foul line, it’s Green Light...it’s Go Time.’ In his new book he takes you with us, onto the field and into the action.”
—Tom Seaver, MLB Hall of Famer, friend, and teammate; author, The Art of Pitching

“Skippy, my boy. Great job on your new book. You’re still throwing strikes.”
—Luis Tiant, Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer and longtime friend

“The mid and late 1970s are hardly remembered as the best of times for the New York Mets, but that’s not Skip Lockwood’s fault. Lost in the midst of mediocrity was some truly fine work out of the bullpen by a man who was as introspective and observant as any player of his generation. Armed with a keen sense of humor and self-deprecation, Skip’s memoir, Insight Pitch, provides a unique look at life in the major leagues before the players enjoyed the riches and security of today’s big leaguers.”

—Howie Rose, Broadcaster, New York Mets, WOR Radio 710 AM, New York

“The stories Skip shares in Insight Pitch of his major league career are sprinkled with humor and sensitivity. He shares with us his feelings and emotions when facing hitters in tough situations. This is a terrific book.”

-Rico Petrocelli, Red Sox Hall of Famer

“Skip Lockwood writes he might have been the "most ill-equipped person" to ever don a major league uniform, yet few seem better suited to tell the story of a baseball life. Skip’s glasses may have fogged up on the mound, but his perspective on the challenges, rewards, and realities of the game as it was truly played couldn’t be more clear-eyed. Hop in the bullpen cart with Skip Lockwood and settle in for a most Amazin’ ride.”

—Greg Prince, Faith and Fear in Flushing

“Insight Pitch was particularly poignant as I read it during my stint playing soccer in the National Championships. It helped me conceptualize.”
—Johann Clendenin, USMC

“From throwing a ball against the wall at his home as a boy to the major leagues, Skip takes us on a remarkable journey. He really knocks it out of the park. This book is a must read for any boy or girl and coaches, for that matter, interested in sports.”
—Dr. Harvey Dulberg

From the Publisher