How did Jerry Walker die? A look at the career of the youngest pitcher to start in an MLB All-Star game
Jerry Walker died at the age of 85 on Sunday, July 14. His former team, the Baltimore Orioles, shared the news on social media on Wednesday, July 17. They later said Walker died due to an apparent heart attack at his home in Ada, Oklahoma.
At the age of 20, Walker became the youngest pitcher to start an MLB All-Star game in 1959 with the Orioles. He pitched three innings, allowing one run on two hits and one base on balls, and was awarded the win in a 5-3 AL triumph at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Walker (20 years and 172 days) eclipsed the mark set by Detroit Tigers outfielder Al Kaline (20 years and 205 days), who started an All-Star game in 1955. Kaline is still the second-youngest player to start the Mid-Summer Classic.
Strictly talking about pitchers, former Los Angeles Dodgers ace Fernando Valenzuela was 20 years and 281 days old when he started the All-Star Game in 1981. This past week, Paul Skenes started the game for the National League at 22 years and 48 days.
Jerry Walker's career started young but was short-lived
Jerry Walker made his debut at the age of 18 in 1957, two years before his first All-Star selection, against the Boston Red Sox, where he failed to retire even a single batsman.
Walker stayed with the Orioles till the 1960 season and was traded along with Chuck Essegian to the Kansas City Athletics for Dick Hall and Dick Williams in April 1961. After playing two seasons, he went to the Cleveland Indians for another two seasons, after which his career was put to bed.
As he struggled with his performance, Walker never returned to the majors, with him last pitching at the age of 26. He pitched in 190 games and started in 90 of them. He went 37-44, posting a 4.36 ERA and 326 strikeouts.
After his playing career, Jerry Walker remained involved with the game and became the general manager of the Detroit Tigers in 1993. He worked under the St. Louis Cardinals' former GM Walt Jocketty from 1995 to 2007. The duo went on to work in the front office of the Cincinnati Reds from 2009–14.