Background
Skok, Craig Richard was born on September 1, 1947 in Dobbs Ferry, New York, United States. Son of Joseph Anthony and Florence Skok.
Skok, Craig Richard was born on September 1, 1947 in Dobbs Ferry, New York, United States. Son of Joseph Anthony and Florence Skok.
Skok attended Florida State University and joined the Red Sox" organization as an undrafted free agent in 1969 after previously being drafted by both Boston (January 1967) and the Minnesota Twins (June 1967), but not signing.
He was a middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played between 1973 and 1979 for the Boston Red Sox (1973), Texas Rangers (1976) and Atlanta Braves (1978–1979). Listed at 6 ft (18 m), 190 lb (86 kg), Skok batted right-handed and threw left-handed. He was selected to the all-star team in both the Eastern League (1971) and the International League (1972).
After his 1973 trial with the Red Sox, Skok spent the full seasons of 1974–1975 in the minor leagues, then, before the 1976 season, Skok was sent by Boston along with Juan Beníquez and Steve Barr to Texas in the same transaction that brought Ferguson Jenkins to the Red Sox.
He split 1976 between the Rangers and their Triple-A Sacramento Solons affiliate, then was released and out of baseball for 1977. He signed with the Braves as a free agent in 1978 and appeared in 87 games over the 1978–1979 seasons.
In a four-season career, Skok posted a 4–7 with a 4.86 earned run average and five saves in 107 appearances — all in relief — giving up 93 runs (12 of them unearned) on 170 hits and 58 walks while striking out 85 in 150 innings of work. He recorded all of his MLB victories and four of his five saves in a Braves" uniform.
Volunteer Providence Big Brothers, 1972. Served with United States National Guard, 1970-1976.
Married Patricia Ann Crews, June 18, 1983. Children: Keri Yvette Wade, Lisa Nicole.