1953 Stockton Ports Roster
Team Record: 72-68
Finished 4th in the CL
Manager: Bill Salkeld (72-68)
Affiliation: Chicago Cubs
Location: Stockton, California
Ballpark: Billy Hebert Field
Attendance: 63,257, Avg. 904
Playoffs - Stockton Ports 3 games, Bakersfield Indians 0
Finals - San Jose Red Sox 4 games, Stockton Ports 2
The Stockton Ports of the California League ended the 1953 season with a record of 72 wins and 68 losses, finishing fourth in the CL.
The Ports tallied 679 runs and surrendered 593 runs. Jim O'Brien led hitters with significant playing time by hitting .328. Tony Freitas topped Stockton with 22 wins, while Bob Thorpe, too added 15 or more wins, too Tony Freitas recorded a 2.39 ERA, leading pitchers with enough qualifying appearances.
Players from the 1953 Stockton Ports who spent time in Major League Baseball during their careers included Frank Ernaga, Tony Freitas, Bill Salkeld and Bob Thorpe.
Bill Salkeld served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dick Adams | L | L | March 23, 1932 | 6'0" | 185 | Whittier, CA US |
| Art Bielefeld | R | R | January 5, 1929 | 6'3" | 185 | Anaheim, CA US |
| Robert Bortz | R | April 23, 1930 | 5'11" | 170 | ||
| John Buttrey | S | R | February 6, 1934 | 5'11" | 178 | Nashville, TN US |
| Dom Campana | R | R | August 4, 1933 | 5'10" | 190 | McKeesport, PA US |
| Berlin Claridge | R | R | July 22, 1928 | 6'1" | 187 | Phoenix, AZ US |
| Harry Clements | R | R | May 10, 1919 | 6'0" | 175 | Stockton, CA US |
| Bob Crane | R | R | November 13, 1932 | 6'1" | 190 | Flint, MI US |
| Frank Ernaga | R | R | August 22, 1930 | 6'1" | 195 | Susanville, CA US |
| Tony Freitas | R | L | May 5, 1908 | 5'8" | 161 | Mill Valley, CA US |
| Duane Hermon | L | R | April 4, 1933 | 6'0" | 185 | Sacramento, CA US |
| John Kreuter | L | L | June 4, 1934 | 6'0" | 190 | Metropolis, IL US |
| Sterling Kuhlman | R | R | April 6, 1932 | 5'11" | 165 | Snohomish, WA US |
| Larry LaBounty | R | R | May 6, 1932 | 6'3" | 178 | Tacoma, WA US |
| Otis McGaughey | R | 5'9" | 165 | |||
| Jim Montgomery | R | R | November 9, 1934 | 6'2" | 200 | Bakersfield, CA US |
| Wes Moore | R | R | February 1, 1934 | 6'2" | 180 | Santa Monica, CA US |
| William Moore | R | L | 6'1" | 175 | ||
| Samuel Nunn | R | R | September 20, 1934 | 6'4" | 195 | Los Angeles, CA US |
| Jim O'Brien | L | R | October 29, 1927 | 6'0" | 185 | St. Paul, MN US |
| Ray Ortega | R | R | November 29, 1929 | 5'11" | 188 | Brentwood, CA US |
| George Pullings | R | R | February 21, 1929 | 6'0" | 190 | PA, PA US |
| Bill Salkeld | L | R | March 8, 1917 | 5'10" | 190 | Pocatello, ID US |
| Donald Stewart | R | 5'11" | 170 | |||
| Bob Thorpe | R | R | June 12, 1935 | 6'1" | 170 | San Diego, CA US |
| Walt Tyler | L | R | December 8, 1929 | 5'11" | 173 | Burleson County, TX US |
| Bud Watkins | R | R | January 23, 1931 | 6'3" | 198 | Chicago, IL US |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
