Joe Hesketh

Who is Joe Hesketh?

Joseph Thomas Hesketh is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1984 through 1994 for the Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. Listed at 6' 2", 170 lb., Hesketh batted right-handed and threw left-handed. He was selected by the Expos in the 1980 draft out of the State University of New York at Buffalo.

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. 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 147⅔ 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.