Gene Locklear

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Gene Locklear

|image=Gene Locklear Padres.jpg

|caption=Locklear with the Padres in 1975

|position=Outfielder

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1949|7|19}}

|birth_place=Lumberton, North Carolina, U.S.

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 5

|debutyear=1973

|debutteam=Cincinnati Reds

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=October 2

|finalyear=1977

|finalteam=New York Yankees

|debut2league = NPB

|debut2date=April 7

|debut2year=1978

|debut2team=Nippon-Ham Fighters

|final2league = NPB

|final2date=September 19

|final2year=1978

|final2team=Nippon-Ham Fighters

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.274

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=9

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=66

|stat2league=NPB

|stat21label=Batting average

|stat21value=.240

|stat22label=Home runs

|stat22value=8

|stat23label=Runs batted in

|stat23value=38

|teams=

Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|1973}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|1973}}–{{mlby|1976}})
New York Yankees ({{mlby|1976}}–{{mlby|1977}})
Nippon-Ham Fighters ({{npby|1978}})

}}

Gene Locklear (born July 19, 1949) is an American professional baseball outfielder and commercial artist. He played in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees from 1973 to 1977 and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Nippon-Ham Fighters in 1978. Locklear began painting as a child and became a professional artist during his baseball career.

Early life

Locklear was born in Lumberton, North Carolina, in 1949. He was raised on a tobacco farm in Pembroke, North Carolina.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-21-sp-2411-story.html|title=He Wasn't Painted Into a Corner|first=Dave|last=Distel|date=September 21, 1985|work=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=June 30, 2023}} Locklear is a full-blooded member of the Lumbee people.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/08/22/archives/locklear-is-a-yankee-with-an-unusual-past-and-future-locklear-a.html |last=Chass|first=Murray|authorlink=Murray Chass|title=Locklear Is a Yankee With an Unusual Past and Future|work=The New York Times|date=August 22, 1976|accessdate=November 2, 2022}}

Locklear attended Pembroke Senior High School, where he played baseball and gridiron football.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-this-indian-isnt-angr/127706415/ |title=This Indian Isn't Angry|work=The Tampa Tribune |first=Jim|last=Selman|page=C1, C5 |via=Newspapers.com |date=1972-03-20 |accessdate=2023-07-03}} He graduated in 1968.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-robesonian-gene-locklear-stroking-ba/127385398/ |title=Gene Locklear Stroking Ball Well In Class A|work=The Robesonian |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |date=1969-08-05 |accessdate=2023-07-03}} He also earned a degree in commercial art through a correspondence course, as Pembroke did not have any art classes. Locklear received no offers to play college baseball, including from Pembroke State University. After graduating from high school, he worked on a road construction crew and played baseball semi-professionally.

Baseball career

In 1969, Locklear tried out with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but was not offered a contract. He attended a tryout camp with the Cincinnati Reds and signed with them for no signing bonus.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/941768846/?terms=gene%20locklear%20artist%20and%20baseball%20player&match=1|first=Bill|last=Hass |title=Gene Locklear: Artist ... and Baseball Player|work=News and Record |page=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record/127628622/ D15] |via=Newspapers.com |date=1978-03-19 |accessdate=2023-07-03}} He made his professional debut that year with the Tampa Tarpons of the Class A Florida State League before the Reds reassigned him to the Sioux Falls Canaries of the Class A Northern League. He missed the beginning of the 1970 season due to his service with the United States Army. After his discharge, he played for the Asheville Tourists of the Class AA Southern League, but batted .164 and was demoted to Sioux Falls, where he batted .289. After batting .339 in the Florida Instructional League after the season,{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-robesonian-gene-locklear-of-pembroke/127708019/|first=Duke|last=DeLuca|agency=The Sporting News |title=Gene Locklear Of Pembroke Among Eastern Loop Leaders|work=The Robesonian |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |date=1971-08-16 |accessdate=2023-07-04}} Locklear played for the Trois-Rivières Aigles of the Class AA Eastern League in 1971 and had a .323 batting average, which led the league. In 1972, he played for the Indianapolis Indians of the Class AAA American Association and again won the batting title, finishing the season with a .325 average.

Locklear made the Reds' Opening Day roster in 1973, making his major league debut on April 5. Ken Griffey and Dan Driessen played more than Locklear, who had a .192 batting average in limited playing time. On June 12, 1973, the Reds traded Locklear and Mike Johnson to the San Diego Padres for Fred Norman.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-reds-deal-for-pi/127380307/ |title=Reds Deal For Pitcher|first=Bob|last=Hertzel|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |via=Newspapers.com|page=21 |date=June 13, 1973 |accessdate=June 30, 2023}} He finished the season with a .233 average in 180 at bats between Cincinnati and San Diego. The Padres assigned Locklear to the Hawaii Islanders of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League to start the 1974 season. He batted .341 in 77 games and was promoted to the Padres, where he received 50 at bats. Locklear began the 1975 season with San Diego, but remained behind Bobby Tolan in their depth chart. In May, he complained about being benched despite batting .441, while Tolan was paid more but not hitting as well, and the Padres demoted Locklear to the Islanders.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/22/archives/people-in-sports-441-batter-assigned-to-minors.html |title=People in Sports |work=The New York Times|date=1975-05-22 |accessdate=2023-07-03}} Locklear returned to the Padres after playing in 18 games for Hawaii and batted .321 in 237 at bats for the Reds for the 1975 season.

On July 10, 1976, the Padres traded Locklear to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later. The Yankees assigned Locklear to the Syracuse Chiefs of the Class AAA International League.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-yankees-obtain-gene-locklear/127380716/ |title=Yankees obtain Gene Locklear for farm duty |work=Montreal Gazette|agency=Associated Press|via=Newspapers.com |page=13|date=July 12, 1976 |accessdate=June 30, 2023}} Rick Sawyer went to the Padres from Syracuse as the player to be named later.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/2220416/?terms=%22rick%20sawyer%22&match=1 |title=Rookie Rick Sawyer Grabs First Victory|first=Ken|last=Rappoport|agency=Associated Press|work=Clovis News-Journal|page=7 |via=Newspapers.com |date=August 3, 1976 |accessdate=June 30, 2023}} The Yankees promoted Locklear to the major leagues on August 3. He played in 13 games for the Yankees in 1976. Playing for the Chiefs in 1977, Locklear batted over .300 with 25 home runs. He hit four home runs in a game against the Columbus Clippers, tying an International League single-game record.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/293954355/?terms=%22gene%20locklear%22%20columbus%20%22four%20home%20run%22&match=1 |title=The Newark Advocate 15 Jul 1977, page 10 |via=Newspapers.com |date=July 15, 1977 |accessdate=June 30, 2023}} Though the Yankees were competing for the postseason, they acquired Cliff Johnson and Dave Kingman rather than turn to Locklear. The Yankees did promote Locklear to the major leagues as a September call-up, and he batted 3-for-5 in one game for the Yankees in the 1977 season.

After the 1977 season, Locklear became a free agent.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/42114049/?terms=%22gene%20locklear%22%20%22three%20rivers%22&match=1 |title=The Robesonian 11 Nov 1977, page Page 9 |via=Newspapers.com |date=1977-11-11 |accessdate=2023-07-03}} He signed a two-year contract worth over $100,000 per season with the Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. He batted .240 in the 1978 season and the Fighters released him. He was invited to spring training in 1979 with the Reds as a non-roster player.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/764403329/?terms=%22gene%20locklear%22%20nippon%20ham&match=1 |title=The Cincinnati Post 08 Mar 1979, page 16 |via=Newspapers.com |date=1979-03-08 |accessdate=2023-07-03}} Locklear did not make the team. The Reds offered Locklear a roster spot with Indianapolis, which he declined.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-circleville-herald-reds-announce-5-m/127542662/ |title=Reds announce 5 more cuts |newspaper=The Circleville Herald |via=Newspapers.com |date= April 2, 1979|page=13 |accessdate=2023-07-03}} Locklear retired from baseball.

Art career

Locklear began painting when he was young.{{cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/gene-locklear/|title=Gene Locklear – Society for American Baseball Research}} He began selling his paintings while he was in high school. In addition to athletes, Locklear also paints Native American people and landscapes. He paints with acrylic paint during the warmer months and oil paints during colder months.

Some of Locklear's art was featured at Pembroke State College in 1969. He has had paintings hung in The Pentagon, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Smithsonian Institution. He made a painting of a country scene for Theodore C. Marrs, an advisor to President Gerald Ford, and the painting was hung in the White House from 1975 to 1976.{{cite web|url=https://ramonajournalarchives.com/former-padres-outfielder-gene-locklear-is-still-following-his-dreams-p10087-432.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220831011151/https://ramonajournalarchives.com/former-padres-outfielder-gene-locklear-is-still-following-his-dreams-p10087-432.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=August 31, 2022|title=Former Padres Outfielder Gene Locklear is Still Following His Dreams|first=Jack |last=Riordan|date=June 27, 2019|work=Ramona Home Journal|accessdate=July 4, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/942030274/?terms=%22gene%20locklear%22%20nippon%20ham&match=1 |title=The Greensboro Record 13 Jan 1979, page 10 |via=Newspapers.com |date=1979-01-13 |accessdate=2023-07-03}} He also made 26 paintings of Pete Rose and a collage of baseball stars that Rose hung in a restaurant that he owned.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/941701686/?terms=%22gene%20locklear%22&match=1 |title=News and Record 26 Aug 1976, page 48 |via=Newspapers.com |date=August 26, 1976 |accessdate=June 30, 2023}}

Locklear has sold paintings to athletes including Ted Williams, Lance Armstrong, and Tiger Woods, and has sold paintings for upwards of $30,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.robesonian.com/features/80516/ex-outfielder-to-unveil-painting-in-pembroke|title=Ex-outfielder to unveil painting in Pembroke|date=October 5, 2015|website=Robesonian}} He painted murals in front of crowds at Super Bowl XXVII, the MLB All-Star Game, and the NBA All-Star Game.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press-gene-lockle/127613683/ |title=Gene Locklear: good hit, no field, great brush |newspaper=Evansville Courier and Press |via=Newspapers.com |date= May 28, 1995|page=16 |accessdate=2023-07-04}} He designed the cover of the souvenir program for the 1995 MLB All Star Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/645192504/?terms=%22gene%20locklear%22&match=1 |title=Fort Worth Star-Telegram 07 Jul 1995, page 36 |via=Newspapers.com |date=1995-07-07 |accessdate=2023-07-04}} Locklear was the official artist of the Arena Football League and Super Bowl XXXVII.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/530841290/?terms=%22gene%20locklear%22&match=1 |title=Ex-Yankee Rediscovers His Stroke|work=The Times-Tribune |first=Hal|last=Bock|agency=Associated Press|page=D2|via=Newspapers.com |date=2002-09-29 |accessdate=2023-07-04}}