Joe Presko, former major-league pitcher from Kansas City, dies at age 90
Joe Presko, a major-league pitcher for six seasons and a fixture in Kansas City’s amateur baseball scene, died on Tuesday. He was 90.
Presko graduated from North Kansas City High in 1946 and moved up the Cardinals’ minor-league ranks, playing in St. Joseph and Omaha, and made his major-league debut in 1951. He was the winning pitcher in a spot-start that day and went on to spend four years with the Cardinals.
Presko pitched for the Detroit Tigers in 1957 and 1958 and finished his career with a 25-37 record and 4.61 ERA.
Presko spent decades coaching American Legion and Ban Johnson baseball in Kansas City. Among those he coached was future Cy Young Award-winner David Cone.
Visitation is Saturday from 9-11 a.m., followed by a Catholic Mass, at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Kansas City.