Born in Lowell, North Carolina, Lockman signed with the Giants as a 17-year-old during World War II and came to New York from the minor leagues in the middle of the 1945 season, just prior to his 19th birthday. Lockman hit a home run in his first at-bat becoming the youngest to do so in MLB history; his record was broken by Jasson Domínguez in 2023.[2] He batted .341 in limited duty that season.
In his only All-Star appearance, Lockman was the National League's starting first baseman in the 1952 All-Star Game at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The game was called off after five innings due to rain.
In 1956, Lockman was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. His time in St. Louis was brief, however, as the Cardinals sent him back to the Giants after the end of the 1956 season. He was a member of the Giants' last New York team, and their first San Francisco outfit, when the club moved West in 1958. He finished his playing career in 1959–60 with the Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds.
Appearing in 1,666 games, Lockman had a .279 career batting average with 114 home runs and 563 RBI.
Coach, manager, player development director
Lockman's coaching career began immediately after his playing days ended, as he joined the Reds' staff in 1960 under skipper Fred Hutchinson. In 1961, when his old teammate Dark became manager of the Giants, Lockman became his third base coach, serving through 1964. Lockman then joined the Chicago Cubs as a minor league manager (1965; 1967–70), MLB coach (1966), and, then, supervisor of player development.[3]
In July 1972, he succeeded his old mentor, Leo Durocher, as the team's manager, and the revitalized Cubs won 39 of 65 games to improve two places in the standings. But losing marks in 1973 and into 1974 cost Lockman his job; he was relieved of his duties July 24, 1974 and moved back into the Chicago front office, serving as vice president, player development, to 1976.[3] Lockman later was a player development official and special assignment scout for the Montreal Expos and Florida Marlins.
He finished with a career major league managing record of 157–162 (.492).
