Don Leshnock
Encyclopedia
Donald Lee Leshnock is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He played for the Detroit Tigers
in 1972, appearing in one game without giving up an earned run. He also played college baseball for the Youngstown State Penguins
from 1965 to 1967 and was later inducted into the Youngstown State Athletic Hall of Fame. He played minor league baseball from 1968 to 1975.
, Leshnock played high school baseball for Ursuline High School. He subsequently played college baseball for Youngstown State University
from 1966 to 1968. He ranks second in Youngstown State history with a career earned run average of 1.61. He gave up his senior of eligibility to sign a contract to play professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers organization. Leshnock was signed by Detroit scout Cy Williams.
(1968–69), Rocky Mount Leafs (1969–70), Montgomery Rebels
(1971), and Toledo Mudhens (1972). He pitched a no-hitter for Rocky Mount in 1970. In 1971, he compiled a 7–3 record with 110 strikeouts in 101 innings for Montgomery. After the 1971 season, the Tigers sent Leshnock to the Winter Instructional League in Dunedin, Florida
, where he opened the winter season with a one-hitter against the Twins.
. Leshnock pitched the ninth inning for the Tigers, giving up two hits while also striking out two batters and allowing no earned runs. One of the batters he struck out was Nolan Ryan
, who got the win in the game while allowing only three hits.
Leshnock's stay in the major leagues proved to be a cup of coffee
, as he was returned to the Mud Hens in July 1972 and completed the season playing for the Mud Hens.
to the Philadelphia Phillies
, though he never appeared in a game for the Phillies. Leshnock played three more years of minor league baseball for the Eugene Emeralds
(1973), Charleston Charlies
(1974–75), Jacksonville Suns
(1975), and Shreveport Captains (1975).
His son, Donnie Leshnock, was drafted by the New York Yankees
in the fifth round of the 1992 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft and played four years in the Yankees' minor league organization from 1993 to 1996.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He played for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1972, appearing in one game without giving up an earned run. He also played college baseball for the Youngstown State Penguins
Youngstown State Penguins
Youngstown State University is in NCAA Division I. Nicknamed the Penguins, they play in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, and compete in the following sports:*Baseball *Basketball *Cross Country...
from 1965 to 1967 and was later inducted into the Youngstown State Athletic Hall of Fame. He played minor league baseball from 1968 to 1975.
Early years
A native of Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, Leshnock played high school baseball for Ursuline High School. He subsequently played college baseball for Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
from 1966 to 1968. He ranks second in Youngstown State history with a career earned run average of 1.61. He gave up his senior of eligibility to sign a contract to play professional baseball in the Detroit Tigers organization. Leshnock was signed by Detroit scout Cy Williams.
Minor leagues (1968–1972)
Before being called up to the Tigers in 1972, Leshnock played in Detroit's minor league system for the Lakeland TigersLakeland Tigers
The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a minor league baseball team based in Lakeland, Florida.Home games are played at Joker Marchant Stadium; opened in 1966 and renovated in 2003. The park, which also doubles as the Detroit Tigers spring training home, seats 8,500 fans...
(1968–69), Rocky Mount Leafs (1969–70), Montgomery Rebels
Montgomery Rebels
The Montgomery Rebels was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise representing Montgomery, Alabama, that played in various leagues between and...
(1971), and Toledo Mudhens (1972). He pitched a no-hitter for Rocky Mount in 1970. In 1971, he compiled a 7–3 record with 110 strikeouts in 101 innings for Montgomery. After the 1971 season, the Tigers sent Leshnock to the Winter Instructional League in Dunedin, Florida
Dunedin, Florida
Dunedin is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. The population was 35,691 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 36,632...
, where he opened the winter season with a one-hitter against the Twins.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers purchased Leshnock from the Mud Hens at the end of May 1972. On June 7, 1972, Leshnock appeared in is only game for the Tigers, a 5-1 loss to the California Angels at Tiger StadiumTiger Stadium
Tiger Stadium was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. It hosted the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team from 1912 to 1999, as well as the National Football League's Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974...
. Leshnock pitched the ninth inning for the Tigers, giving up two hits while also striking out two batters and allowing no earned runs. One of the batters he struck out was Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
, who got the win in the game while allowing only three hits.
Leshnock's stay in the major leagues proved to be a cup of coffee
Cup of coffee
A "cup of coffee" is North American sports terminology for a short time spent by a minor league player at the major league level. The idea behind the term is that the player was only in the big leagues long enough to have a cup of coffee before being returned to the minors, or simply to describe a...
, as he was returned to the Mud Hens in July 1972 and completed the season playing for the Mud Hens.
Minor leagues (1973–1975)
In October 1972, Leshnock was sold by the Tigers along with catcher Tom HallerTom Haller
Thomas Frank Haller was an American professional baseball player and baseball executive. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers...
to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, though he never appeared in a game for the Phillies. Leshnock played three more years of minor league baseball for the Eugene Emeralds
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
(1973), Charleston Charlies
Charleston Charlies
The Charleston Charlies was the name of the third and most recent Class AAA minor league baseball franchise that was located in Charleston, West Virginia, United States. The Charlies played in the International League from 1971 to 1976 as the relocated Columbus Jets franchise. In 1977 the franchise...
(1974–75), Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
(1975), and Shreveport Captains (1975).
Later years
In 1986, Leshnock was inducted into the Youngstown State Athletic Hall of Fame. At the time, he was called "one of the greatest ever to don a Penguin baseball uniform."His son, Donnie Leshnock, was drafted by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the fifth round of the 1992 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft and played four years in the Yankees' minor league organization from 1993 to 1996.