Dutch Leonard (right-handed pitcher)
Encyclopedia
Emil John "Dutch" Leonard (March 25, 1909 - April 17, 1983) was an American
professional
baseball
player. He played in in Major League Baseball
as a right-handed knuckleball
pitcher
for the Brooklyn Dodgers
(1933–36), Washington Senators
(1938–46), Philadelphia Phillies
(1947–48), and Chicago Cubs
(1949–53). He was born in Auburn, Illinois
, home of the Trojans.
In a 20-season career, Leonard posted a 191-181 record with 1170 strikeout
s and a 3.25 ERA
in 3218.1 innings
. He was a six-time All-Star
selection.
On July 4, 1939 Leonard pitched a complete game and the Washington Senators defeated the New York Yankees in the first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. After the conclusion of the first game, Lou Gehrig gave his famous "luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech.
During the 1945 season, Leonard was part of what is possibly the only 4 man rotation in baseball history to have been all knuckleball pitchers.
Leonard died in Springfield, Illinois
at age of 74.
Leonard's nickname 'Dutch' was also taken in his honor by crime novelist Elmore Leonard
, and was tattooed as such during his time in the SeaBees.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played in in Major League Baseball
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...
as a right-handed knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
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...
for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1933–36), Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1938–46), 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...
(1947–48), and Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1949–53). He was born in Auburn, Illinois
Auburn, Illinois
Auburn is a city in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,317 at the 2000 census, and 4,445 in 2009. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Auburn is located at ....
, home of the Trojans.
In a 20-season career, Leonard posted a 191-181 record with 1170 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.25 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 3218.1 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He was a six-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
selection.
On July 4, 1939 Leonard pitched a complete game and the Washington Senators defeated the New York Yankees in the first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. After the conclusion of the first game, Lou Gehrig gave his famous "luckiest man on the face of the earth" speech.
During the 1945 season, Leonard was part of what is possibly the only 4 man rotation in baseball history to have been all knuckleball pitchers.
Leonard died in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
at age of 74.
Leonard's nickname 'Dutch' was also taken in his honor by crime novelist Elmore Leonard
Elmore Leonard
Elmore John Leonard Jr. , better known as Elmore Leonard, is an American novelist and screenwriter. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.Among his...
, and was tattooed as such during his time in the SeaBees.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball saves champions