It may sound cliche, but sometimes it truly is a small world. Right-handed pitcher Dave Leonhard earned a history degree from Johns Hopkins University, just 1.8 miles from the Orioles' Memorial Stadium digs at East 33rd Street. The local club signed the Arlington, VA native as an amateur free agent in 1963 and called him up to the majors in 1967 after he had earned the International League Pitcher of the Year award at AAA Rochester (15-3, 2.61 ERA). He spent his entire major league career (1967-1972) in Baltimore, posting a 3.15 ERA mostly in relief. He remains the only big leaguer in the modern era (post-1900) to come from JHU. Despite starting just 29 games in his career, he tossed four shutouts, including a one-hitter, a two-hitter, a three-hitter (on weekend leave from the National Guard!), and a five-hitter.That's Dave Leonhard in a nutshell...interesting guy.
Bob: "I'll take obscure Orioles for $200, Alex."
ReplyDeleteAlex: "The answer is: Jim Hutto"
Bob: "Uhhhh... What player never got a single hit for the O's even though they traded for him TWICE including once for Dave Leonard."
Alex: "Correct!"
Pitching for the cycle...
ReplyDeleteBob - "Jim Hutto" sounds like a Star Wars character.
ReplyDeleteDinged Corners - If only that five-hitter had been a four-hitter...