Johnnie LeMaster

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Johnnie LeMaster
Shortstop
Born: June 19, 1954 (1954-06-19) (age 53)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1975
for the San Francisco Giants
Final game
July 28, 1987
for the Oakland Athletics
Career statistics
Batting average     .222
Hits     709
Stolen bases     94
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Johnnie Lee LeMaster (Born June 19, 1954 in Portsmouth, Ohio) is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played for 12 seasons (1975–1985 and 1987) for four teams, including 10 seasons for the San Francisco Giants. He batted and threw right handed.

On September 2, 1975 LeMaster set a major league record hitting an inside-the-park home run in his first at bat, during a 7–3 win over the Dodgers. Brian Downing two years previously was the first MLB player to hit his first homer inside-the-park, but not in his first at bat. However, following his first at bat, Lemaster hit only 21 home runs the rest of his career (3,191 at bats).

Many will long remember LeMaster for one game in 1979. The shortstop took the field wearing the phrase on his back that Giants fans often welcomed him with. In place of his last name was the word "boo".[1]

1983 was LeMaster's finest season as a professional. He amassed over 100 hits for the only time in his career, batting .240 and finishing seventh in the National League with 39 stolen bases.

During the 1985 season, he played for three different teams: the San Francisco Giants, the Cleveland Indians, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Strangely, all three teams ended up in last place in their respective divisions.[2]

LeMaster was a career .222 hitter with 22 home runs and 229 runs batted in in 1039 games.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hayes, A.J., "SPORTS: Boo-yah! Johnnie LeMaster returns", http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/gsf/2008/05/sports_booyah_welcome_back_joh.html
  2. ^ Bruce Nash, The Baseball Hall of Shame 3