Highlighted Year: Rusty Staub, 1970

Outfielder, Montreal Expos

Age: 26 (April 1)

2^nd season with Expos

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1970:

A native of New Orleans, the red-haired Daniel Joseph Staub received the nickname of “Rusty” as an infant. He played on the New Orleans Jesuit High School baseball team as a first baseman while his brother Chuck was in center field. His American Legion team won the national championship in 1960 and Jesuit High School won the Louisiana AAA title in 1961. He signed a contract with the Houston Colt .45s, who were a year away from joining the National League as an expansion team, for a $100,000 bonus. After hitting well in the Arizona Fall League in ’61, Staub was assigned to the Durham Bulls of the Class B Carolina League where he had an excellent season, batting .293 with a league-leading 23 home runs, 93 RBIs, a .430 OBP, and a .483 slugging percentage. The 19-year-old Staub started the 1963 season with Houston following a strong spring showing, and with veteran Pete Runnels at first base, Staub started the year in right field. He struggled during his rookie season and hit .224 with 17 doubles, 6 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a .309 OBP. A poor start in 1964 caused Staub to be sent down to the Oklahoma City 89ers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he batted .314 in 71 games with 20 home runs, 45 RBIs, a .427 OBP, and a .646 slugging percentage. Returning to the Colt .45s in September he finished the major league portion of his season with a .216 batting average (up from .202 when he was demoted), 10 doubles, 8 home runs, 35 RBIs, and a .272 OBP. Houston had been emphasizing youth in its team building, of which Staub was a key component. The renamed club moved into the Astrodome in 1965 and Staub started off slowly but came on to hit .281 in the season’s second half to finish at .256 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, 63 RBIs, and a .339 OBP. His batting production was far better on the road than in the spacious new ballpark, and like other outfielders he struggled to keep track of fly balls against the dome’s background. Staub showed great improvement in 1966, batting .280 with 28 doubles, 13 home runs, 81 RBIs, and a .345 OBP. In the field, his 13 assists placed second among NL right fielders and demonstrated the strength of his throwing arm. He was an All-Star for the first time in 1967 as, with his outstanding swing and line-drive power, he led the NL with 44 doubles while hitting .333 with 10 home runs, 74 RBIs, a .398 OBP, and .473 slugging percentage. As the Astrodome was not conducive to home run hitters, Staub tailored his swing accordingly. Staub held out for eight days in 1968 before signing a $45,000 contract. Shifted to first base he batted .291 with 37 doubles, 6 home runs, 72 RBIs, and a .373 OBP, and was again an All-Star. Having run afoul of manager Harry Walker, Staub was traded during the offseason to the expansion Expos, where he returned to right field. In the first season of divisional play in the NL and AL, the first year club finished in the NL East cellar. Typically pitching challenged, they were unable to make the most of the power displayed by outfielders Mack Jones and Staub, plus the surprising rookie third baseman Coco Laboy. Staub batted .302 with 26 doubles, 5 triples, 29 home runs, 79 RBIs, a .426 OBP, and a .526 slugging percentage. He was Montreal’s lone All-Star representative.

1970 Season Summary

Appeared in 160 games

RF – 160, PH – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 699 [9]

At Bats – 569

Runs – 98 [15, tied with Willie McCovey]

Hits – 156

Doubles – 23

Triples – 7 [17, tied with five others]

Home Runs – 30 [12]

RBI – 94 [15, tied with Lee May]

Bases on Balls – 112 [2]

Int. BB – 11 [11, tied with four others]

Strikeouts – 93

Stolen Bases – 12 [19, tied with Cleon Jones, Pete Rose & Don Kessinger]

Caught Stealing – 11 [9, tied with Matty Alou & Tony Taylor]

Average - .274

OBP - .394 [8, tied with Ken Henderson & Jim Wynn]

Slugging Pct. - .497 [17]

Total Bases – 283 [15]

GDP – 7

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 11 [4, tied with Carl Morton & Pat Jarvis]

Sac Flies – 4

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 14, 3B – 3, HR – 15, RBI – 55, AVG – .293, SLG – .517, OBP - .430

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at Cincinnati 5/30 – 10 innings

Longest hitting streak – 7 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at NY Mets 7/11, (in 4 AB) vs. LA Dodgers 8/1, (in 4 AB) vs. LA Dodgers 8/1 (total 4 HR in double-header), (in 5 AB) at Houston 8/14

HR at home – 13

HR on road – 17

Multi-HR games – 4

Most RBIs, game – 5 at Atlanta 6/6

Pinch-hitting – 2 for 3 (.667)

Fielding

Chances – 327

Put Outs – 308

Assists – 14

Errors – 5

DP – 4

Pct. - .985

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The second-year Expos went 73-89 to finish sixth (last) in the NL Eastern Division, 16 games behind the division-winning Pittsburgh Pirates, while leading the league in fewest hits (1284), and lowest batting average (.237). Going 1-10 to start the season, the Expos quickly found themselves in the NL East cellar. With a lack of hitting to back up some decent pitching, the club surprisingly broke even in July and had a winning record in September. But after rising to fifth place on Sept. 30, a loss in the season finale sealed their last-place finish.

Aftermath of 1970:

Immensely popular in Montreal and called “Le Grand Orange” by the French-speaking fans, Staub became an active promoter of the young club throughout Canada, developed several business sidelines in the city, took classes in French, and even became a wine connoisseur and chef. He played in all 162 games for the Expos in 1971 despite a wrist injury and hit .311 with 34 doubles, 19 home runs, 97 RBIs, a .392 OBP, and a .482 slugging percentage. He was an All-Star for the fifth straight year (including all three in Montreal). But while he was prospering on the field, the Expos were not and in 1972 Staub was dealt to the New York Mets for three young players (SS Tim Foli, 1B Mike Jorgensen, and OF Ken Singleton). He performed well for the Mets in 1972 until suffering a broken wrist when hit by a pitch in June. The injury required surgery that effectively ended his season. Limited to 66 games he batted .293 with 9 home runs, 38 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .452 slugging percentage. Back in action in 1973, Staub hit .279 with 36 doubles, 15 home runs, 76 RBIs, and a .361 OBP. The Mets, who were in last place in the NL East in early August, surged to the division title, albeit with only an 82-79 record. They defeated Cincinnati in the NLCS, helped in no small part by Staub’s three home runs. Injuring his shoulder when hitting the outfield fence following a key catch in Game 4, his throwing was hindered in the seven-game World Series loss to the Oakland Athletics, although he batted .423 with 11 hits that included a home run. In 1974, struggling with his weight and an assortment of injuries, he hit a disappointing .258 with 19 home runs, 78 RBIs, and a .347 OBP. His production improved in 1975 to .282 with 19 home runs, 105 RBIs, a .371 OBP, and a .448 slugging percentage. In the offseason, the Mets dealt Staub to the Detroit Tigers in a four-player trade that most prominently included LHP Mickey Lolich, going from Detroit to New York. While Lolich flopped with the Mets in 1976, Staub prospered with his new club, batting .299 with 28 doubles, 15 home runs, 96 RBIs, a .386 OBP, and a .433 slugging percentage. Utilized exclusively as a Designated Hitter in 1977, but despite being unhappy at not playing in the outfield, his bat remained productive as he hit .278 with 34 doubles, 22 home runs, 101 RBIs, a .336 OBP, and a .448 slugging percentage. Staub was still a DH exclusively in 1978 and was again productive, batting .273 with 30 doubles, 24 home runs, 121 RBIs, a .347 OBP, and a slugging percentage of .435. Seeking a contract extension, Staub held out in 1979 and threatened to retire to run his restaurant in New York. He eventually rejoined the club in May but by July 20 he was hitting only .236 with 9 home runs and 40 RBIs. Staub was traded back to the Expos at that point, who were now contenders in the NL East. Used primarily as a first baseman and pinch-hitter upon his return to Montreal, he batted .267 in 38 games with 3 homers and 14 RBIs. During spring training in 1980, Staub was dealt once again, this time to the Texas Rangers where he again found himself typically appearing as a DH. Playing in 109 games he hit .300 with 23 doubles, 9 home runs, 55 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a .459 slugging percentage. A free agent in the offseason, Staub finished out his career with the Mets from 1981 to ’85 as a pinch-hitter and backup at first base. His .317 batting average in 1981 was his best of those last seasons with the Mets, and he hit a total of 13 home runs with 102 RBIs during those seasons as well. For his major league career, Staub batted .279 with 2716 hits that included 499 doubles, 47 triples, and 292 home runs. He scored 1189 runs and compiled 1466 RBIs, a .362 OBP, and a .431 slugging percentage. With the Expos he batted .295 with 290 runs scored, 531 hits, 86 doubles, 18 triples, 81 home runs, 284 RBIs, a .402 OBP, and a .497 slugging percentage. Appearing in 11 postseason games he hit .341 with 4 homers and 11 RBIs. A six-time All-Star, Staub finished in the top 20 in league MVP voting four times. He also became the first major league player to reach 500 hits with four different teams. The Expos (now Washington Nationals) retired his #10 and he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, the New York Mets Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Beyond his playing career he operated two restaurants in New York and became a broadcaster for radio and telecasts of Mets games for several seasons. He also set up two charitable foundations, the New York Police and Fire Widows and Children Benefit Fund and the Rusty Staub Foundation to assist food pantries. Staub died in 2018 at the age of 73.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category will also include Misc. players who don’t otherwise qualify but received MVP votes or were contributors to teams that reached the postseason. 

Highlighted Year: Dave Lemanczyk, 1979

Pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays

Age: 29 (Aug. 17)

3^rd season with Blue Jays

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 235 

Prior to 1979:

A native of Syracuse, New York, Lemanczyk (pronounced Leh-MAN-chick) was a star quarterback at Westhill High School, but preferred baseball, where he was primarily a catcher on the school team,  and basketball. After graduating from high school in 1968 he moved on to Hartwick College where he played basketball in addition to baseball. In his first college start he pitched a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts and went on to set a school record with 70 strikeouts as a senior. Lemanczyk, who majored in history, world religion and philosophy, graduated in 1972 and was drafted and signed by the Detroit Tigers. Initially assigned to Lakeland of the Class A Florida State League, the hard-throwing Lemanczyk posted an impressive 7-1 record and a 1.77 ERA with 55 strikeouts over 66 innings before being promoted to the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League where he went 5-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 80 innings. A fine Grapefruit League performance earned him a spot on Detroit’s opening day roster in 1973. Following an unimpressive relief performance in his first major league appearance, Lemanczyk was returned to Toledo, where he experienced difficulties and was demoted to the Montgomery Rebels of the Class AA Southern League where he returned to form and went 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA that included a no-hitter against Asheville. Returning to Toledo, he narrowly missed tossing another no-hitter and he finished with a combined minor league record of 9-9 with a 4.19 ERA, 4 shutouts, and 112 strikeouts over 144 innings pitched. After another strong spring performance in 1974, Lemanczyk started the season in Class Triple AAA with the Evansville Triplets of the American Association. He was called up to the Tigers a month into the season. Rarely used during his first five weeks with the club and prone to giving up home runs, his performance suddenly improved during July. Starting three times in 22 appearances he ended up with a 2-1 tally and 4.00 ERA with 10 games finished and 52 strikeouts over 78.2 innings. Typically used out of the bullpen in 1975 (6 of his 26 appearances were starts), Lemanczyk posted a 2-7 record and 4.46 ERA for the woeful Tigers. Sent down to Evansville in 1976, he returned to Detroit in June and while starting in 10 of his 20 appearances, Lemanczyk went 4-6 with a 5.09 ERA and 51 strikeouts over 81.1 innings. In the offseason he was selected by the Blue Jays in the AL expansion draft and secured a spot in the new club’s starting rotation in the spring. Personable and prone to be candid, the tall and husky Lemanczyk’s best pitch was his fastball, which he threw at variable speeds. He went on to top Toronto’s pitchers in wins with his 13-16 record in 1977 along with a 4.25 ERA, 11 complete games, and 105 strikeouts over 252 innings. With a penchant for occasional wildness, he also unleashed 20 wild pitches. A dreadful start in 1978 caused Lemanczyk to be demoted to the bullpen where he went on to finish with a 4-14 tally and 6.26 ERA in 29 appearances that included 20 starts. Six weeks pitching in the Florida Instructional League during the offseason helped to fix his mechanics and confidence as he prepared for the 1979 season.

1979 Season Summary

Appeared in 22 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 22

Games Started – 20

Complete Games – 11 [17, tied with Paul Splittorff]

Wins – 8

Losses – 10

PCT - .444

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 3 [6, tied with seven others]

Innings Pitched – 143

Hits – 137

Runs – 65

Earned Runs – 59

Home Runs – 12

Bases on Balls – 45

Strikeouts – 63

ERA – 3.71 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 6 [11, tied with six others]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 11 [4, tied with Tom Underwood & Tommy John]

Midseason Snapshot: 7-7, ERA - 3.33, SO – 56 in 127 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 8 (in 9 IP) vs. Cleveland 5/21

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) at Texas 4/24

Fielding

Chances – 34

Put Outs – 12

Assists – 20

Errors – 2

DP – 2

Pct. - .941

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Blue Jays went 53-109 to finish seventh (last) in the AL Eastern Division, 50.5 games behind the division-winning Baltimore Orioles. The pitching staff led the league in highest ERA (4.82), fewest saves (11) & most runs surrendered (862) The Blue Jays went through a dismal stretch between April 15 and June 5 in which they produced a 9-39 record which entrenched them in the AL East cellar. Lemanczyk performed well until an inflamed nerve in his back that was first detected in June later cost him all feeling in his right leg. Placed on the DL in August, he returned in September and was mostly ineffective in his remaining appearance.

 Aftermath of 1979:

Seemingly healthy heading into 1980, Lemanczyk got off to a disappointing start and was traded to the California Angels in June where he spent the remainder of the season almost exclusively in the bullpen. A strong finish didn’t prevent him from being released in the offseason. His combined record was 4-9 in 31 appearances with a 4.75 ERA. Invited to spring training with the Chicago White Sox in 1981, he failed to make the team and suffered a similar fate with the New York Yankees, thus ending his playing career. For his major league career, Lemanczyk appeared in 185 games, 103 of them starts, and produced a 37-63 record and 4.62 ERA with 30 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 429 strikeouts over 913 innings. With the Blue Jays he appeared in 95 games with 82 starts, 25 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 240 strikeouts over 575 innings. His All-Star selection in 1979 was the only one of his career and he never played in the postseason. Following his major league career, he participated in the Men’s Senior Baseball League in 1988 and he operated a baseball training center in Lynbrook, New York. Lemanczyk was named to the Hartwick College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, and the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. 

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

 

Highlighted Year: Chuck Hinton, 1964

Outfielder, Washington Senators

Age:  30 (May 3)

4^th season with Senators

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 180 

Prior to 1964:

A native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Hinton became known as an athlete with good speed in his youth. While attending the segregated Booker T. Washington High School, he played American Legion baseball. Moving on to Shaw University in Raleigh on a baseball scholarship, Hinton also played football and basketball. Following a tryout in Washington during the summer of 1956, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles for $200 a month plus a $500 bonus. Assigned to the Phoenix Stars of the Class C Arizona-Mexico League as a reserve catcher, in 29 games he batted .271 with a .340 on-base percentage. He went to the outfield after the injured starting backstop he was covering for returned to action. Drafted into the Army, Hinton missed the next two seasons although he kept honing his baseball skills. Returning to action in 1959 with Aberdeen of the Class C Northern League, he was used primarily in the outfield due to his speed and strong throwing arm and batted .358 with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 20 home runs, 108 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, a .443 OBP, and a .551 slugging percentage. Hinton started the 1960 season with the Vancouver Mounties of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, but when his production sagged he was sent back to Class C and Stockton of the California League where he hit a league-best .369 with 22 doubles, 7 triples, 20 home runs, 88 RBIs, 34 stolen bases, a .477 OBP, and a .628 slugging percentage. Selected by the Senators in the AL expansion draft in the offseason, he started the 1961 season with Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association and was called up to Washington in May. Filling a need for a righthanded-hitting outfielder, Hinton saw significant playing time and batted .260 with 13 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 22 steals, and a .337 OBP. He broke out in 1962 to contend for the league batting title until late in the season while hitting .310 with 25 doubles, 6 triples, 17 home runs, 75 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, a .361 OBP, and a .472 slugging percentage. Hinton had a disappointing season in 1963, capped by a September beaning that knocked him out of action for two weeks and left him with vision problems. He ended up batting .269 with 20 doubles, 12 triples, 15 home runs, 55 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, a .340 OBP, and a .426 slugging percentage. A fan of the NFL’s Washington Redskins, he expressed an interest in playing pro football in addition to baseball, a desire which went unrealized.

1964 Season Summary

Appeared in 139 games

LF – 131, 3B – 2, PH – 6, PR – 3, 3B – 2, CF – 1, RF – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 575

At Bats – 514

Runs – 71

Hits – 141

Doubles – 25 [16, tied with eight others]

Triples – 7 [7, tied with Dick McAuliffe]

Home Runs – 11

RBI – 53

Bases on Balls – 57

Int. BB – 7 [15, tied with eight others]

Strikeouts – 77

Stolen Bases – 17 [5]

Caught Stealing – 6 [8, tied with Tony Oliva, Chico Salmon & Mike Hershberger]

Average - .274 [19, tied with Rocky Colavito]

OBP - .346

Slugging Pct. - .414

Total Bases – 213

GDP – 21 [3]

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 3   

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 18, 3B – 4, HR – 8, RBI - 38, SB – 8, AVG - .305, OBP - .364

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Most hits, game – 3 on fourteen occasions

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

Most HR, game – 1 on eleven occasions

HR at home – 6

HR on road – 5

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting/running – 1 for 5 (.200) with 1 R & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 269

Put Outs – 258

Assists – 7

Errors – 4

DP - 3

Pct. - .985 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Senators went 62-100 to finish ninth in the AL, 37 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees, while leading the league in batting strikeouts (1124), fewest hits (1246), lowest batting average (.231), and lowest OBP (.299). Hindered by a weak offense, the Senators were at 19-29 by the end of May but dropped into the AL cellar thanks to a 13-32 stretch that commenced in late June. Entering September while apparently heading toward another disastrous finish, they still managed to do better than the Kansas City Athletics. Hinton led the league in batting for much of the first half of the season but was hindered by a wrist injury when hit by a pitch that sidelined him for an extended period and reduced his effectiveness.

Aftermath of 1964:

In the offseason, Hinton was traded to the Cleveland Indians for two players. In 1965 he appeared in the outfield and at first and second base and batted .255 with 17 doubles, 6 triples, 18 home runs, 54 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, a .336 OBP, and a .448 slugging percentage. Appearing primarily in left and center field in 1966, Hinton hit .256 with 12 home runs, 50 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, a .323 OBP, and a .402 slugging percentage. 1967 brought no improvement as Hinton batted .245 with 19 doubles, 10 home runs, 37 RBIs, and a .304 OBP. In the offseason he was dealt to the California Angels for outfielder Jose Cardenal. In a 1968 season that was difficult for hitters in general, Hinton finished at .195 with 7 home runs, 23 RBIs, and a .259 OBP. The result was that Hinton was traded back to Cleveland prior to the 1969 season. Appearing in 94 games as a backup outfielder/third baseman, he batted .256 with a .303 OBP. He lasted two more years before being released by the Indians after the 1971 season, thus concluding his major league career. Overall Hinton batted .264 with 1048 hits that included 152 doubles, 47 triples, and 113 home runs. He scored 518 runs and compiled 443 RBIs, 130 stolen bases, a .332 OBP, and a .412 slugging percentage. With the Senators he batted .280 and scored 275 runs with 83 doubles, 30 triples, 49 home runs, 217 RBIs, 92 stolen bases, a .347 OBP, and a .428 slugging percentage. He was an All-Star just once and never appeared in the postseason. Following his playing career, he was head coach of the Howard University baseball team for 28 years. Hinton died in 2013 at age 78.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Don Leppert, 1963

Catcher, Washington Senators

Age: 31

1^st season with Senators

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 220 

Prior to 1963:

A native of Indianapolis, Leppert participated in football and track in high school. While serving in the Air Force, he played service baseball. Signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1955, the 23-year-old catcher played for two teams at the Class A level. Leppert batted a combined .260 with 13 home runs, 42 RBIs, a .336 on-base percentage, and a .507 slugging percentage, impressing the Braves with his power potential and strong throwing ability. In 1956 Leppert was with Wichita of the Class AAA American Association where, dealing with chronic injuries, he hit .230 with 8 home runs, 21 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. In 1957 he was in Class AA with Austin of the Texas League where he batted .233 with 20 home runs, 59 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. Playing with a broken thumb in 1958, he had a .229 average, 11 home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .293 OBP. Having kept going through the injuries, he had considered retiring but moved on to the Dallas Rangers of the American Association in 1959 where his hitting improved to .270 with 13 home runs, 66 RBIs, and a .332 OBP. He stayed with the Rangers, now representing Dallas-Fort Worth and affiliated with the Kansas City Athletics in 1960, where the feisty backstop batted .256 with 17 home runs, 63 RBIs, a .326 OBP, and a .446 slugging percentage. Dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the offseason, Leppert started the 1961 season in Class AAA with the Columbus Jets of the International League. Hitting .386 with a .450 OBP, he was called up to the Pirates in June to back up veteran catchers Smoky Burgess and Hal Smith. With Smith lost in the expansion draft, Leppert saw more action with the Pirates in 1962, hitting .262 in 45 games with 3 home runs, 18 RBIs, and a .327 OBP. In the offseason he was traded to the Senators for a minor league player.

1963 Season Summary

Appeared in 73 games

C – 60, PH – 18

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 234

At Bats – 211

Runs – 20

Hits – 50

Doubles – 11

Triples – 0

Home Runs – 6

RBI – 24

Bases on Balls – 20

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 29

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .237

OBP - .305

Slugging Pct. - .374

Total Bases – 79

GDP – 8

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 1

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 7, HR - 5, RBI - 19, AVG - .262, OBP - .326

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Most hits, game – 3 (in 4 AB) vs. Boston 4/11

Longest hitting streak – 5 games

Most HR, game – 3 (in 4 AB) vs. Boston 4/11

HR at home – 4

HR on road – 2

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. Boston 4/11

Pinch-hitting – 6 for 14 (.429) with 2 R, 1 2B, 4 BB & 2 RBI 

Fielding

Chances – 306

Put Outs – 281

Assists – 20

Errors – 5

Passed Balls – 8

DP - 4

Pct. - .984

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Senators went 56-106 to finish tenth (last) in the AL, 48.5 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. The Senators started poorly and finished April in the AL cellar and they rarely peeked out -despite a 11-3 stretch in July. Mickey Vernon was replaced by Gil Hodges as manager in May. Leppert became a fan favorite with his three-home run game in April, but while he continued to hit well during most of the season’s first half, which provided a justification for his becoming Washington’s All-Star representative, his production dropped off during the second half and he lost the starting job at catcher to Ken Retzer.      

Aftermath of 1963:

In 1964, Leppert appeared in 50 games as he backed up Mike Brumley behind the plate and batted .156 with 3 home runs, 12 RBIs, and a .224 OBP. He was back in Class AAA in 1965 with the Hawaii Islanders of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he hit .338 with 5 home runs, 19 RBIs, and a .400 OBP. Following one more minor league season with Columbus of the International League, Leppert’s playing career came to an end at age 34. For his major league career, he batted .229 with 122 hits that included 22 doubles, 2 triples, and 15 home runs. He scored 46 runs and produced 59 RBIs and a .289 OBP. With the Senators he batted .207 with 69 hits, 26 runs scored, 14 doubles, 9 home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .275 OBP. He was hired as a minor league manager by the Pirates in 1967, followed by a stint as a coach with Pittsburgh, which lasted until 1976. He moved on to the expansion Toronto Blue Jays as a coach for three years and then moved on to the Houston Astros where he coached until 1985. He served as a minor league manager for the Minnesota Twins until becoming a field coordinator in the club’s farm system. Leppert died in 2023 at age 91, having lasted far longer as a coach, minor league manager, and farm system coordinator than he lasted as a major league player who was once an All-Star.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Craig Reynolds, 1978

Shortstop, Seattle Mariners

Age: 25

2^nd season with Mariners

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 175 

Prior to 1978:

A native of Houston, Texas, Reynolds was named the city’s Top High School Athlete while a senior at John H. Reagan High School. Selected in the first round of the 1971 amateur draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, after signing he was sent to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League where he batted .318 with 8 doubles and a .378 on-base percentage. He also committed 25 errors at shortstop. Moving to Gastonia of the Class A Western Carolinas League in 1972, he hit .240, again with a near total absence of power, but with better results defensively. Reynolds spent most of 1973 with Salem of the Class A Carolina League where he improved his batting average to .287 and displayed more clout with 18 doubles, 5 triples, 13 home runs, 86 RBIs, and a .334 OBP. With teams at Class AA and AAA in 1974, he batted a combined .299 with 12 doubles, 6 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .359 OBP. In 1975 with the Charleston Charlies of the Class AAA International League, Reynolds hit .308 with 22 doubles, 6 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .342 OBP. He also saw brief action with the Pirates and batted .224 in 31 games. Back with Charleston in 1976, Reynolds produced a .290 average with 21 extra-base hits, 47 RBIs, and a .337 OBP. He received a September call-up to the Pirates and was traded along with a minor league second baseman to the expansion Mariners in the offseason for reliever Grant Jackson. Moving into the lineup as the new club’s starting shortstop, Reynolds hit a better-than-anticipated .248 with 12 doubles, 4 home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .277 OBP.

1978 Season Summary

Appeared in 148 games

SS – 146, PH – 1, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 604

At Bats – 548

Runs – 57

Hits – 160 [19, tied with Roy Smalley]

Doubles – 16

Triples – 7 [11, tied with six others]

Home Runs – 5

RBI – 44

Bases on Balls – 36

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 41

Stolen Bases – 9

Caught Stealing – 6

Average - .292 [17, tied with Sixto Lezcano]

OBP - .336

Slugging Pct. - .374

Total Bases – 205

GDP – 4

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 11 [18, tied with Dave Chalk & Butch Wynegar]

Sac Flies – 6

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 4, HR - 3, RBI - 29, AVG. - .306, OBP - .344

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at Oakland 8/6, (in 5 AB) vs. Texas 10/1

Longest hitting streak – 16 games

HR at home – 2

HR on road – 3

Most home runs, game – 1 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 at NY Yankees 6/14 – 10 innings

Pinch-hitting/running – 0 for 1 (.000) with 1 R

Fielding

Chances - 733

Put Outs – 243

Assists – 461

Errors – 29

DP – 102

Pct. - .960

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Mariners went 56-104 to finish seventh (last) in the AL Western Division, 35 games behind the division-winning Kansas City Royals. The Mariners dropped into the AL West cellar in April and never rose above fifth place the rest of the way. Disappointing play from some of the standouts of the inaugural season combined with front office instability to damage the club’s chances. Reynolds was one of a few stars for the struggling team.

Aftermath of 1978:

In the offseason Reynolds returned to his hometown as he was dealt to the Houston Astros for LHP Floyd Bannister. The Astros, emphasizing pitching and defense, contended in 1979 and Reynolds batted .265 with 20 doubles, 9 triples, 39 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, and a .292 OBP, often contributing timely hits. His defense was solid and he was once again an All-Star. Reynolds’ offense dropped off in 1980 to .226 with 9 doubles, 6 triples, 3 home runs, 28 RBIs, 2 stolen bases, and a .262 OBP while the Astros won their first ever division title. In the strike-shortened 1981 season Reynolds tied for the NL lead in triples (12, including a record-tying three in one game). Beyond that he hit .260 with 10 doubles, 4 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .286 OBP. In 1982, Reynolds lost his starting job to Dickie Thon, an up-and-coming shortstop with more batting punch. Transitioning into a new role as a utility infielder, he appeared in 54 games and batted .254 with 6 extra-base hits, 7 RBIs, and a .321 OBP. Making 65 appearances in his backup role in 1983, Reynolds hit .214 with a .260 OBP. Thon suffered impaired vision as the result of an early-season beaning in 1984 and Reynolds was called upon to fill in at shortstop, which he did effectively, batting .260 with 15 doubles, 11 triples, 6 home runs, 60 RBIs, and a .286 OBP. With Thon back in action in 1985, Reynolds was utilized less, but performed well when needed, hitting .272 with 18 doubles, 8 triples, 4 home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .293 OBP. The Astros returned to the top of the NL West in 1986 and Reynolds, splitting time with Thon at short, batted .249 with 6 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .274 OBP. The club lost to the New York Mets in a six-game NLCS, but Reynolds appeared in four of the games and hit .333. With Thon again hindered by vision problems in 1987, Reynolds saw considerable action at shortstop and batted .254 with 17 doubles, 4 home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .303 OBP. In 1988, with Rafael Ramirez taking over at shortstop, Reynolds returned to a utility role and hit .255 with a .290 OBP while appearing in 78 games. His playing career came to an end after one more season in 1989. For his major league career, he batted .256 with 1142 hits that included 143 doubles, 65 triples, and 42 home runs. He scored 480 runs and produced 377 RBIs, 58 stolen bases, and a .291 OBP. With the Mariners he batted .273 with 98 runs scored, 264 hits, 28 doubles, 10 triples, 9 home runs, 72 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, and a .311 OBP. Reynolds appeared in 12 postseason games with the Pirates and Astros and hit .241 with a double and no RBIs. He was a two-time All-Star. Following his playing career, he worked in wealth management in Houston prior to becoming a Baptist minister.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Johnny Antonelli, 1959

Pitcher, San Francisco Giants

Age:  29 (April 12)

6^th season with Giants

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 185 

Prior to 1959:

A native of Rochester, New York, Antonelli starred in three sports at Jefferson High School (basketball and football in addition to baseball). While playing semipro baseball in the Vermont League in 1947 he developed an outstanding curveball. Tossing three no-hitters in high school he drew the attention of prominent major league scouts. Taken to observe spring training by his father, he learned a great deal and his father rented out Silver Stadium, Rochester’s minor league ballpark to showcase his son’s pitching talent against a good semipro team after he had graduated from high school. Nine scouts and 7000 fans attended and Antonelli put on an impressive performance. He was signed by the Boston Braves for a near $50,000 bonus, a record amount at the time. Forced by the rules of the time to go directly to the major league roster for at least two years he initially rode the bench as the Braves battled for the 1948 NL pennant. The so-called “bonus baby” pitched a total of four innings in ’48, giving up two hits and a run. The Braves dropped to fourth place in 1949 but Antonelli saw more action, appearing in 22 games, 10 of them starts. He posted a 3-7 record and a 3.56 ERA with three complete games and 48 strikeouts. Following a 1950 season in which his innings dropped to 57.2 on his way to a 2-3 tally, Antonelli went into the Army for two years, missing all of 1951 and ’52. Playing service baseball at Fort Myer, Virginia during his military stint, he went 42-2 and revived his pitching career. With an effective fastball, curve, and changeup he returned to the Braves in 1953, who were now transplanted to Milwaukee. He got off to an 8-4 start but a bout with pneumonia sapped his strength in the second half of the season and he finished at 12-12 with a 3.18 ERA and 11 complete games that included two shutouts. In 1954 he was traded to the New York Giants as part of a six-player deal. The Giants won the NL pennant and Antonelli displayed tremendous poise and skill in posting a 21-7 record along with a league-leading 2.30 ERA, 18 complete games, 6 shutouts, and 152 strikeouts. In the World Series sweep of the Cleveland Indians, he went the distance in winning Game 2 and saved the decisive Game 4 by retiring the last five Cleveland batters. He received NL Pitcher of the Year honors from The Sporting News two years before the creation of the Cy Young Award. Antonelli and the Giants had a more difficult year in 1955. The Giants dropped to fifth and the star southpaw compiled a 14-16 tally and a 3.33 ERA with 14 complete games, two shutouts, and 143 strikeouts. He returned to All-Star form in 1956 by going 20-13 with a 2.86 ERA, 15 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 145 strikeouts. In 1957, the club’s last year in New York, his record was a disappointing 12-18 with a 3.77 ERA, 8 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 114 strikeouts over the course of 212.1 innings. The Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958 and Antonelli had another solid season as he produced a 16-13 tally and 3.28 ERA with 13 complete games and 143 strikeouts over 241.2 innings.

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 43 games

P – 40, PR – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 40 [18, tied with Larry Jackson, Bob Porterfield & Warren Spahn]

Games Started – 38 [2]

Complete Games – 17 [5, tied with Don Newcombe]

Wins – 19 [4]

Losses – 10

PCT - .655 [2]

Saves – 1

Shutouts – 4 [1, tied with six others]

Innings Pitched – 282 [3]

Hits – 247 [6]

Runs – 107 [8]

Earned Runs – 97 [8]

Home Runs – 29 [3]

Bases on Balls – 76 [10]

Strikeouts – 165 [4]

ERA – 3.10 [7]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 1

Midseason Snapshot: 12-4, ERA - 2.66, SO – 92 in 152 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 11 (in 8.2 IP) vs. Chi. Cubs 5/31

10+ strikeout games – 1

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) at Philadelphia 7/16, (in 9 IP) vs. Philadelphia 7/29

Batting

PA – 108, AB – 101, R – 4, H – 16, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 2, RBI – 10, BB – 1, SO – 26, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .158, GDP – 2, HBP – 1, SH – 5, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 54

Put Outs – 8

Assists – 44

Errors – 2

DP – 3

Pct. - .963

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Giants went 83-71 to finish third in the NL, 4 games behind the pennant-winning Los Angeles Dodgers. The pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.47), fewest hits allowed (1279), and fewest runs allowed (613). Embroiled in a hot three-team pennant race with the Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves, the Giants moved into first on July 4. Aided by rookie first baseman Willie McCovey’s arrival at the end of the month, they cruised into September but, losing seven of their last eight games, dropped into third at the end.

Aftermath of 1959:

Rumored to be unhappy in San Francisco, Antonelli faltered following a good start in 1960 and became a target of booing from the home fans and criticism in the press. Pulled from the starting rotation later in the season, he appeared in 41 games (31 in relief) and finished with a 6-7 tally, 3.77 ERA, along with 11 saves and 57 strikeouts over 112.1 innings. In the offseason he was traded along with outfielder Willie Kirkland to the Cleveland Indians for outfielder Harvey Kuenn. He failed to regain his form with the Indians in 1961 and after an 0-4 start with a 6.56 ERA, he was dealt to the Milwaukee Braves where he made only nine appearances (all in relief). Sold to the expansion New York Mets in 1962, he chose to retire. For his major league career, Antonelli produced a 126-110 record with a 3.34 ERA, 102 complete games, 25 shutouts, 21 saves, and 1162 strikeouts in 1992.1 innings pitched. With the Giants he was 108-84 with a 3.13 ERA, 86 complete games, 21 shutouts, 19 saves, and 919 strikeouts over 1600.2 innings. Antonelli appeared in two World Series games, both in 1954, and posted a 1-0 tally with a 0.84 ERA, one save, and 12 strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched. A six-time All-Star, he twice received league MVP votes. After leaving baseball he operated a tire distributorship and died in 2020 at age 89.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Bob Schmidt, 1958

Catcher, San Francisco Giants

Age:  25 (April 22)

1^st season with Giants

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 205 

Prior to 1958:

A St. Louis native, Schmidt was signed by the New York Giants in 1951. Initially assigned to Lenoir of the Class D Carolina League, the 18-year-old backstop appeared in 50 games and batted .284 with 11 doubles, 6 triples, 4 home runs, 37 RBIs, and a .363 on-base percentage. Advancing to Oshkosh of the Class D Wisconsin State League in 1952, his batting average dropped to .248 and he hit 17 doubles, 11 home runs, 73 RBIs, and a .342 OBP. Schmidt missed the next two seasons due to military service. Upon his return to the minors in 1955, he played for Danville of the Class B Carolina League and batted .265 with 29 doubles, 14 home runs, 69 RBIs, and a .315 OBP. Moving up to the Dallas Eagles of the Class AA Texas League in 1956, Schmidt hit .283 with 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 66 RBIs, a .364 OBP, and a .445 slugging percentage. In 1957 he moved on to the Minneapolis Millers of the Class AAA American Association and batted .262 with 17 home runs, 61 RBIs, a .313 OBP, and a .438 slugging percentage. Making it to the relocated Giants in 1958, he split the catching duties with Valmy Thomas.

1958 Season Summary

Appeared in 127 games

C – 123, PH – 7

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 432

At Bats – 393

Runs – 46

Hits – 96

Doubles – 20

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 14

RBI – 54

Bases on Balls – 33

Int. BB – 5

Strikeouts – 59

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .244

OBP - .306

Slugging Pct. - .412

Total Bases – 162

GDP – 19 [4, tied with Frank Thomas & Stan Musial]

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 2 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 12, HR - 12, RBI - 32, AVG - .265, OBP - .329

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 6 AB) at LA Dodgers 5/13

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

HR at home – 8

HR on road – 6

Most home runs, game – 1 on fourteen occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 6 vs. LA Dodgers 8/31

Pinch-hitting – 2 for 6 (.333) with 1 HR, 1 RBI & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 682

Put Outs – 616

Assists – 54

Errors – 12

Passed Balls – 3

DP – 10

Pct. - .982

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Giants went 80-74 in their first San Francisco season to finish third in the NL, 12 games behind the pennant-winning Milwaukee Braves while leading the league in runs scored (727), doubles (250) and RBIs (682). The Giants got off to a strong start and were in first place for all but two days from May 18 to June 10. They remained close to the top and were last in first on July 29. They dropped into third place to stay during a 14-17 August and drew a total of 1,272,625 fans to their temporary home at Seals Stadium, nearly doubling the attendance from their last year at New York’s Polo Grounds. Schmidt had a strong first half as a hitter. A highlight occurred when he and outfielder Hank Sauer became the first players in NL history to hit back-to-back pinch home runs in a game against the Braves.

Aftermath of 1958:

In 1959, now sharing the catching duties with Hobie Landrith and Jim Hegan, Schmidt’s offensive production dropped to .243 with 7 doubles, 5 home runs, 20 RBIs, and a .296 OBP. In 1960, he saw the most action behind the plate for the Giants and hit a respectable .267 with 8 home runs, 37 RBIs, and a .317 OBP. Early in the 1961 season he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds as part of the deal for veteran catcher Ed Bailey. Hindered by a knee injury, Schmidt was limited to a total of 29 games and batted .132 with one home run, 5 RBIs, and a .212 OBP. In the offseason, he was dealt again, this time to the Washington Senators. Splitting time at catcher with Ken Retzer in 1962, Schmidt appeared in 88 games and hit .242 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .281 OBP, while leading all AL catchers in fielding percentage (.987). Purchased by the New York Yankees in May of 1963, he was assigned to Richmond of the Class AAA International League where he batted .245 with 10 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .321 OBP. Back with Richmond in 1964, Schmidt hit .254 with 10 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .306 OBP.  He started the 1965 season with the Yankees, platooning with Johnny Blanchard in place of injured starting catcher Elston Howard. In June he was sent down to the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League to make room for the up-and-coming catcher Jake Gibbs, which marked the end of his major league career. His 1965 statistics with the Yankees were a batting average of .250 with a home run, 3 RBIs, and a .302 OBP. With Toledo he hit .294 with 6 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .357 OBP. Schmidt played one more season with Toledo in 1966 before ending his playing career. For his major league career, he batted .243 with 317 hits that included 55 doubles, 4 triples, and 39 home runs. He scored 133 runs and compiled 150 RBIs, a .298 OBP, and a .381 slugging percentage. With the Giants he batted .252 with 233 hits, 94 runs scored, 39 doubles, 4 triples, 27 home runs, 112 RBIs, a .307 OBP, and a .391 slugging percentage. He had no World Series appearances and his 1958 All-Star selection was his only one. Following his playing career, Schmidt went into construction and died in 2015 at age 82.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.