Don Lenhardt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Don Lenhardt |
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Lenhardt during his 1952–53 stint with the Browns
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| Outfielder/first baseman/third baseman | |||
| Born: October 4, 1922 Alton, Illinois |
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| Died: July 9, 2014 (aged 91) Chesterfield, Missouri |
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| debut | |||
| April 18, 1950, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 25, 1954, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .271 | ||
| Home runs | 61 | ||
| Runs batted in | 239 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Donald Eugene Lenhardt (born October 4, 1922 – died July 9, 2014) was an American baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman. After his playing days, he also worked as a scout and coach. Don was quite tall for his time, standing 6 feet 3 inches, and he was known by the nickname "Footsie." His teammates gave him this name because he often had trouble finding shoes that fit his large feet!
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Don Lenhardt's Early Life and Baseball Start
Don Lenhardt was born in Alton, Illinois. His family had roots in Europe. He went to college at the University of Illinois and Washington University in St. Louis. Before starting his baseball career, he served in the United States Navy.
Joining the Minor Leagues
In 1946, Don joined the St. Louis Browns' minor league system. This is where young players learn and improve their skills before playing in the big leagues. In 1948, Don showed his power by leading the Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League in home runs. Because of his great performance, he was called up to play for the St. Louis Browns in the major leagues at the start of the 1950 season. He was 27 years old when he made his big league debut.
Playing in Major League Baseball
Don Lenhardt played in the American League for five seasons, from 1950 to 1954. During this time, he played for several different teams.
Teams Don Played For
He played for the St. Louis Browns twice, the Chicago White Sox, the Boston Red Sox twice, and the Detroit Tigers. In 1954, he was part of a special moment in baseball history. The St. Louis Browns team moved and became the first modern Baltimore Orioles team. Don was a member of that very first Orioles team in Baltimore.
Don's Baseball Stats
In his major league career, Don played in 481 games. Here are some of his main stats:
- He had a batting average of .271. This means he got a hit about 27.1% of the times he tried to hit the ball.
- He hit 61 home runs. A home run is when a player hits the ball out of the park, allowing them to run around all the bases and score a point.
- He had 239 runs batted in (RBIs). An RBI means he helped a teammate score a run by getting a hit.
- He also had 401 hits, 64 doubles (hitting the ball and reaching second base), and nine triples (hitting the ball and reaching third base).
Life After Playing Baseball
After his time as a player, Don Lenhardt continued to be involved in baseball.
A Long Career as a Scout
From 1955 to 1956, Don played for minor league teams connected to the Boston Red Sox. After that, he became a scout for the Red Sox. A scout's job is to travel around and find talented young baseball players. Don did this for over 40 years, mainly in the Midwest United States!
Coaching Days
For a few years, from 1970 to 1973, Don took a break from scouting to be a first-base coach for the Boston Red Sox. As a first-base coach, he would stand near first base during games and give signals and advice to the players.
Don Lenhardt retired from the Red Sox in 2004. He passed away at the age of 91 on July 9, 2014.
