Jeffrey Leonard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jeffrey Leonard |
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Leonard with the Giants in 1983
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| Left fielder | |||
| Born: September 22, 1955 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 2, 1977, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 1990, for the Seattle Mariners | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .266 | ||
| Home runs | 144 | ||
| Runs batted in | 723 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Jeffrey N. Leonard, born on September 22, 1955, is a former American baseball player. He played as a left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 14 years, from 1977 to 1990. He played for teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, and Seattle Mariners. Before 1986, many people knew him as "Jeff" Leonard.
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Growing Up and Early Life
Jeffrey Leonard was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a very talented athlete at Overbrook High School. He excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. This high school was also home to famous basketball players like Wilt Chamberlain.
Even though he was great at baseball, playing as a shortstop and hitting two home runs in one inning twice, he didn't get any baseball scholarships. Instead, he received 60 offers for football and five for basketball!
Jeffrey Leonard's Baseball Journey
Jeffrey Leonard started his professional baseball career when the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him in June 1973. He was an amateur free agent, meaning he wasn't drafted.
Playing in the Minor Leagues
While playing in the minor leagues in 1981, Jeffrey Leonard got a fun nickname: "HacMan." His teammates, Max Venable and Guy Sularz, gave him this name because he often swung at the very first pitch he saw. He liked the name but wanted it spelled like the video game Pac-Man.
Leonard was also known for his unique "one flap down" routine. After hitting a home run, he would run around the bases with one arm hanging still at his side. In 1976, he led the California League with 13 assists as an outfielder for the Bakersfield Dodgers. In 1978, playing for the Albuquerque Dukes, he led the Pacific Coast League in hits (183) and batting average (.365).
Big Moments in Major League Baseball
In 1981, Jeffrey Leonard was traded from the Houston Astros to the San Francisco Giants. He became an All-Star twice: once for the National League in 1987 and again for the American League in 1989.
One of Jeffrey Leonard's most famous moments happened during the 1987 National League Championship Series. He was playing for the San Francisco Giants against the St. Louis Cardinals. In this seven-game series, Leonard had an amazing performance. He scored five runs, got ten hits, hit four home runs, and had five runs batted in. His batting average was .417, and his slugging percentage was .917.
Because of his great play, Leonard won the 1987 NLCS Most Valuable Player Award. He is the last player to win this award while his team lost the series. His four home runs in the series tied a record for the most home runs in a League Championship Series.
During this series, Leonard's "Cadillac" home run trot caused some stir. The Cardinals thought he took too long running the bases after his home runs, which they felt was showing off. In response, Cardinals pitcher Bob Forsch hit Leonard with a fastball in Game 3. The St. Louis newspapers then started calling Leonard "both flaps down."
In 1988, Leonard was traded from the Giants to the Milwaukee Brewers. His playing time had decreased because of injuries.
Jeffrey Leonard had a strong career in the major leagues. He finished with a lifetime batting average of .266, 144 home runs, 614 runs scored, and 723 runs batted in (RBI). In 1979, his first year as a starting outfielder, he hit .290 for the Houston Astros. His best season was in 1984 with the Giants, where he hit .302 with 21 home runs and 86 RBI. In 1989, playing for Seattle, he had his best power season, hitting 24 home runs and 93 RBI with a .254 average.
Life After Playing Baseball
After retiring from playing baseball, Jeffrey Leonard became a coach. He coached in minor league organizations and for college baseball teams. He coached the Antelope Valley College Marauders baseball team in 2003 and 2004.
Since 2013, he has worked for the San Francisco Giants as a community ambassador. This means he helps connect the team with its fans and local communities.
Jeffrey Leonard has two sons. He and his former wife started a foundation called the One Flap Down Foundation. This foundation helps single parents who are going through breast cancer treatment. They started it after Leonard's former step-daughter, Christine, who was a single mother of three, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.
See also
- Houston Astros award winners and league leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
