Ron LeFlore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ron LeFlore |
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LeFlore with the Detroit Tigers in 1975
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: June 16, 1948 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 1, 1974, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 3, 1982, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .288 | ||
| Home runs | 59 | ||
| Run batted in | 353 | ||
| Stolen bases | 455 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Ronald LeFlore (born June 16, 1948) is a former American Major League Baseball player. He was a talented center fielder. Ron played for six seasons with the Detroit Tigers. Later, he joined the Montreal Expos and then the Chicago White Sox. He retired from baseball in 1982. Throughout his career, Ron stole 455 bases. He was also chosen as an American League All-Star in 1976.
Ron LeFlore's journey to the major leagues was very inspiring. His story was even made into a movie and a book. The movie, One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story, starred LeVar Burton. It was shown on CBS in 1978. Ron LeFlore is also related to former MLB outfielder Todd Steverson.
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Early Life and Challenges
Ron LeFlore was born in Detroit, Michigan. He faced many challenges early in his life. His mother worked hard as a nurses' aide to support the family. She was a very caring person. Ron went to Eastern High School in Detroit.
As a teenager, Ron got into trouble with friends. He stopped going to school. He was later sent to the State Prison of Southern Michigan for a serious mistake he made. This was in January 1970.
Discovery in Prison
While in prison, Ron LeFlore started playing organized baseball. This was the first time he had played in a league. A fellow inmate saw his talent. This inmate knew Billy Martin, who was the manager of the Detroit Tigers at the time. He convinced Martin to visit the prison.
Billy Martin visited Jackson State Prison on May 23, 1973. He was very impressed with Ron's baseball skills. Martin then helped Ron get special permission to leave prison for a tryout. This tryout happened at Tiger Stadium in June.
In July 1973, the Tigers signed Ron LeFlore to a contract. This helped him meet the requirements for his release from prison. He received a $5,000 bonus and $500 each month for the rest of the 1973 season. He was sent to play for the Clinton Pilots in the Class A Midwest League. There, he hit for a .277 batting average.
The next year, Ron played for the Lakeland Tigers in the Class A Florida State League. He had a great season, hitting .331 and stealing 45 bases in 102 games. Because of his excellent performance, he was promoted to the Evansville Triplets. This team was in the Class AAA American Association. He played nine games there.
The following season, Ron LeFlore earned a spot on the major league team.
Baseball Career Highlights
Ron LeFlore started his major league career in 1974. He shared time in center field with veteran player Mickey Stanley. By 1975, Ron became the main center fielder for the Tigers. He was well-known for his amazing speed and ability to steal bases. He also hit for a good batting average and had some power.
In 1976, Ron LeFlore and teammate Mark Fidrych became very popular. They helped increase the number of fans attending Tigers games. Both players were selected for the 1976 American League All-Star team. Even with their talent, the Tigers never finished higher than fourth place in their division during Ron's time there.
In 1977, Ron had a career-best year. He hit 16 home runs and had a .325 batting average. The year 1978 was also outstanding for him. He led the league in singles (153), runs scored (126), and stolen bases (68). He also finished second in hits (198).
After the 1979 season, Ron LeFlore was traded to the Montreal Expos. He had hit .300 and stolen 78 bases that year. In 1980, he had his best season for stolen bases, with 97. He became the first player to lead both the American and National Leagues in steals. His 97 steals helped the Expos finish just one game behind the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies went on to win the World Series that year. Ron's 97 steals made him one of only four National League players since 1900 to have 95 or more steals in a season.
In 1981, Ron signed with the Chicago White Sox. He played for two seasons with them. He retired from baseball on April 2, 1983.
Ron LeFlore's stolen base numbers are still impressive for the Tigers. His 294 steals rank fourth on the team's all-time career list. His 97 stolen bases for the Expos in 1980 are still a record for that franchise. Despite his speed, he sometimes struggled with fielding errors.
After Baseball
After his playing career, Ron LeFlore explored other paths. In 1988, he considered becoming a baseball umpire. He attended a special school for umpires. He hoped to return to the major leagues in a new role, but it did not work out.
In 1989 and 1990, Ron played in the Senior Professional Baseball Association. He continued to show his hitting skills. In 1995, he managed the Newburgh Night Hawks baseball team. He also worked as a manager and coach for other teams. In 2003, he managed the Saskatoon Legends in a new baseball league.
In the summer of 2011, Ron LeFlore faced serious health challenges that affected his leg. He now uses a prosthetic leg and lives in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Career Statistics
In 1099 games over nine seasons, Ron LeFlore had a .288 batting average. He collected 1283 hits, 731 runs, 172 doubles, 57 triples, and 59 home runs. He also had 353 RBI and 455 stolen bases. His on-base percentage was .342 and his slugging percentage was .392. He finished his career with a .968 fielding percentage playing in center and left field.
See Also
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
