John Leister
Encyclopedia
John William Leister is a former starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Boston Red Sox
. Listed at 6' 2", 200 lb., Leister batted and threw right-handed. He was signed as a free agent
in 1984 out of Michigan State University
, where he had graduated. He attended high school in Great Falls, Montana
and briefly played quarterback
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
, who cut him at the end of training camp and for the Michigan Panthers
(USFL) before playing professional baseball. He was originally drafted by the New York Mets
out of high school, then again in 1983 by the Oakland A's before deciding on playing football. After his football career, he played five seasons in the minor leagues
for Winter Haven
(1984), New Britain
(1985), Pawtucket
(1987, 1988–90), and two for the Red Sox (1987, 1990). Leister is known to his fans as "The Mullet Man". It is said that he outbenched Terry Bradshaw at a spring workout. But it is also said that Bradshaw had a bum shoulder.
Following his playing career, Leister has coached
at Alma College
since 1992 both for the football and baseball teams. He has led the offense to record-breaking seasons since arriving at Alma, helping the Scots to three MIAA
football championships (1999, 2002, 2004), and also led the Scots to the MIAA baseball title in 1999, its first since 1987. He is now the Athletic Director at Alma College.
In a two-season majors career, Leister posted a 0-2 record with 19 strikeout
s and a 8.50 ERA
in 36.0 innings of work.
Leister now serves as the Athletic Director and Football Offensive Coordinator at Alma College
, an MIAA member located in Alma, Michigan
.
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Listed at 6' 2", 200 lb., Leister batted and threw right-handed. He was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1984 out of Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, where he had graduated. He attended high school in Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
and briefly played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, who cut him at the end of training camp and for the Michigan Panthers
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982....
(USFL) before playing professional baseball. He was originally drafted by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
out of high school, then again in 1983 by the Oakland A's before deciding on playing football. After his football career, he played five seasons in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
for Winter Haven
Boston Red Sox spring training home
Since , the city of Fort Myers in Lee County, Florida, United States has been the Spring training home of the Boston Red Sox when the club moved from Winter Haven . Boston trains at the City of Palms Park since the ballpark opened, while the minor-league facility, featuring five full fields, is a...
(1984), New Britain
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
(1985), Pawtucket
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
(1987, 1988–90), and two for the Red Sox (1987, 1990). Leister is known to his fans as "The Mullet Man". It is said that he outbenched Terry Bradshaw at a spring workout. But it is also said that Bradshaw had a bum shoulder.
Following his playing career, Leister has coached
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
at Alma College
Alma College
Alma College is a private, liberal arts college located in Alma, Michigan. The enrollment is approximately 1,400 students, and the college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's 13th President, Dr...
since 1992 both for the football and baseball teams. He has led the offense to record-breaking seasons since arriving at Alma, helping the Scots to three MIAA
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association is an athletic conference that competes in the NCAA's Division III. The nine teams in the conference are all located in the states of Michigan and Indiana. The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association was established on March 24, 1888, making...
football championships (1999, 2002, 2004), and also led the Scots to the MIAA baseball title in 1999, its first since 1987. He is now the Athletic Director at Alma College.
In a two-season majors career, Leister posted a 0-2 record with 19 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 8.50 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 36.0 innings of work.
Leister now serves as the Athletic Director and Football Offensive Coordinator at Alma College
Alma College
Alma College is a private, liberal arts college located in Alma, Michigan. The enrollment is approximately 1,400 students, and the college is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The college's 13th President, Dr...
, an MIAA member located in Alma, Michigan
Alma, Michigan
Alma is the largest city in Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,275 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905....
.