Johnnie LeMaster
Encyclopedia
Johnnie Lee LeMaster is a former Major League Baseball
infielder
. He played for 12 seasons (– and ) for four teams, including 10 seasons for the San Francisco Giants
. He batted and threw right-handed.
On September 2, 1975 LeMaster set a major league record, hitting an inside-the-park home run
in his first
at bat, during a 7–3 win over the Dodgers. Brian Downing
two years previously was the first MLB player to hit his first homer inside-the-park, but not in his first at bat. LeMaster hit only 21 home runs during the rest of his career (3,191 at bats).
Many will long remember LeMaster for one game in 1979. The shortstop took the field wearing the phrase on his back that Giants fans often welcomed him with. In place of his last name was the word "boo".
In 1983, LeMaster amassed over 100 hits for the only time in his career, batting .240 and finishing seventh in the National League with 39 stolen bases.
During the 1985 season, he played for three different teams: the San Francisco Giants
, the Cleveland Indians
, and the Pittsburgh Pirates
; all three teams ended up in last place in their respective divisions.
LeMaster was a career .222 hitter with 22 home runs and 229 runs batted in in 1039 games.
He currently resides in Paintsville
, Kentucky
, where he serves as an elder for the Paintsville Church of Christ.
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...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. He played for 12 seasons (– and ) for four teams, including 10 seasons for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He batted and threw right-handed.
On September 2, 1975 LeMaster set a major league record, hitting an inside-the-park home run
Inside-the-park home run
In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:...
in his first
at bat, during a 7–3 win over the Dodgers. Brian Downing
Brian Downing
Brian Jay Downing is a former professional baseball player who had a 20-year MLB career with the Chicago White Sox, California Angels and Texas Rangers.- Chicago Years :...
two years previously was the first MLB player to hit his first homer inside-the-park, but not in his first at bat. LeMaster hit only 21 home runs during the rest of his career (3,191 at bats).
Many will long remember LeMaster for one game in 1979. The shortstop took the field wearing the phrase on his back that Giants fans often welcomed him with. In place of his last name was the word "boo".
In 1983, LeMaster amassed over 100 hits for the only time in his career, batting .240 and finishing seventh in the National League with 39 stolen bases.
During the 1985 season, he played for three different teams: the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
; all three teams ended up in last place in their respective divisions.
LeMaster was a career .222 hitter with 22 home runs and 229 runs batted in in 1039 games.
He currently resides in Paintsville
Paintsville, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,132 people, 1,681 households, and 1,079 families residing in the city. The population density was 786.1 people per square mile . There were 1,901 housing units at an average density of 361.7 per square mile...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, where he serves as an elder for the Paintsville Church of Christ.
