Len Gilmore
Encyclopedia
Leonard Preston Gilmore [′′Meow′′] (November 3, 1917 – February 18, 2011) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who appeared in one game for the Pittsburgh Pirates
in the 1944
season. Listed at 6'3", 195 lb., Gilmore batted and threw right handed. He was born in Fairview Park, Indiana
.
Gilmore was one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during the World War II
conflict. On the last day of the 1944 season, he got the opportunity to start the second game of a doubleheader
against the Philadelphia Phillies
at Shibe Park. Gilmore was credited with the loss, as he allowed seven earned runs on 13 hits, without walks
or strikeout
s in eight innings of work.
Gilmore also pitched eleven Minor league
seasons, playing between 1938 and 1952 for nine teams in nine different leagues. He posted a combined 128-94 record and a 3.66 earned run average
in 332 pitching appearances.
Following his baseball career, Gilmore went to work for the Oklahoma City Fire Department and retired as a Captain in 1970.
Gilmore died in Oklahoma City on February 18, 2011 at the age of 93. At the time of his death, he was one of the oldest living major leaguers.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
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 appeared in one game for 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...
in the 1944
1944 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over St. Louis Browns , in the "Streetcar Series"*All-Star Game, July 11 at Forbes Field: National League, 7-1-Other champions:...
season. Listed at 6'3", 195 lb., Gilmore batted and threw right handed. He was born in Fairview Park, Indiana
Fairview Park, Indiana
Fairview Park is a town in Clinton Township, Vermillion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Fairview Park is located at ....
.
Gilmore was one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
conflict. On the last day of the 1944 season, he got the opportunity to start the second game of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
at Shibe Park. Gilmore was credited with the loss, as he allowed seven earned runs on 13 hits, without walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
or 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 in eight innings of work.
Gilmore also pitched eleven Minor league
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...
seasons, playing between 1938 and 1952 for nine teams in nine different leagues. He posted a combined 128-94 record and a 3.66 earned run average
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 332 pitching appearances.
Following his baseball career, Gilmore went to work for the Oklahoma City Fire Department and retired as a Captain in 1970.
Gilmore died in Oklahoma City on February 18, 2011 at the age of 93. At the time of his death, he was one of the oldest living major leaguers.