Johnnie LeMaster

Johnnie LeMaster
LeMaster playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a game at Shea Stadium on September 21, 1985
Shortstop
Born: (1954-06-19) June 19, 1954
Portsmouth, Ohio
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 1975, for the San Francisco Giants
Last MLB appearance
July 28, 1987, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Batting average .222
Home runs 22
Runs batted in 229
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Johnnie Lee LeMaster (born June 19, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played for 12 seasons (1975–1985 and 1987) for four teams, including 10 seasons for the San Francisco Giants. He batted and threw right-handed.

On September 2, 1975 LeMaster became the second player in major league history to hit an inside-the-park home run in his first at bat, during a 7–3 win over the Dodgers. LeMaster hit only 21 home runs during the rest of his career (3,191 at bats).

LeMaster is remember for a game in July 1979, when he 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".[1]

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 while finishing third in the National League with 19 times caught stealing.

During the 1985 season, he played for three teams: the San Francisco Giants, the Cleveland Indians, and the Pittsburgh Pirates; all three teams ended up in last place in their respective divisions.[2]

LeMaster was a career .222 hitter with 22 home runs and 229 runs batted in in 1039 games.

Personal life

LeMaster resides in Paintsville, Kentucky. He is a devout Christian. After his professional baseball career, Johnnie ran an athletic store in Paintsville called "Johnnie LeMaster's Sports Center." The store has since been bought and replaced by Hibbett Sports.

In 2016, LeMaster began coaching baseball and football at Ashland Paul Blazer High School in Paintsville.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Hayes, A.J., "Sports: Boo-yah! Johnnie LeMaster returns", http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/gsf/2008/05/sports_booyah_welcome_back_joh.html
  2. ↑ Bruce Nash, The Baseball Hall of Shame 3
  3. ↑ http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/lemaster-brings-major-league-experience-to-ashland/article_640d5190-6915-55e5-bdc8-f7d6a7d1c49e.html
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