#155 Dutch Leonard

#155 Dutch Leonard

72 of 274

26.3% complete

"His Walk About" - When this card came out, Dutch was playing in his final, and 20th major league season in 1953.  He spent his first four seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers after making his debut in 1933, before moving on to Washington for nine seasons, then two as a Phillie, before spending his final five with the Chicago Cubs.  A four time All-Star, Dutch retired with a 191-181 career record and 3.25 ERA.

"That's Not a Knife" - It's a knuckle ball.  As a Washington Senator in 1945 Leonard went 17-7 with a 2.13 ERA.  Along with Mickey Haefner, Johnny Niggeling and Roger Wolff, Leonard formed what may be the only four man rotation in MLB history comprised entirely of knuckleball pitchers.  Washington finished a game and half back of the Tigers in the AL Pennant Race.

"More of a love bite really..." - The crease running across the center of this card is pretty severe, but it doesn't hurt the eye appeal of the card in any fundamental way. The photo selection on the other hand...

"Down Under" - Leonard is card #110 in the '52 set.  I prefer the '52, and if Dutch were still alive, I'm pretty sure he would agree.  That cuts the '53 set's lead to 25-22-7.

"At the Oscars"

4x All-Star

Led NL Saves '38

3rd NL Saves '52

3rd NL Saves '53

3rd AL Wins '39

4th AL Wins '41

2nd NL ERA '48

4th AL ERA '38

4th AL ERA '45

4th NL ERA '47

1.8% of the Hall of Fame Vote in '68