Johnny LeMaster--- 1977
Johnnie LeMaster, the pride of the
Appalachian Mountains of Eastern
Kentucky, hit a home run in his first major
league at-bat, on September 2, 1975,
becoming only the 43rd player in major
league history to accomplish the feat. The
event did not prove to be a harbinger of
the rail-thin shortstop’s career.
Deemed a classic “good field, no hit”
shortstop, LeMaster somehow did enough
to play at least parts of 12 seasons in the
big leagues, from 1975-87. Eleven of those
campaigns came with the Giants, including
serving as San Francisco’s starting
shortstop from 1978 through 1984. A
career .222 hitter, LeMaster batted higher
than .250 only twice (.254 in 108 games in
1979 and .253 in 104 games in 1981). His
reputation for wielding some impressive
leather was also a bit overrated, with
LeMaster making the occasional
spectacular play, only to boot more than
his share of routine grounders.
Given LeMaster’s performance, is it any
wonder that the few fans that inhabited
frigid Candlestick Park became sardonic
with their “support.” With players like
LeMaster, who was the Giants first-round
pick in 1973 (two spots behind HOFer
Dave Winfield), it is no wonder the Giants
were rarely in the pennant race after June,
which led to frequent catcalls at
Candlestick. LeMaster let the crowd know
he heard them by replacing “LeMaster” on
the nameplate on the back of his jersey
with “BOO!”
(6/25/09)
Appalachian Mountains of Eastern
Kentucky, hit a home run in his first major
league at-bat, on September 2, 1975,
becoming only the 43rd player in major
league history to accomplish the feat. The
event did not prove to be a harbinger of
the rail-thin shortstop’s career.
Deemed a classic “good field, no hit”
shortstop, LeMaster somehow did enough
to play at least parts of 12 seasons in the
big leagues, from 1975-87. Eleven of those
campaigns came with the Giants, including
serving as San Francisco’s starting
shortstop from 1978 through 1984. A
career .222 hitter, LeMaster batted higher
than .250 only twice (.254 in 108 games in
1979 and .253 in 104 games in 1981). His
reputation for wielding some impressive
leather was also a bit overrated, with
LeMaster making the occasional
spectacular play, only to boot more than
his share of routine grounders.
Given LeMaster’s performance, is it any
wonder that the few fans that inhabited
frigid Candlestick Park became sardonic
with their “support.” With players like
LeMaster, who was the Giants first-round
pick in 1973 (two spots behind HOFer
Dave Winfield), it is no wonder the Giants
were rarely in the pennant race after June,
which led to frequent catcalls at
Candlestick. LeMaster let the crowd know
he heard them by replacing “LeMaster” on
the nameplate on the back of his jersey
with “BOO!”
(6/25/09)
