WHY I THINK SAM LEEVER SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

WHY I THINK SAM LEEVER SHOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN

By- Damien 

Every time a pitcher takes the mound, he’s thinking only one thing: I’m going to win today. You can’t ask more out of a pitcher than to keep you in the game long enough to win. Sam Leever was one of the most consistent winners in history, with a lifetime record of 194-100 (.660). Despite working primarily with a fastball, Leever hardly ever surrendered a home run, and he scarcely walked anyone. That being said, Leever compiled a career ERA of 2.47, including an ERA Title in 1903. His resume is all the more impressive when it is realized that he didn’t make his MLB debut until he was 26 ½ years old. Career long Pirate Sam Leever started his career in 1898, going 1-0 in three starts. He was a rookie sensation in 1899, winning 21 games and leading the league in four pitching categories. Leever had a career year in 1903, winning 25 games with a 2.06 ERA. He started two games in the inaugural World Series that season, but lost both of them. Leever came back strong in 1904, posting an 18-11 mark. He topped the 20 win pinnacle in each of the following two seasons and posted a 1.66 ERA in 1906. Leever pitched his last full season in 1908, picking up 15 wins, and started to suffer the effects of shoulder problems. He went 8-1 in 1909 and 6-5 in 1910 before calling it quits. Sam Leever was a fine pitcher, a consistent winner, and a key member of four Pirate pennant winners. He really should be in the Hall of Fame today. 

LIFETIME STATISTICS

Games Pitched career: 388 season high: 51 in 1899 led NL: 51 in 1899 

Starts career: 299 season high: 39 in 1899 

Complete Games career: 241 season high: 35 in 1899 

Shutouts career: 39 season high: 7 in 1903 led NL: 7 in 1903 

Games Finished career: 75 season high: 14 in 1908 and 1910 led NL: 11 in 1899 

Wins career: 194 season high: 25 in 1903 

Losses career: 100 season high: 23 in 1899 

Winning Percentage career: .660 season high: .800 in 1905 led NL: .737 in 1901, .781 in 1903, .800 in 1905 

ERA career: 2.47 season low: 1.66 in 1907 led NL: 2.06 in 1903 

WHIP career: 1.141 season low: 1.052 in 1907 (he also had a 1.054 mark in 1902) 

Innings Pitched career: 2,660 ⅔ season high: 379 in 1899 led NL: 379 in 1899 

Strikeouts career: 847 season high: 121 in 1899 

Strikeouts Per Nine Innings career: 2.9 season high: 4.2 in 1901 

Walks career: 587 season high: 122 in 1899 

Strikeouts Per Walk career: 1.44 season high: 2.77 in 1902 

Saves career: 13 season high: 3 in 1899 led NL: 3 in 1899 

Fielding Percentage career: .956 season high: .987 in 1904 

Double Plays career: 11 season high: 3 in 1910 

Putouts career: 84 season high: 12 in 1903 

Assists career: 659 season high: 100 in 1899 

DID YOU KNOW?

-nicknamed “Deacon” or “The Goshen Schoolmaster” for his earlier profession 

-allowed the fewest home runs per nine innings in the NL in 1900 (0.1) 

-pitched one inning in his final MLB game (no earned runs, one strikeout) 

-batted .263 (26-for-99) with two doubles, two triples, one home run, 12 runs scored, and 14 RBI’s in 1904 

-his two career home runs came off of Hall of Famers Kid Nichols and Vic Willis 

-had a career fielding percentage 22 points above the league average 

-played a game in leftfield in 1902 

-ranks 25th in career winning percentage and 39th in ERA