Don Lenhardt
Encyclopedia
Donald Eugene Lenhardt is a retired outfielder
, first baseman
, third baseman
, scout and coach
in American
Major League Baseball
. In his playing days, he stood 6 in 3 in (1.91 m), weighed 195 pounds (88.5 kg), and threw and batted right-handed. He was nicknamed "Footsie" by teammates because he often had difficulty finding shoes that fit him properly.
Lenhardt attended the University of Illinois and Washington University in St. Louis
, and served in the United States Navy
, before joining the St. Louis Browns
farm system in 1946. He led the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League
in home run
s in 1948 and earned a major league job with the Browns at the start of the 1950
season at age 27. Much-traveled (and frequently traded), he would play in the American League
for five seasons (1950–54) for the Browns (twice), Chicago White Sox
, Boston Red Sox
(twice), Detroit Tigers
, and the Baltimore Orioles (where as a transplanted St. Louis Brown he was a member of the first modern Baltimore MLB team in 1954
). In 481 games, he batted
.271 with 61 home runs and 239 runs batted in. His best season was his rookie campaign, for the 1950 Browns, for whom he reached career highs in homers (22) and RBI (81).
After finishing his playing career with Boston farm clubs in 1955-56, Lenhardt became a Midwest
-area scout for the Red Sox for over four decades, interrupting that tenure only to serve as first-base coach on Eddie Kasko
's staff in Boston from 1970-73. He retired from the Red Sox in 2004
.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, scout and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
. In his playing days, he stood 6 in 3 in (1.91 m), weighed 195 pounds (88.5 kg), and threw and batted right-handed. He was nicknamed "Footsie" by teammates because he often had difficulty finding shoes that fit him properly.
Lenhardt attended the University of Illinois and Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
, and served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, before joining the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
farm system in 1946. He led the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League
Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League
The Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League was a minor league baseball organization that operated for the better part of 60 years, mostly in those three states. It was popularly known as the Three-I League and also sometimes jokingly as the Three-Eye League....
in home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in 1948 and earned a major league job with the Browns at the start of the 1950
1950 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies *All-Star Game, July 11 at Comiskey Park: National League, 4-3 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Carta Vieja *College World Series: Texas...
season at age 27. Much-traveled (and frequently traded), he would play in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
for five seasons (1950–54) for the Browns (twice), Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(twice), Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, and the Baltimore Orioles (where as a transplanted St. Louis Brown he was a member of the first modern Baltimore MLB team in 1954
1954 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* World Series: New York Giants over Cleveland Indians * All-Star Game, July 13 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 11-9-Other champions:* Caribbean World Series: Caguas Creoles [Criollos de Caguas]...
). In 481 games, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.271 with 61 home runs and 239 runs batted in. His best season was his rookie campaign, for the 1950 Browns, for whom he reached career highs in homers (22) and RBI (81).
After finishing his playing career with Boston farm clubs in 1955-56, Lenhardt became a Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
-area scout for the Red Sox for over four decades, interrupting that tenure only to serve as first-base coach on Eddie Kasko
Eddie Kasko
Edward Michael Kasko is a former infielder, manager, scout and front office executive in American Major League Baseball....
's staff in Boston from 1970-73. He retired from the Red Sox in 2004
2004 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since , ending the Curse of the Bambino.*With 262 hits, Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners breaks George Sisler's record of 257. Suzuki also sets the record for most singles in a season, with 225.*2004 also marked the final...
.