Ken Lehman
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Karl Lehman was a relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who pitched for three different teams between the 1952 and 1961 seasons. Listed at 6' 0", 170 lb., he batted and threw left-handed.
Born in Seattle, Washington
, Ken Lehman was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers
organization in 1946 out of Kirkland High School
and entered on their farm system in 1947. He played four seasons, reaching the Hollywood Stars
of the Pacific Coast League
in 1950 before enlisting during Korean War
.
Following military discharge, Lehman made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 1952 and later pitched two scoreless innings in Game 2 of the 1952 World Series
against the New York Yankees
.
After three successful years with the Montreal Royals
of the International League
, Lehman returned to the Dodgers for the entire 1956 season. He then was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles
during the middle of the 1957 season and pitched for them through 1958.
Lehman collected career numbers in 1957 while pitching for Baltimore, when he posted a 8-3 record with a 2.78 earned run average
and six saves
in 68 innings of work, appearing primarily as a left-handed specialist
and spot starter
.
From 1959 to 1960 Lehman pitched for the Buffalo Bisons
of the International League
. He returned to the majors in 1961 season, appearing in 41 games with the Philadelphia Phillies
.
After that, Lehman spent one more season in AAA with Buffalo and the Jacksonville Suns
, retiring after 1962 with a 14-10 mark and a 3.91 ERA in five major league years. In eleven minor league seasons, he posted a 141-101 record with a 3.60 ERA in 340 games.
Following his playing retirement, Lehman coached at the University of Washington
from 1964 to 1971, retiring with a record of 96-177. He later worked in the Mount Baker School District for 31 years.
Lehman died in Sedro-Woolley, Washington
, at the age of 82.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in 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...
who pitched for three different teams between the 1952 and 1961 seasons. Listed at 6' 0", 170 lb., he batted and threw left-handed.
Born in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Ken Lehman was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
organization in 1946 out of Kirkland High School
Kirkland High School and Community College
Kirkland High School & Community College is situated on the corner of Methil Brae. It is a six year comprehensive school and has its own Community College that serves the adult population in the Levenmouth area. School HeadTeacher: Mr Ronnie Ross....
and entered on their farm system in 1947. He played four seasons, reaching the Hollywood Stars
Hollywood Stars
The Hollywood Stars were a minor league baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early and mid 20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.-Hollywood Stars :...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
in 1950 before enlisting during Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Following military discharge, Lehman made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 1952 and later pitched two scoreless innings in Game 2 of the 1952 World Series
1952 World Series
The 1952 World Series featured the three-time defending champion New York Yankees beating the Brooklyn Dodgers in seven games. The Yankees won their fourth straight title—tying the mark they set between 1936 and 1939 under manager Joe McCarthy, and Casey Stengel became the second manager in Major...
against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
After three successful years with the Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, Lehman returned to the Dodgers for the entire 1956 season. He then was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles
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...
during the middle of the 1957 season and pitched for them through 1958.
Lehman collected career numbers in 1957 while pitching for Baltimore, when he posted a 8-3 record with a 2.78 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and six saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
in 68 innings of work, appearing primarily as a left-handed specialist
Left-handed specialist
In baseball, a left-handed specialist is a left-handed relief pitcher who specializes in pitching to left-handed batters, or to switch-hitters who bat poorly right-handed...
and spot starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
.
From 1959 to 1960 Lehman pitched for the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. He returned to the majors in 1961 season, appearing in 41 games with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
After that, Lehman spent one more season in AAA with Buffalo and the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
, retiring after 1962 with a 14-10 mark and a 3.91 ERA in five major league years. In eleven minor league seasons, he posted a 141-101 record with a 3.60 ERA in 340 games.
Following his playing retirement, Lehman coached at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
from 1964 to 1971, retiring with a record of 96-177. He later worked in the Mount Baker School District for 31 years.
Lehman died in Sedro-Woolley, Washington
Sedro-Woolley, Washington
Sedro-Woolley is a city in Skagit County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,540 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, at the age of 82.