Rick Leach (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Richard Max "Rick" Leach (born May 4, 1957) is a former college football
player and professional baseball
player. He played quarterback
at the University of Michigan
from 1975 to 1978. Leach later played in Major League Baseball
for four different teams primarily as a backup outfielder
and first baseman
from 1981 to 1990.
In 2008, Leach was elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
.
at the University of Michigan
from 1975 to 1978 under legendary coach Bo Schembechler
. He was the first NCAA Division I FBS player to pass for 200 points and score 200 points. He continues to hold the NCAA record for highest percentage of passes for touchdown
s (400-499 attempts) with 45 in 462. A left-hander, he was given the starting job before his freshman year and held it until he graduated four years later. In his freshman year, with the Big Ten championship and a berth to the 1976 Rose Bowl
on the line in the Michigan-Ohio State game
, Leach threw an interception that was run back to the Michigan 3-yard line by Ray Griffin
and set up the winning touchdown in a 21-14 Buckeye victory. However, Leach and the Wolverines never lost to Ohio State again in his career. One of the finest athletes in Michigan history, Leach was named All-Big Ten as a quarterback three times and also placed in the voting for the Heisman Trophy three times. He was co-MVP of the 1979 Rose Bowl
, his last game as a Wolverine.
Leach shattered all Michigan's career passing, total offense and touchdown records. He set an NCAA record for most touchdowns accounted for (82) and broke Big Ten records for total offense (6,460 yards), total plays (1,034), and touchdown passes (48). In 1978, he finished third in balloting for the Heisman Trophy
, behind Billy Sims
and Chuck Fusina
.
A standout on the diamond as well as the gridiron, Leach won the Big Ten batting championship as a junior and won the rare honor of being named All-American in both football and baseball.
In 1999, Sports Illustrated
published a list of "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures From Michigan" (in all sports), and ranked Leach 22nd. "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures From Michigan," Sports Illustrated, December 27, 1999. Other University of Michigan football figures on the list were Bennie Oosterbaan
(#3), Ron Kramer
(#7), Fielding H. Yost (#9), Fritz Crisler
(#31), Harry Kipke (#40) and Gerald Ford
(#50).
in the 1979 amateur draft
. Leach was also drafted by the NFL's Denver Broncos
in 1979
, but he opted for a career in baseball. In a 10-year career, Leach played for the Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants, mainly as a part-time outfielder and DH. His best season came in 1986, when he hit .309 in 110 games. In 1990, he was suspended for sixty days by Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent for a positive drug test and underwent league ordered drug treatment.
for mingling with University of Iowa
athletic personnel during Michigan's 30-28 loss at Iowa. During a phone call to Ann Arbor sports talk radio station WTKA
, Leach said "Our ex-coach flipped a huge middle finger right in our current coach's face". Ask people to investigate that, there will be a lot more there". Leach's comments fueled debate concerning division within the Michigan football community over the hiring of Rich Rodriguez
as head football coach.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player and professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1975 to 1978. Leach later played 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...
for four different teams primarily as a backup outfielder
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...
and 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...
from 1981 to 1990.
In 2008, Leach was elected to the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame to honor Michigan sports people. It was organized in 1954 by Michigan Lieutenant Governor Philip Hart, Michigan State University athletic director Biggie Munn, president of the Greater Michigan Foundation Donald Weeks, general manager of the...
.
University of Michigan
Leach was a star quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1975 to 1978 under legendary coach Bo Schembechler
Bo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
. He was the first NCAA Division I FBS player to pass for 200 points and score 200 points. He continues to hold the NCAA record for highest percentage of passes for touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s (400-499 attempts) with 45 in 462. A left-hander, he was given the starting job before his freshman year and held it until he graduated four years later. In his freshman year, with the Big Ten championship and a berth to the 1976 Rose Bowl
1976 Rose Bowl
The 1976 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1976. It was the 62nd Rose Bowl Game. The UCLA Bruins defeated the number one ranked and undefeated Ohio State Buckeyes 23-10. UCLA quarterback John Sciarra was named the Rose Bowl Player Of The Game...
on the line in the Michigan-Ohio State game
Michigan-Ohio State rivalry
The Michigan–Ohio State football rivalry, also known as The Game, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Wolverines of the University of Michigan and the Buckeyes of The Ohio State University...
, Leach threw an interception that was run back to the Michigan 3-yard line by Ray Griffin
Ray Griffin
Raymond Griffin is a former American football cornerback. He is the younger brother of former two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, and also played college football with the Ohio State Buckeyes and pro football for the Cincinnati Bengals.Ray set up the winning touchdown in the 1975...
and set up the winning touchdown in a 21-14 Buckeye victory. However, Leach and the Wolverines never lost to Ohio State again in his career. One of the finest athletes in Michigan history, Leach was named All-Big Ten as a quarterback three times and also placed in the voting for the Heisman Trophy three times. He was co-MVP of the 1979 Rose Bowl
1979 Rose Bowl
The 1979 Rose Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 1979. It was the 65th Rose Bowl Game. The USC Trojans, champions of the Pacific-10 Conference, defeated the Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, 17–10...
, his last game as a Wolverine.
Leach shattered all Michigan's career passing, total offense and touchdown records. He set an NCAA record for most touchdowns accounted for (82) and broke Big Ten records for total offense (6,460 yards), total plays (1,034), and touchdown passes (48). In 1978, he finished third in balloting for the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, behind Billy Sims
Billy Sims
Billy Sims is a former college football and NFL running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.-Early years:...
and Chuck Fusina
Chuck Fusina
Charles Anthony Fusina is a former professional American football quarterback. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and was an All-American and Maxwell Award winner at Penn State University in 1978.-Professional football:At 6'1" 195-lb., Fusina was a...
.
A standout on the diamond as well as the gridiron, Leach won the Big Ten batting championship as a junior and won the rare honor of being named All-American in both football and baseball.
In 1999, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
published a list of "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures From Michigan" (in all sports), and ranked Leach 22nd. "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures From Michigan," Sports Illustrated, December 27, 1999. Other University of Michigan football figures on the list were Bennie Oosterbaan
Bennie Oosterbaan
Benjamin Gaylord "Bennie" Oosterbaan was a three-time first team All-American football end for the Michigan Wolverines football team, two-time All-American basketball player for the basketball team and an All-Big Ten Conference baseball player for the baseball team...
(#3), Ron Kramer
Ron Kramer
Ronald J. Kramer was a multi-sport college athlete and professional American football player. Before embarking on a career in the National Football League, he lettered in football, basketball, and track at the University of Michigan in the 1950s...
(#7), Fielding H. Yost (#9), Fritz Crisler
Fritz Crisler
Herbert Orin "Fritz" Crisler was an American football coach who is best known as "the father of two-platoon football," an innovation in which separate units of players were used for offense and defense. Crisler developed two-platoon football while serving as head coach at the University of...
(#31), Harry Kipke (#40) and Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
(#50).
Career passing statistics
| Season | Att | Comp | Int | Comp % | Yds | Yds/Comp | TD | Long |
| 1975 | 100 | 32 | 12 | 32.0 | 680 | 21.3 | 3 | 83 |
| 1976 | 105 | 50 | 8 | 47.6 | 973 | 19.5 | 13 | 64 |
| 1977 | 174 | 90 | 9 | 51.7 | 1348 | 15.0 | 15 | 76 |
| 1978 | 158 | 78 | 6 | 49.4 | 1283 | 16.4 | 17 | 65 |
| Career total | 537 | 250 | 35 | 46.6 | 4284 | 17.1 | 48 | 83 |
Career rushing statistics
| Season | Att | Yd+ | Yd- | Net Yd | Yd/Att | TD | Long |
| 1975 | 113 | 635 | 83 | 552 | 4.9 | 5 | 45 |
| 1976 | 114 | 735 | 97 | 638 | 5.6 | 10 | 48 |
| 1977 | 115 | 516 | 141 | 375 | 3.3 | 7 | 21 |
| 1978 | 145 | 803 | 192 | 611 | 4.2 | 12 | 45 |
| Career total | 487 | 2689 | 513 | 2176 | 4.5 | 34 | 48 |
Professional baseball
He was selected in the first round by the Detroit TigersDetroit 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...
in the 1979 amateur draft
1979 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1979 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 5-7, 1979, via conference call.-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :...
. Leach was also drafted by the NFL's Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1979
1979 NFL Draft
The 1979 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 3–4, 1979...
, but he opted for a career in baseball. In a 10-year career, Leach played for the Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, and San Francisco Giants, mainly as a part-time outfielder and DH. His best season came in 1986, when he hit .309 in 110 games. In 1990, he was suspended for sixty days by Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent for a positive drug test and underwent league ordered drug treatment.
Controversy
In October 2009, Leach criticized former Michigan head football Lloyd CarrLloyd Carr
Lloyd H. Carr is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 1995 through the 2007 season. Under Carr, the Wolverines compiled a record of 122–40 and won or shared five Big Ten Conference titles...
for mingling with University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
athletic personnel during Michigan's 30-28 loss at Iowa. During a phone call to Ann Arbor sports talk radio station WTKA
WTKA
WTKA is a radio station located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that broadcasts on 1050 AM. Day power is 10 kW, night power is 500 W. The station covers most of southeast Michigan....
, Leach said "Our ex-coach flipped a huge middle finger right in our current coach's face". Ask people to investigate that, there will be a lot more there". Leach's comments fueled debate concerning division within the Michigan football community over the hiring of Rich Rodriguez
Rich Rodriguez
Richard A. "Rich" Rodriguez is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Arizona. Rodriguez previously served as the head football coach at Salem University , Glenville State College , West Virginia University , and the University...
as head football coach.
Sources
- Baseball Reference
- NY Times Reference: Leach Suspended
- Bentley Library Biography of Leach
- Leach Rips Carr
See also
- Lists of Michigan Wolverines football passing leaders
- Lists of Michigan Wolverines football rushing leaders