Wade Lefler
Encyclopedia
Wade Hampton Lefler was a Major League Baseball
player. He played in six games for two different major league teams in , mostly as a pinch hitter
. He also played in one game as a right fielder
. He was the first player to make the major leagues after attending Duke University
.
After playing several years in the minor leagues
, most recently for the Worcester Panthers
in , Lefler made his debut for the Boston Braves
on April 16, 1924, the second game of the season for the Braves. His stint with the Braves lasted just a single plate appearance
, in which he struck out
while pinch hitting for pitcher Rube Marquard
. After the game, he returned to the Panthers, where he played most of the rest of 1924, batting .370 with 14 home run
s.
Lefler returned to the majors with the Washington Senators
on September 18. He appeared four more times as a pinch hitter, once pinch hitting for Walter Johnson
. In those four opportunities, he hit safely
three times, including two double
s. On September 30, he started his first game, playing right field and batting cleanup
. In four at bat
s, he had two more hits, including another double. This turned out to be Lefler's last appearance in the majors, leaving him with a career batting average
of .556, and a career slugging average of .889.
After his brief major league career, Lefler played one more season in the minor leagues with the Memphis Chickasaws before retiring. He went on to become an attorney, serving as the city attorney for Newton, North Carolina
. He died in 1981 at the age of 84.
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...
player. He played in six games for two different major league teams in , mostly as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. He also played in one game as a right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
. He was the first player to make the major leagues after attending Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
.
After playing several years in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, most recently for the Worcester Panthers
Worcester Panthers
The Worcester Panthers were an Eastern League baseball team based in Worcester, Massachusetts. They existed from 1923 to 1925.They were managed by Hall of Fame baseball player Jesse Burkett in 1923 and 1924. He led them to a79-74 record in 1923, and a 70-82 record in 1924...
in , Lefler made his debut for the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
on April 16, 1924, the second game of the season for the Braves. His stint with the Braves lasted just a single plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
, in which he struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
while pinch hitting for pitcher Rube Marquard
Rube Marquard
Richard William "Rube" Marquard was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball in the 1910s and early 1920s...
. After the game, he returned to the Panthers, where he played most of the rest of 1924, batting .370 with 14 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.
Lefler returned to the majors with the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
on September 18. He appeared four more times as a pinch hitter, once pinch hitting for Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
. In those four opportunities, he hit safely
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
three times, including two double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s. On September 30, he started his first game, playing right field and batting cleanup
Cleanup hitter
In baseball, the cleanup hitter is the hitter who bats fourth in the lineup. Although the third man up is generally the hitter with the highest batting average, cleanup hitters often have the most power on the team and are typically the team's best power hitter; their job is to "clean up the...
. In four at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s, he had two more hits, including another double. This turned out to be Lefler's last appearance in the majors, leaving him with a career batting average
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 :...
of .556, and a career slugging average of .889.
After his brief major league career, Lefler played one more season in the minor leagues with the Memphis Chickasaws before retiring. He went on to become an attorney, serving as the city attorney for Newton, North Carolina
Newton, North Carolina
Newton is a city located in Catawba County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 12,560. It is the county seat of Catawba County.Newton is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. He died in 1981 at the age of 84.