Dutch Leonard
| Birthdate | 3/25/1909 |
| Death Date | 4/17/1983 |
| Debut Year | 1933 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Cubs, Dodgers, Phillies, Senators |
| Positions | Pitcher, Pitching Coach |
Five-time All Star Dutch Leonard won 191 major league games & 53 in the minors; he was the winning pitcher vs. the Yankees on July 4, 1939 – Lou Gehrig Day.
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On May 13th, 1938 Dutch Leonard pitched a 13-inning shutout to beat Bob Feller 1-0
On May 13th, 1938 Dutch Leonard pitched a 13-inning shutout to beat Bob Feller 1-0
Emil “Dutch” Leonard pitched in 24 professional seasons, 20 at the big league level. During that time he made five All Star teams, won 191 MLB games and 53 more in the minors.
He broke into the Show in 1933 with the Dodgers. After going 18-23 in four years with Brooklyn, Leonard moved to the American League with the Senators in 1938. There he hit his stride.
In his first start on the Junior circuit Leonard twirled a 1-0 complete-game shutout against Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics. Two weeks later he faced Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians.
Leonard and Feller squared off in a brilliant pitchers’ duel. Rapid Robert twirled 9 scoreless innings; Leonard matched him every step of the way. Though Feller got relieved in the 10th, Leonard continued.
Dutch pitched through the 13th. In the bottom of the inning his Senators pushed a run across to make him the winner of the 1-0 classic.
Leonard won 20 games and finished 7th in MVP balloting the following season in 1939. Then in 1940 Dutch was selected for his first Mid Summer Classic.
After an injury-plagued 1942, Leonard was named the AL’s staring pitcher in the 1943 All Star Game at Philadelphia’s Shibe Park. There allowed a pair of singles to the game’s first two batters, Stan Hack and Billy Herman. Though Hack eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Stan Musial, Leonard did not surrender another base hit.
Hall of Fame second baseman Bobby Doerr hit a three-run homer in the second to give Leonard’s AL squad a lead the never relinquished. The 3-inning performance earned Leonard the victory. For good measure the pitcher produced a second-inning single in his only plate appearance in All Star play.
Overall, Leonard was selected to four All Star teams, receiving MVP votes in 5 seasons.By the time he retired in 1951 at age 44, Leonard earned 244 wins in professional baseball. His big league statistics include a 191-188 record and a 3.25 ERA.
In the collection is this questionnaire filled out entirely in Leonard’s hand and signed by him at the bottom. The content is well worth reading.
Dutch gave up the Iron Horse's final career home run; he later got the win on Lou Gehrig Day
Dutch gave up the Iron Horse's final career home run; he later got the win on Lou Gehrig Day
Dutch Leonard has two strong ties to Lou Gehrig. On September 27, 1938 Leonard gave up the 493rd and final home run of the Iron Horse’s career. Ten months later on July 4, 1939, Dutch twirled a complete-game victory at Yankee Stadium on Lou Lou Gehrig Day.
In late September of 1938 Leonard and the Senators were in the Bronx to take on Lefty Gomez and the Yankees. In the 5th inning Gehrig hit a solo shot to extend the New York lead to 4-0. The home run that proved to be Gehrig’s last was his only long ball against Leonard.
Afflicted with ALS but undiagnosed, Gehrig played in just 8 games in ’39. His last came on April 30th. Nineteen days later on his 36th birthday, doctors at the Mayo Clinic gave Lou the bad news.
On July 4th the Yankees held a day in Gehrig’s honor. In the first game of the double header Leonard went the distance in Washington’s 5-2 win. In between games, Gehrig delivered his “luckiest man on the face of the earth” speech, captivating the 61,808 fans on hand.
Shown here is an autographed photo of the Iron Horse.
Only Walter Johnson won more games for the original Washington Senators
Only Walter Johnson won more games for the original Washington Senators
One of Cooperstown’s five original selections, Walter Johnson won an astounding 417 games. He stands as the career leader in wins, ERA, and strikeouts for the original Washington Senators.
Number two on the Senators victory list is Dutch Leonard. With 25.1 of his career 48.9 WAR coming in Washington, Leonard stands 4th on Washington’s pitcher WAR list. When it comes to strikeouts, Dutch remains 10th on the Washington list.
Leonard’s 20-year career saw suited up for 4 different teams. His longest stay was his 9-year tenure in the nation’s capital. When speaking of the most impactful Senators hurlers, the conversation must include Dutch Leonard.
Shown here is The Big Train’s handwritten letter to Hall of Fame executive Ford Frick thanking him for a lifetime pass.
Dutch Leonard's 191 career big league victories put him in elite company
Dutch Leonard's 191 career big league victories put him in elite company
Dutch Leonard pitched 20 years from 1933 to 1953 and posted a positive WAR every season. Twelve times he reached double-digit victory totals, highlighted by a 20-win campaign in 1939.
By the time he retired at age 44, Dutch boasted 191 career wins, a total that put him in the top 75 at the time. Since then a number of pitchers have passed Leonard on the victory leaderboard, many of them Cooperstown men.
One Hall of Fame hurler who later eclipsed Dutch’s win tally is Juan Marichal. On May 10, 1970 the Dominican Dandy tossed a complete-game victory to beat Nolan Ryan. The victory was the 192nd of Marichal’s career.
Shown here is the ticket stub from that game. Marichal added his signature and wrote, “Win 192”.
