- Johnnie LeMaster
Infobox MLB retired
name = Johnnie LeMaster
width =
caption =
position =Shortstop
birthdate = birth date and age|1954|6|19
deathdate =
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = September 2
debutyear = 1975
debutteam =San Francisco Giants
finaldate = July 28
finalyear = 1987
finalteam =Oakland Athletics
stat1label =Batting average
stat1value = .222
stat2label = Hits
stat2value = 709
stat3label =Stolen base s
stat3value = 94
teams =
*San Francisco Giants (by|1975–by|1985)
*Cleveland Indians (by|1985)
*Pittsburgh Pirates (by|1985)
*Oakland Athletics (by|1987)
highlights =
hofdate =
hofvote =
hofmethod =Johnnie Lee LeMaster (Born
June 19 ,1954 inPortsmouth, Ohio ) is a formerMajor League Baseball infielder . He played for 12 seasons (by|1975–by|1985 and by|1987) for four teams, including 10 seasons for theSan Francisco Giants . He batted and threw right handed.On
September 2 1975 LeMaster set a major league record hitting aninside-the-park home run in his firstat bat , during a 7–3 win over the Dodgers.Brian Downing two years previously was the first MLB player to hit his first homer inside-the-park, but not in his first at bat. However, following his first at bat, LeMaster hit only 21 home runs the rest of his career (3,191 at bats).Many will long remember LeMaster for one game in 1979. The shortstop took the field wearing the phrase on his back that Giants fans often welcomed him with. In place of his last name was the word "boo". [Hayes, A.J., "SPORTS: Boo-yah! Johnnie LeMaster returns", http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/gsf/2008/05/sports_booyah_welcome_back_joh.html]
1983 was LeMaster's finest season as a professional. He amassed over 100 hits for the only time in his career, batting .240 and finishing seventh in the National League with 39 stolen bases.
During the 1985 season, he played for three different teams: the San Francisco Giants, the Cleveland Indians, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Strangely, all three teams ended up in last place in their respective divisions. [Bruce Nash, "The Baseball Hall of Shame 3"]
LeMaster was a career .222 hitter with 22 home runs and 229
runs batted in in 1039 games.He currently resides in
Paintsville , KY, where he serves as an elder for the Paintsville Church of Christ.External links
*
* [http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/2231228014_e373f9261e_o.jpgPhoto of Lemaster wearing the 'Boo' jersey]
* [http://www.uniwatchblog.com/2008/01/31/boo-radically/ UniWatchBlog.com article about LeMaster 2008.01.31]References
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