Dutch Leonard was a professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on April 16, 1909, in Auburn, Illinois, and began his baseball career in the minor leagues in 1929.
Leonard made his MLB debut in 1933 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he played for two seasons before being traded to the Washington Senators. He spent the majority of his career with the Senators, playing for them from 1935 to 1946. During his time with the Senators, Leonard was known for his knuckleball, which he used to great effect to deceive batters.
In 1939, Leonard had his best season, winning 20 games and leading the American League in earned run average (ERA) with a 2.81. He was also named to the All-Star team that year. Leonard continued to be a consistent performer for the Senators, winning at least 15 games in six of his 12 seasons with the team.
After leaving the Senators, Leonard played for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs before retiring in 1953. Over the course of his career, he won 191 games and had a career ERA of 3.25. He was also known for his durability, pitching over 200 innings in a season nine times.
Despite his success on the field, Leonard was not without controversy. In 1946, he was accused of throwing a game against the New York Yankees in exchange for money. Although he was cleared of any wrongdoing, the incident tarnished his reputation.
After retiring from baseball, Leonard worked as a scout for several teams, including the Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Athletics. He also served as a pitching coach for the Athletics and the Detroit Tigers.
Leonard passed away on April 17, 1983, at the age of 74. He was posthumously inducted into the Auburn High School Hall of Fame in 2015.
In summary, Dutch Leonard was a successful pitcher in the MLB, known for his knuckleball and durability. He played for several teams over the course of his career, winning 191 games and having a career ERA of 3.25. Despite a controversial incident in 1946, Leonard went on to have a successful career as a scout and pitching coach after retiring from baseball.
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