Sam Leever

Samuel Leever (December 23, 1871 – May 19, 1953), nicknamed "The Goshen Schoolmaster", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Sam Leever
Pitcher
Born: (1871-12-23)December 23, 1871
Goshen, Ohio
Died: May 19, 1953(1953-05-19) (aged 81)
Goshen, Ohio
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 26, 1898, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
September 26, 1910, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Win–loss record194–100
Earned run average2.47
Strikeouts847
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Early life

Sam Leever was born in Goshen, Ohio, the fourth child of Edward Leever, a farmer, and Ameredith Andelia (Watson) Leever.[1] He graduated from Goshen High School, and then became a teacher there for several years.[2][3]

Pro baseball career

Leever's first year in the Major Leagues was 1898 at age 26, making his debut on May 26 against the Washington Senators[4] Of that debut, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote, "The interest of the 1,300 spectators was largely centered in the work of Leever, who had his first chance in a championship game. Leever is a big, strong fellow, who has plenty of speed and some good curves to help out in a pinch ... He is not afraid to put the ball over the plate." [5]That year he pitched in 5 games for the Pirates. However, the following year he led the National League in games pitched with 51 and in innings pitched with 379 as he posted a record of 21-23. In 1901 and 1905 he led the league in winning percentage (14-5 and 20-5, respectively), as well as in 1903, when he had his best season, going 25-7 with a league-leading 2.06 ERA.[6]

In 1903 he also led the Pirates to their third consecutive National League pennant, however he injured his shoulder late in the season and was ineffective in the first-ever World Series, losing both of his starts as the Pirates were defeated by Boston.[7]

He later went 8-1 for the 1909 Pirates, when they won their first World Series title. His lifetime ERA was 2.47 with a 194–100 record, 847 strikeouts, 39 shutouts, 241 complete games, 587 walks, and only 29 home runs allowed in 2,660.2 innings.

As a hitter, Leever posted a .184 batting average (183-for-993) with 90 runs, 17 doubles, 14 triples, 2 home runs, 78 RBI and 49 bases on balls.[8]

Personal life

Sam Leever married Margaret Leever in 1903 when he was 32 and she was 18. They had no children.[9] He died in 1953 at age 81 in Batavia, Ohio near his hometown of Goshen.[10] Wife Margaret died in 1959. They are buried in Goshen Cemetery.[11]

See also

References
  1. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2541&h=499874&tid=&pid=&queryId=cce608d29f2e4a87df015947953cc699&usePUB=true&_phsrc=YsW1&_phstart=successSource
  2. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/111912515/person/290093052869/media/8ba04cc7-37a4-490b-a8ec-c5cf1f7d4c6b?_phsrc=YsW11&_phstart=successSource
  3. https://www.clermontsun.com/2019/11/21/goshen-schools-board-member-resigns-board-also-discusses-sam-leever-credentialing-and-graduation/
  4. https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/?date=1898-05-26
  5. https://www.newspapers.com/image/85460474
  6. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leevesa01.shtml
  7. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1903_WS.shtml
  8. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leevesa01.shtml
  9. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4638896_00994?usePUB=true&_phsrc=YsW4&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=74394533
  10. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/111912515/person/290093052869/media/8ba04cc7-37a4-490b-a8ec-c5cf1f7d4c6b?_phsrc=YsW11&_phstart=successSource
  11. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=60525&h=103432780&tid=&pid=&queryId=8e851a788cb8b7b303396c52f7ce4cc4&usePUB=true&_phsrc=YsW13&_phstart=successSource
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