Jeff Leonard---1985
Known for his “one flap down” home
run trot, in which he would leave one
arm down motionless as he circled
the bases, Leonard was just a piece
of work.
Signed by the Dodgers and shuttled
to Houston; Leonard found his swing
in San Francisco where he suddenly
blasted 21 home runs in each of the
1983 and ’84 seasons. With a career
in full bloom, his name became
prominent in the Pittsburgh drug trial
that muddied baseball’s name in
1986.
The “HacMan” took his lumps, but
rebounded with the first of two All-
Star seasons that saw Leonard also
lead the Giants into the 1987
playoffs. Leonard did his best by
ticking off the Cardinals with his
Cadillac antics on his home run trots,
while hitting a robust .417 in the
series; however the Giants lost to the
Cards four games to three. Leonard
was named the NLCS MVP for his
role, and to date is the last player to
win the award in serving a losing
cause.
With an increased value, the Giants
saw their opportunity to rid
themselves of Leonard and his
baggage by moving him to Milwaukee
part-way through the ’88 season,
which didn’t go over well with either
Leonard or Milwaukee. His star
shown again in 1989 when he joined
Seattle as their DH launching 24 long
balls along the way, but the end was
near as his average was a
pedestrian .254. He followed up with
a 1990 season of hitting .251 before
the Mariners came to their senses
and realized that they could do
better.
Anyways the HacMan was probably
beginning to rub off on a young Ken
Griffey, Jr. who began to wear his
backwards like Leonard did in this
1985 card.
(6/9/08)
run trot, in which he would leave one
arm down motionless as he circled
the bases, Leonard was just a piece
of work.
Signed by the Dodgers and shuttled
to Houston; Leonard found his swing
in San Francisco where he suddenly
blasted 21 home runs in each of the
1983 and ’84 seasons. With a career
in full bloom, his name became
prominent in the Pittsburgh drug trial
that muddied baseball’s name in
1986.
The “HacMan” took his lumps, but
rebounded with the first of two All-
Star seasons that saw Leonard also
lead the Giants into the 1987
playoffs. Leonard did his best by
ticking off the Cardinals with his
Cadillac antics on his home run trots,
while hitting a robust .417 in the
series; however the Giants lost to the
Cards four games to three. Leonard
was named the NLCS MVP for his
role, and to date is the last player to
win the award in serving a losing
cause.
With an increased value, the Giants
saw their opportunity to rid
themselves of Leonard and his
baggage by moving him to Milwaukee
part-way through the ’88 season,
which didn’t go over well with either
Leonard or Milwaukee. His star
shown again in 1989 when he joined
Seattle as their DH launching 24 long
balls along the way, but the end was
near as his average was a
pedestrian .254. He followed up with
a 1990 season of hitting .251 before
the Mariners came to their senses
and realized that they could do
better.
Anyways the HacMan was probably
beginning to rub off on a young Ken
Griffey, Jr. who began to wear his
backwards like Leonard did in this
1985 card.
(6/9/08)
