Hank Leiber
Born: 1/17/1911 in Phoenix, AZ, USA
Died: 11/8/1993 in Tucson, AZ, USA
MLB Debut: 1933-04-16 | Final Game: 1942-09-25
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 205 lbs
Full name: Henry Edward Leiber
Biography
Hank Leiber was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, whose career spanned from 1933 to 1942. Born in 1911, Leiber made a significant impact during his time in the league, earning three All-Star selections. Over the course of 813 games, he compiled a solid batting average of .288, showcasing his ability to consistently hit and contribute to his team's offense. Leiber recorded 808 hits, including 101 home runs and 518 runs batted in, establishing himself as a reliable run producer during an era that saw the transition from the deadball style of play to a more power-oriented game.
Leiber's playing style was characterized by his keen eye at the plate and the ability to drive in runs, making him a valuable asset to his teams. While he had modest speed, reflected by his total of five stolen bases, his strength lay in his offensive capabilities. His contributions to the game during the late 1930s and early 1940s helped pave the way for future generations of players, as he navigated an evolving landscape in baseball that included the integration of African American players and shifting offensive strategies. Hank Leiber left a lasting legacy in the sport, remembered for his impressive hitting and dedication to the game.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9.0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6.00 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | NY1 | NL | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9.0 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6.00 | 0.0 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 813 | 2805 | 410 | 808 | 137 | 24 | 101 | 518 | 5 | 274 | 319 | 0.288 | 0.356 | 0.462 | 0.818 | 6550.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | NY1 | NL | 6 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1934 | NY1 | NL | 63 | 187 | 17 | 45 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 0.241 | -748.8 |
| 1935 | NY1 | NL | 154 | 613 | 110 | 203 | 37 | 4 | 22 | 107 | 0 | 48 | 29 | 0.331 | 2862.2 |
| 1936 | NY1 | NL | 101 | 337 | 44 | 94 | 19 | 7 | 9 | 67 | 1 | 37 | 41 | 0.279 | 441.4 |
| 1937 | NY1 | NL | 51 | 184 | 24 | 54 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 1 | 15 | 27 | 0.293 | 129.0 |
| 1938 | NY1 | NL | 98 | 360 | 50 | 97 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 65 | 0 | 31 | 45 | 0.269 | 190.3 |
| 1939 | CHC | NL | 112 | 365 | 65 | 113 | 16 | 1 | 24 | 88 | 1 | 59 | 42 | 0.310 | 2368.7 |
| 1940 | CHC | NL | 117 | 440 | 68 | 133 | 24 | 2 | 17 | 86 | 1 | 45 | 68 | 0.302 | 1529.5 |
| 1941 | CHC | NL | 53 | 162 | 20 | 35 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 25 | 0 | 16 | 25 | 0.216 | -184.8 |
| 1942 | NY1 | NL | 58 | 147 | 11 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 19 | 27 | 0.218 | -36.6 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0.235 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | WS | NY1 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.364 |
| 1936 | WS | NY1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 28 | 0 | 255 | 18 | 5 | 23 |
| OF | 698 | 0 | 1464 | 41 | 41 | 10 |
| P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | NY1 | OF | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1934 | NY1 | OF | 51 | 0 | 99 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 1935 | NY1 | OF | 154 | 0 | 357 | 5 | 13 | 2 |
| 1936 | NY1 | 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1936 | NY1 | OF | 86 | 0 | 165 | 9 | 7 | 3 |
| 1937 | NY1 | OF | 46 | 0 | 78 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1938 | NY1 | OF | 89 | 0 | 181 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| 1939 | CHN | OF | 98 | 0 | 249 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
| 1940 | CHN | 1B | 12 | 0 | 115 | 11 | 2 | 10 |
| 1940 | CHN | OF | 103 | 0 | 187 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 1941 | CHN | 1B | 15 | 0 | 140 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| 1941 | CHN | OF | 29 | 0 | 52 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1942 | NY1 | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 1942 | NY1 | OF | 41 | 0 | 93 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 1 |
| First Base | 28 |
| Left Field | 36 |
| Center Field | 599 |
| Right Field | 68 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | CF |
| 1939 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | CF |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arizona | Tucson | AZ | 1929, 1930, 1931 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 11th | 11.0 | 80 | 0 |