Dennis Leonard, baseball player, 1974-1986

Dennis Leonard

Born: 5/18/1951 in Brooklyn, NY, USA

MLB Debut: 1974-09-04 | Final Game: 1986-09-27

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: Dennis Patrick Leonard

Biography

Dennis Leonard was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball, known for his impactful career that spanned from 1974 to 1986. Born in 1951, Leonard made a name for himself primarily with the Kansas City Royals, where he developed into a key figure in the team's pitching rotation during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Over the course of his career, he recorded a win-loss record of 144-106 and maintained an earned run average (ERA) of 3.7, showcasing his ability to effectively manage opposing hitters. Leonard's career was marked by his impressive strikeout total of 1,323, reflecting his skill as a dominant force on the mound. While he recorded only one save in his career, his role as a starting pitcher allowed him to impact games significantly over multiple innings. As a part of the Royals during a transformative era in baseball, Leonard contributed to the teamโ€™s successes, including their playoff appearances and a trip to the World Series. His contributions to the game have left a lasting legacy, and he remains a respected figure in the history of the franchise.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
144 106 312 302 103 23 1 2187.0 2137 898 202 622 1323 3.70 0

Season-by-Season Pitching

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
313 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 0.0

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1981 AWDIV KCA 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1980 ALCS KCA 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1980 WS KCA 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1978 ALCS KCA 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1977 ALCS KCA 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
1976 ALCS KCA 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Playoff Career Pitching

W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
3 5 10 9 0 50.0 56 24 10 31 4.32

Playoff Pitching by Year

Year Round Team W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
1981 AWDIV KCA 0 1 1 1 0 8.0 7 1 1 3 1.12
1980 ALCS KCA 1 0 1 1 0 8.0 7 2 1 8 2.25
1980 WS KCA 1 1 2 2 0 10.7 15 8 2 5 6.75
1978 ALCS KCA 0 2 2 2 0 12.0 13 5 2 11 3.75
1977 ALCS KCA 1 1 2 1 0 9.0 5 3 2 4 3.00
1976 ALCS KCA 0 0 2 2 0 2.3 9 5 2 0 19.29

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 312 302 135 292 24 28

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 312
Designated Hitter 1

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1986 Hutch Award
1975 Player of the Week Week of 1975-08-29

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1986 KCA AL $883,333
1985 KCA AL $871,429
Total Career Earnings $1,754,762

College History

School Name City State Years Attended
Iona College New Rochelle NY 1970, 1971, 1972

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1978 Cy Young Award AL 7th 1.0 140 0
1977 Cy Young Award AL 4th 45.0 140 5
1977 Most Valuable Player AL 29th 1.0 392 0