Dennis Leonard
Inducted 1989
Pitcher 1974-1986
Leonard was a true workhorse, as durable and dependable as any pitcher in the game. He was named Royals Pitcher of the Year three times and posted seasons with 20 or more wins on three occasions. Leonard finished his career leading the Royals all-time list in complete games (103) and shutouts (23) and he was second in wins (144). He also held the club's single-season bests in starts (40), complete games (21), and innings pitched (294.2) and strikeouts (244). From 1975 to 1981, Leonard collected 130 wins -- the most by any right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.
POSITION: Pitcher
BATS: Right
THROWS: Right
HEIGHT: 6'1
WEIGHT: 190
BORN: May 8, 1951 in Brooklyn, NY.
HOW ACQUIRED: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 2nd round of the 1972 amateur draft.
SIGNED: 1972
DEBUT: September 4, 1974
FINAL GAME: September 27, 1986
Royals Career Statistics
| W | L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 144 | 106 | 3.70 | 312 | 302 | 103 | 23 | 1 | 2187.0 | 2137 | 1008 | 898 | 622 | 1323 | 1.26 |
Photos
Dennis Leonard, the only Royals pitcher to thrice win 20 games in a season, was enshrined into the franchise's Hall of Fame in 1989.
-- KC Royals
He also set the team's single-season standard with 40 starts (in 1978), 21 complete games (1977) and 244 strikeouts (1977).
-- KC Royals
Having played his entire 12-year career with Kansas City, Leonard is the team's all-time leader with 103 complete games and 23 shutouts. The righty also ranks second with 144 victories.
-- KC Royals
Leonard was the winning pitcher when the Royals clinched American League West titles on Sept. 23, 1977, and Sept. 17, 1980. He tossed a complete game in the first clincher and a three-hit shutout in the '80 game.
-- KC Royals