Wade Lefler
| Wade Lefler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: June 5, 1896 Cooleemee, North Carolina | |
| Died: March 6, 1981 (aged 84) Hickory, North Carolina | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 16, 1924, for the Boston Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 30, 1924, for the Washington Senators | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .556 |
| Slugging average | .889 |
| Runs batted in | 4 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Wade Hampton Lefler was a Major League Baseball player. He played in six games for two different major league teams in 1924, mostly as a pinch hitter. He also played in one game as a right fielder. He was the first player to make the major leagues after attending Duke University.[1]
After playing several years in the minor leagues, most recently for the Worcester Panthers in 1923, Lefler made his debut for the Boston Braves on April 16, 1924, the second game of the season for the Braves. His stint with the Braves lasted just a single plate appearance, in which he struck out while pinch hitting for pitcher Rube Marquard.[2] After the game, he returned to the Panthers, where he played most of the rest of 1924, batting .370 with 14 home runs.
Wade Lavender Lefler returned to the majors with the Washington Senators on September 18. He appeared four more times as a pinch hitter, once pinch hitting for Walter Johnson.[3] In those four opportunities, he hit safely three times, including two doubles. On September 30, he started his first game, playing right field and batting cleanup. In four at bats, he had two more hits, including another double.[4] This turned out to be Lefler's last appearance in the majors, leaving him with a career batting average of .556, and a career slugging average of .889.
After his brief major league career, Lefler played one more season in the minor leagues with the Memphis Chickasaws before retiring. He went on to become an attorney, serving as the city attorney for Newton, North Carolina. He died in 1981 at the age of 84.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ List of players from Duke University from Baseball Reference
- ^ Retrosheet box score for Lefler's debut
- ^ Retrosheet box score, Lefler PHs for Johnson
- ^ Retrosheet box score for Lefler's last game
- ^ "Noted Attorney Dies". Hickory Daily Record. March 7, 1981. p. 12. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
Sources
[edit]- Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Major League Baseball outfielders
- Boston Braves players
- Washington Senators (1901–1960) players
- Baltimore Orioles (International League) players
- Augusta Tygers players
- Newark Bears (International League) players
- Worcester Panthers players
- Memphis Chickasaws players
- Baseball players from North Carolina
- 1896 births
- 1981 deaths
- Duke Blue Devils baseball players
- People from Cooleemee, North Carolina
- People from Newton, North Carolina