Don LeJohn

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Donald Everett LeJohn
(Ducky)

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Biographical Information[edit]

Don LeJohn, sometimes called "Ducky", had a long career in professional baseball but is best remembered for his one year in the major leagues, when he played third base and appeared in the World Series for the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965.

LeJohn was born in Daisytown, PA, only 15 miles from Donora, PA (birthplace of both Stan Musial and Ken Griffey Jr.). He attended California Area High School and played sandlot ball as a youth.

Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954, he played that year with the Shawnee Hawks hitting .359, and was on the Sooner State League All-Star team. He played with the Great Falls Electrics in 1955 where he was also on the All-Star team, and with the Wichita Falls Spudders, hitting .345 in 1956. He was with the Macon Dodgers in 1957. In 1958 he was with the Des Moines Bruins. He was with the Asheville Tourists in 1959. He spent two seasons with the Atlanta Crackers in 1960 and 1961. In 1962, he played for the Omaha Dodgers of the American Association, managed by Danny Ozark. He was an All-Star in 1964 with the Albuquerque Dukes.

In 1965, he was hitting .395 at Albuquerque as a player/coach, in his 12th year in the minors, when he was finally called up to the major league Dodgers. He was a 31-year-old rookie. He hit singles in his first two major league at-bats, driving in a run with the first single, and scoring the go-ahead run after the second single. The Dodgers' win in that game put them two games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds. He struck out in one at bat as a pinch-hitter in the World Series that season.

LeJohn finished his full-time playing days in 1971. Even before that, he had started managing in 1967.

He was a minor league manager and scout for over 20 years. From 1977-1982, LeJohn managed the San Antonio Dodgers, and was 427-373 in the first six seasons of the Dodgers era in San Antonio. His teams made the playoffs three straight seasons from 1979-1981.

LeJohn was recovering from throat surgery in January 1985 [1] and missed the season, but returned in 1986 after recovery [2].

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs
1967 Tri-City Atoms Northwest League 37-47 3rd Los Angeles Dodgers none
1968 Tri-City Atoms Northwest League 45-30 1st Los Angeles Dodgers none League Champs
1969 Bakersfield Dodgers California League 67-73 6th Los Angeles Dodgers
1970 Bakersfield Dodgers California League 93-46 1st Los Angeles Dodgers none League Champs
1971 Bakersfield Dodgers California League 56-82 8th Los Angeles Dodgers
1972 Bakersfield Dodgers California League 88-52 1st Los Angeles Dodgers Lost League Finals
1973 Waterbury Dodgers Eastern League 59-79 8th Los Angeles Dodgers
1974 Waterbury Dodgers Eastern League 64-72 6th (t) Los Angeles Dodgers
1975 Waterbury Dodgers Eastern League 77-59 3rd Los Angeles Dodgers
1976 Waterbury Dodgers Eastern League 62-73 6th Los Angeles Dodgers
1977 San Antonio Dodgers Texas League 61-67 5th (t) Los Angeles Dodgers
1978 San Antonio Dodgers Texas League 79-57 3rd Los Angeles Dodgers
1979 San Antonio Dodgers Texas League 69-62 4th Los Angeles Dodgers Lost League Finals
1980 San Antonio Dodgers Texas League 74-62 4th (t) Los Angeles Dodgers Lost League Finals
1981 San Antonio Dodgers Texas League 76-57 1st Los Angeles Dodgers Lost League Finals
1982 San Antonio Dodgers Texas League 68-68 5th (t) Los Angeles Dodgers
1983 Lodi Dodgers California League 60-78 8th Los Angeles Dodgers
1984 Bakersfield Dodgers California League 68-72 4th Los Angeles Dodgers
1986 Bakersfield Dodgers California League 40-102 10th Los Angeles Dodgers
Totals 19 years 1243-1238 2 League Championships

Notable Achievement[edit]

Related Sites[edit]