Don LeJohn
Donald Everett LeJohn
(Ducky)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10", Weight 175 lb.
- High School California Area High School
- Debut June 30, 1965
- Final Game October 3, 1965
- Born May 13, 1934 in Daisytown, PA USA
- Died February 25, 2005 in California, PA USA
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]
Notable Achievement[edit]
- Won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965
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