George LeClair

George Lewis LeClair
(Frenchy)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 170 lb.

• Debut June 5, 1914
• Final Game October 2, 1915
• Born October 18, 1886 in Milton, VT USA
• Died October 10, 1918 in Farnham, QC CAN

BR page

Biographical Information

George LeClair pitched for three teams in the Federal League in 1914-15. He finished his major-league career with a 7-12 record and a 3.36 ERA.

Although LeClair pitched reasonably well in the Federal League, he tossed the worst start in American, National, or Federal League history on August 16, 1914 for the Pittsburgh Rebels. In what was his second career start in the big leagues, he registered a Game Score of -56 in a 21-6 loss to the Indianapolis Hoosiers. LeClair gave up 24 hits (18 singles, 4 doubles, and 2 triples), 21 runs, 20 earned runs, 8 walks and no strikeouts in an eight-inning complete game. The 20 earned runs were the most given up in a game by an AL/NL/FL pitcher between 1901 and 2021. LeClair was forced to pitch a complete game because Pittsburgh had only four healthy pitchers at the time.

LeClair died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. Farnham, QC was a railway junction city: half the town's population of 10,000 died during the pandemic.

Further Reading

• Gary Belleville: "August 16, 1914: Pittsburgh Rebels hurler George LeClair takes one for the team, gets blasted for 21 runs," SABR Baseball Games Project.
• Yves Chartrand: "George LeClair," SABR Baseball Biography Project.