Lennie Backer

Leonard Henry Backer (Franklin Milkman)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 163 lb.
• High School Sacramento High School

• Born February 5, 1907 in Franklin, CA USA
• Died October 20, 1989 in Sacramento, CA USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Infielder Lennie Backer signed with the Sacramento Senators right out of high school in 1925 and got into 14 games that year. He was farmed out to the Twin Falls Bruins in 1926 and his .374 average was among the league leaders. He also made it into 27 more games with Sacramento that year, and he would stay with the Senators through 1933. Backer was drawing the interest of major league scouts until April 27, 1931 when a pitch from "Wild Bill" Henderson of the San Francisco Seals fractured his scull and ended his season. Backer was unconscious for 48 hours and spent six weeks in the hospital. Stan Hack took advantage of the opening and spent the rest of the year starting at third base, before being sold to the Chicago Cubs at the end of the season. Backer recovered and spent 1932-1933 with the Senators and 1934-1935 with the Seals. He spent 1936-1938 moving around eastern leagues before retiring to dairy farming back in Franklin, CA.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1937	Waterloo Reds	Western League	61-55	2nd	Cincinnati Reds	none
1938	Waterloo Red Hawks	Three-I League	59-65	8th	Cincinnati Reds