Leo Mangum

Leo Allan Mangum
(Blackie)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 187 lb.
• High School Durham High School
• Debut July 11, 1924
• Final Game May 11, 1935
• Born May 24, 1896 in Durham, NC USA
• Died July 9, 1974 in Lima, OH USA

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Biographical Information

Leo Mangum pitched a no-hitter in his professional debut.

He played the outfield on his high school team in Durham, NC, but turned to pitching when his team needed a twirler. The young right-hander celebrated his entrance into professional baseball on May 3, 1920 by pitching a no-hit, no-run, game for the Albany Senators of the Eastern League. Mangum shut down the Pittsfield Hillies, 5-0. Leo would go on in his first season to a 13-14 record with a 2.61 ERA while pitching 238 innings in 33 outings.

He was secured by the Pittsburgh Pirates but was sent to the minors for more experience and arrived in the major leagues with the Chicago White Sox for the 1924 season. Leo spent seven seasons in the majors, three with the Chicago club in (1924-1925 and 1928) and after being drafted by the Boston Braves on September 10, 1931 in the 1931 Rule V Draft he spent four seasons with the Boston club from 1932 to 1935. Up and down to the minors often , Leo managed a major league career record of 11-10 with a 5.37 ERA during the seven-year run.

Mangum spent seventeen seasons in the minor leagues, from 1920 through 1938, that saw him with twenty different teams in eleven leagues. Leo's best year came in 1927 when he went 21 and 7 with a 3.33 ERA for the Buffalo Bisons, of the International League, while pitching 238 innings. Eleven seasons in his minor league years he pitched over 200 innings and in 1926, while with the Portland Beavers, of the IL he threw 328 innings, going 19-20 with a 3.84 ERA.

This all added up to a minor league record for Leo of 210-194 with a 3.30 ERA while appearing in 570 games and pitching 3,479 innings. Mangum hung up his spikes after the 1938 season at age 42. Leo Allan Mangum, who had acquired the nickname of "Blackie" died at his home on July 9, 1974 in Lima, OH.

Related Sites

• Leo Mangum at the SABR Bio Project