Sam Leever

Samuel Leever
(Deacon or The Goshen Schoolmaster)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10½", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Goshen (OH) High School
• Debut May 26, 1898
• Final Game September 26, 1910
• Born December 23, 1871 in Goshen, OH USA
• Died May 19, 1953 in Goshen, OH USA

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Biographical Information

Sam Leever pitching

The two most similar pitchers to Sam Leever were his teammates with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Deacon Phillippe and Jesse Tannehill.

He was called "The Goshen Schoolmaster" because he taught at Goshen High School for seven years before he signed his first professional baseball contract.

Sam's best season came in 1903, when he led the league in ERA (2.06), Win-Loss% (.781), and Shutouts (7).

In game 2 of the 1903 World Series, Leever made his first and only postseason start, getting rocked for 8 Runs in ten Innings, giving him an ERA of 5.40 (two were unearned).

His lifetime ERA of 2.47 is good for 39th place, and his Win-Loss% of .660 is 25th. In addition to his pitching career, he worked two National League games as an umpire, in 1900 and 1904.

Notable Achievements

• NL ERA Leader (1903)
• 3-time NL Winning Percentage Leader (1901, 1903 & 1905)
• NL Games Pitched Leader (1899)
• NL Saves Leader (1899)
• NL Innings Pitched Leader (1899)
• NL Shutouts Leader (1903)
• 15 Wins Seasons: 8 (1899, 1900, 1902-1906 & 1908)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 4 (1899, 1903, 1905 & 1906)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 8 (1899, 1900 & 1902-1907)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1899)
• Won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1909 (he did not play in the World Series)

Related Sites

• Sam Leever at the SABR Bio Project.