Leonard, Buck (1907-1997), was an outstanding hitter and first baseman in the Negro leagues. The Negro leagues were professional baseball leagues for black players who were barred from white-controlled major league baseball from the late 1890’s until April 15, 1947, when Jackie Robinson played his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Leonard played in the Negro leagues from 1933 to 1950. He also played winter baseball in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
Leonard batted and threw left-handed. He hit for both average and power and was also known for his brilliant fielding, especially for his agility in reaching ground balls and for his strong arm. Leonard played for the Homestead Grays from 1934 to 1950. He helped lead the Grays to nine consecutive Negro National League championships from 1937 to 1945 and another in 1948. Catcher Josh Gibson played on several of those teams, typically batting third, just before Leonard. Leonard and Gibson formed one of the greatest hitting combinations in the history of baseball.
Walter Fenner Leonard was born on Sept. 8, 1907, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. As a young man, he worked in various jobs and played semiprofessional baseball for a local black team. After losing his job putting brake cylinders on railroad boxcars during the early 1930’s, Leonard left home to pursue a career as a professional baseball player.
Leonard played for the Portsmouth Firefighters, the Baltimore Stars, and the Brooklyn Royal Giants in 1933. The famous Negro leagues pitcher Smokey Joe Williams saw Leonard play and connected him with the Homestead Grays. He played with the Grays until they disbanded in 1950. Leonard played in the Mexican leagues from 1951 to 1955, when he retired. In 1953, Leonard played 22 games in organized baseball’s minor leagues and batted .333 for Portsmouth of the Atlantic Coast League. He died on Nov. 27, 1997.
See also Negro leagues .
