| Sam Leever | |
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| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1871-12-23)December 23, 1871 Goshen, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: May 19, 1953(1953-05-19) (aged 81) Goshen, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 26, 1898, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 26, 1910, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 194–100 |
| Earned run average | 2.47 |
| Strikeouts | 847 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Samuel Leever (December 23, 1871 – May 19, 1953), nicknamed "the Goshen Schoolmaster", was an American right-handedpitcher inMajor League Baseball. He spent his entire career with thePittsburgh Pirates.
Sam Leever was born inGoshen, Ohio, the fourth child of Edward Leever, a farmer, and Ameredith Andelia (née Watson) Leever.[1] He graduated fromGoshen High School, and then became a teacher there for several years.[2][3]
Leever's first year in the Major Leagues was 1898 at age 26, making his debut on May 26 against theWashington Senators.[4] Of that debut, thePittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote, "The interest of the 1,300 spectators was largely centered in the work of Leever, who had his first chance in a championship game. Leever is a big, strong fellow, who has plenty of speed and some good curves to help out in a pinch ... He is not afraid to put the ball over the plate."[5] That year he pitched in 5 games for the Pirates. However, the following year he led theNational League in games pitched with 51 and in innings pitched with 379 as he posted a record of 21–23. In 1901 and 1905 he led the league in winning percentage (14–5 and 20–5, respectively), as well as in 1903, when he had his best season, going 25–7 with a league-leading 2.06earned run average (ERA).[6]
In 1903 Leever also led the Pirates to their third consecutive National League pennant. However he injured his shoulder late in the season and was ineffective in the first-everWorld Series, losing both of his starts as the Pirates were defeated byBoston.[7]
Leever later went 8–1 for the 1909 Pirates, when they won their first World Series title. His lifetime ERA was 2.47, and he had a 194–100 record, 847strikeouts, 39 shutouts, 241 complete games, 587walks, and only 29home runs allowed in 2,660.2 innings.
As a hitter, Leever posted a .184batting average (183-for-993) with 90runs, 17doubles, 14triples, 2home runs, 78runs batted in, and 49 bases on balls.[6]
Sam Leever married Margaret Leever in 1903 when he was 32 and she was 18. They had no children.[8] He died in 1953 at age 81 inBatavia, Ohio near his hometown of Goshen.[2] His wife Margaret died in 1959. They are buried in Goshen Cemetery.
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