Books and articles about Dennis Leonard

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The redhead was the Royals' Pitcher of the Year in 1975, 1977, and 1979. He employed a hard fastball, curve, and slider to average 18 wins a year, 1975-80. His philosophy: "Win or lose, take something out of a game that will help me next time." In 1982 he missed half the season after suffering a broken finger from a line drive. Torn knee ligaments cost him nearly all of the next three seasons. In 1986 Leonard returned to honor the final year of his contract. He made the starting rotation, and though his record was only 8-13, he pitched several strong games in the first half of the season, including two shutouts. Before coming to the Royals, he hurled two no-hitters in the minors. (FO)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 3, 1977: Dennis Leonard pitches the Royals to a 12–2 win over the White Sox. John Mayberry leads the offense by hitting for the cycle. » October 7, 1977: Kansas City earns a 6–2 win over New York as Hal McRae doubles and scores twice and Dennis Leonard hurls a 4-hitter. » May 8, 1978: After a Bernie Carbo walk and a ground out the Royals intentionally walk Jim Rice to pitch to Carl Yastrzemski, who clouts a 3-run homer. The Red Sox, down 5–4, beat the Royals, 8–4. Mike Stanley is the winner over Dennis Leonard. » September 26, 1979: Dennis Leonard shuts out California, 4–0, and Royals SS Frank White hits for the cycle. » September 17, 1980: The Royals become the first team to clinch a division title, as Dennis Leonard shuts out the Angels 5–0 in the first game of a doubleheader. » April 12, 1986: Making his first start in nearly three years, Kansas City's Dennis Leonard shuts out Toronto 1–0 on three hits. Leonard, a 3-time 20-game winner, had undergone four knee operations since tearing a tendon during the 1983 season. » February 2, 1987: Three-time 20-game winner Dennis Leonard, who returned to the majors last season after a 3-year absence due to a knee injury, announces his retirement. Leonard was 8-13 with a 4.44 ERA for the Royals in 1986.