Former All-Star pitcher Denny Lemaster handed away late final month, in response to an obituary from a Georgia funeral house. The previous Braves, Astros, and Expos hurler was 85 years outdated.
A California native, Lemaster signed with the then-Milwaukee Braves shortly after graduate from Oxnard Excessive Faculty and made his professional debut in 1958. The southpaw wouldn’t make his large league debut till July of 1962 however pitched fairly properly for the Braves in 17 video games, together with 12 begins, with a 3.01 ERA in 86 2/3 innings of labor. That audition throughout his rookie season earned Lemaster a extra common position within the membership’s rotation going ahead, and the lefty threw 237 innings throughout his first wire-to-wire large league marketing campaign with a robust 3.04 ERA in 46 appearances, 31 of which had been begins. He additionally launched two of his 4 profession house runs as a hitter throughout that first full marketing campaign as a giant leaguer.
After his sturdy sophomore season, Lemaster took a slight step again when it comes to outcomes from 1964 to 1966 however was nonetheless a beneficial supply of innings for the Braves as they made the transfer from Milwaukee to Atlanta. Lemaster started to show a nook late within the 1966 season with a 1.64 ERA over his ultimate three begins of the 12 months, together with a three-hit gem towards the reigning World Collection champion Dodgers on August 9 the place he managed to out-duel future Corridor of Famer Sandy Koufax, placing out 10 whereas permitting only one run in a whole sport towards a lineup that included All-Stars Jim Lefebvre and John Roseboro. Sadly, Lemaster’s 1966 marketing campaign could be minimize brief fairly abruptly attributable to a pinched nerve that stored him out of motion after August 19.
The lefty returned to the mound with a vengeance in 1967, nonetheless, and had a robust first half with a 2.82 ERA in 127 2/3 innings of labor that included six full video games in addition to a superb 13-inning efficiency in a 15-inning sport towards the Dodgers the place he struck out 12 and allowed two runs, solely one among which was earned. That efficiency was sufficient to make Lemaster an All-Star for the primary and solely time in his profession, though he didn’t seem in that 12 months’s All-Star sport attributable to an damage. The southpaw threw simply 87 2/3 innings through the second half, absolutely hampered by damage woes, and made his ultimate look in a Braves uniform on September 22.
Following the 1967 season, Lemaster was dealt to the Astros alongside All-Star infielder Denis Menke in alternate for infielders Sonny Jackson and Chuck Harrison. Lemaster’s first two seasons in Houston went fairly properly as he pitched to a 3.00 ERA throughout a mixed 69 begins totaling 468 2/3 innings of labor. After struggling via the primary half within the 1970 season, Lemaster was moved to the bullpen for the second half and remained in a reduction position for the remainder of his profession. The lefty departed Houston following the 1971 marketing campaign and completed his profession with the Expos in 1972. He pitched in his ultimate MLB sport on June 21 of that 12 months.
Throughout his 11 seasons within the large leagues, Lemaster posted a stable profession 3.58 ERA with a 90-105 file whereas racking up 1787 2/3 innings of labor and placing out 1305 batters. Following his taking part in profession, Lemaster’s obituary signifies he labored as a customized house builder and developed a expertise for woodcarving wildfowl.
These of us at MLBTR lengthen our condolences to Lemaster’s household, associates and family members.
