Day, Leon

▪ 1996

      U.S. baseball player (b. Oct. 30, 1916, Alexandria, Va.—d. March 13, 1995, Baltimore, Md.), was a phenomenal right-handed pitcher whose fastball and change-up pitches secured his place as a strikeout artist; he held the strikeout record in the Negro National League, the Puerto Rican League, and the East-West All-Star game. Besides specializing in delivering no-windup speedballs, Day was a lightning-quick base runner, exceptional fielder, exemplary hitter, and capable bunter. The versatile athlete played every position (with the exception of catcher) during his tenures with such Negro leagues teams as the Baltimore Black Sox (1934), Brooklyn Eagles (1935), Newark Eagles (1936-39, 1941-43, 1946), and Baltimore Elite Giants (1949-50). In 1937 he finished the season with a perfect 13-0 record, and even after his career was interrupted by military service (1944-46), he returned to the mound on opening day to hurl a no-hitter. Day, who emerged victorious in three of four matchups with the legendary pitcher Satchel Paige, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame about a week before his death.

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