Former All-Star pitcher Denny Lemaster handed away late final month, based on an obituary from a Georgia funeral residence. The previous Braves, Astros, and Expos hurler was 85 years outdated.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 College 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 function 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 residence runs as a hitter throughout that first full marketing campaign as a giant leaguer.
After his robust sophomore season, Lemaster took a slight step again by way of outcomes from 1964 to 1966 however was nonetheless a worthwhile 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 last 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, putting out 10 whereas permitting only one run in an entire recreation towards a lineup that included All-Stars Jim Lefebvre and John Roseboro. Sadly, Lemaster’s 1966 marketing campaign could be reduce brief moderately 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 an excellent 13-inning efficiency in a 15-inning recreation towards the Dodgers the place he struck out 12 and allowed two runs, solely considered one of 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 recreation attributable to an harm. The southpaw threw simply 87 2/3 innings throughout the second half, absolutely hampered by harm woes, and made his last 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 by the primary half within the 1970 season, Lemaster was moved to the bullpen for the second half and remained in a aid function 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 last MLB recreation on June 21 of that 12 months.
Throughout his 11 seasons within the large leagues, Lemaster posted a strong profession 3.58 ERA with a 90-105 document whereas racking up 1787 2/3 innings of labor and putting out 1305 batters. Following his enjoying profession, Lemaster’s obituary signifies he labored as a customized residence builder and developed a expertise for woodcarving wildfowl.
These of us at MLBTR prolong our condolences to Lemaster’s household, buddies and family members.
