Leon Day: A Baseball Life from the Negro Leagues to the Hall of Fame
Ever heard of Leon Day? Nicknamed "Mighty Mite," the 5' 10" hurler with a no-windup delivery, tipped the scales at a mere 170 pounds. Best known as a Hall of Fame pitcher (1934-1957) for the Baltimore Black Sox, Newark Eagles, Baltimore Elite Giants and teams in Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuela, Day constantly drew favorable comparisons with the more flamboyant, self-promoting Satchel Paige whom he beat in 3 of 4 of their meetings. A consummate athlete and a manager's favorite, Day excelled at all positions except catcher, was always a threat on the bases and feared as much for his hitting (.300 plus career batting average) as his pitching. A record seven-time Negro Leagues All-Star and holder of the All-Star games strikeout record, Day interrupted his career to serve as a private in World War II ducking German bullets on Utah Beach. Financially struggling during retirement, he married the love of his life, worked a number of odd jobs, signed thousands of autographs and, with the help of supporters, endured a lengthy trek to Cooperstown. Jim Crow was alive and well throughout his life. Newspapers of the time, illustrations, and interviews with several people close to him tell his story on and off the field for the first time.
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