Len Barker
| Len Barker | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: July 7, 1955 Fort Knox, Kentucky |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| September 14, 1976 for the Texas Rangers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 26, 1987 for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| Career statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 74–76 |
| Earned run average | 4.34 |
| Strikeouts | 975 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Leonard Harold Barker III (born July 7, 1955)[1] better known as Lenny Barker or Len Barker, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He pitched the tenth perfect game in baseball history. Barker pitched for the Texas Rangers (1976–78), Cleveland Indians (1979–83), Atlanta Braves (1983–85) and Milwaukee Brewers (1987). During a 11-year baseball career, Barker compiled 74 wins, 975 strikeouts, and a 4.34 earned run average.
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Playing career [edit]
Early career [edit]
Barker was a hard thrower, who earlier in his career struggled with his control. On April 16, 1978, at Fenway Park, Barker (then with the Texas Rangers) threw a pitch that sailed upward onto the screen above and behind the backstop.
Barker's best season statistically was in 1980, when he enjoyed career-high numbers in winning games (19) and strikeouts (181, top in the league).
1981 perfect game [edit]
Barker's most notable accomplishment as a major league pitcher occurred on May 15, 1981 as a member of the Cleveland Indians.[1] On a cold, damp night in Cleveland, Barker pitched the tenth official perfect game in baseball history, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays, 3–0 (the game was originally reported as the ninth perfect game in major league baseball history[2] until the league later changed the criteria for recognizing a perfect game). The final out of the game was a flyout caught by Rick Manning in short center field. Barker's pitching was so consistent that he never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter.
Barker's perfect outing, one of only twenty-three in the history of Major League baseball, is also the last no-hitter thrown by an Indian[3] and remains one of the fondest memories in Cleveland sports history.[citation needed] "I run into people almost every day who want to talk about it," Barker said in 2006. "Everyone says, 'You're probably tired of talking about it.' I say, 'No, it's something to be proud of.' It's a special thing."[4]
Barker was selected for the 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, held in Cleveland on August 9. The event was notable on two accounts: It was the first game played after a lengthy players' strike and gave Barker the opportunity to pitch two scoreless innings before 72,086 fans in his home stadium.
Later career [edit]
During the 1983 season, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Brett Butler, Brook Jacoby, Rick Behenna and $150,000 cash.[1] The trade was initiated by the Braves, who were in a tight race for first in the National League West Division with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Butler and Jacoby went on to become All-Stars, while Barker was released from the Braves in 1985 with three years remaining on his contract. He finished his career in 1987 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Life after baseball [edit]
After his playing career, Barker returned to the Cleveland area and founded a construction company with a business partner.[5] Lenny Barker and his wife Eva are the parents of Jared, Blake and Jacob. The Barker family currently resides in Geauga County east of Cleveland. Barker serves the head coach for Division II Notre Dame College in South Euclid.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c Coffey, Michael (2004). 27 Men Out: Baseball's Perfect Games. New York: Atria Books. pp. 141–156. ISBN 0-7434-4606-2.
- ^ "Pitcher Perfect: Len Barker tosses MLB's ninth perfect game". mlb.com. May 15, 1981. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
- ^ "Most Recent No-Hitters by Team". SI Vault. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
- ^ "Brewers". CNN. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
- ^ "About Lenny Barker". Perfect Pitch Construction, LLC. Retrieved 2009-06-04.[dead link]
External links [edit]
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Box score for Barker's perfect game
- Play-by-play account of Barker's perfect game
| Preceded by Nolan Ryan |
American League Strikeout Champion 1980–1981 |
Succeeded by Floyd Bannister |
| Preceded by Catfish Hunter |
Perfect game pitcher May 15, 1981 |
Succeeded by Mike Witt |
| Preceded by Charlie Lea |
No-hitter pitcher May 15, 1981 |
Succeeded by Nolan Ryan |
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- 1955 births
- Living people
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Baseball players from Kentucky
- Texas Rangers players
- Cleveland Indians players
- Atlanta Braves players
- Milwaukee Brewers players
- Indianapolis Indians players
- American League All-Stars
- Major League Baseball pitchers who have pitched a perfect game
- American League strikeout champions
