Dave Leonhard and Fred Merkle to be Inducted to Red Wings Hall of Fame Tomorrow

August 9, 2012 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release

ROCHESTER, NY - Rochester Red Wings right-handed pitcher Dave Leonhard and Rochester Tribe first baseman Fred Merkle will be inducted to the Red Wings Hall of Fame tomorrow in a ceremony prior to the Red Wings game with the Pawtucket Red Sox. Merkle is being honored posthumously. His great niece Sue Baxter will be on hand to accept the honor.

Leonhard pitched four seasons for the Red Wings in 1966-67, 1971, and 1973, going 34-15 with a 3.41 ERA in 84 games (65 starts). The Virginia native ranks third in franchise history with an .833 winning percentage. Leonhard helped Rochester win the International League pennant in 1966 and the Governors' Cup and Junior World Series in 1971. His best season in a Red Wings' uniform came in 1967, when he posted a league-best 15 wins and a 2.61 ERA in 30 games (24 starts).

Leonhard went on to play parts of six seasons with the Baltimore Orioles from 1967-72, going 16-14 with a 3.15 ERA in 29 games (24 starts). He pitched in two World Series in 1969 against the New York Mets and in 1971 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also won a World Series ring in 1970, when the Orioles defeated the Cincinnati Reds, although he did not appear in a game.

Leonhard, 71, now makes his home in Beverly, Massachusetts. He will be joined by his wife Doris at tomorrow's ceremony.

Merkle, who passed away at the age of 67 in 1956, was a veteran of 1,630 major league games before joining the Rochester Tribe in 1921. The right-handed hitter played five years for Rochester and he hit better than .340 in each of his first four IL seasons. In the history of Rochester baseball, he ranks third with a .343 batting average, 915 hits, and 699 games played. Merkle also ranks second in Rochester history with 471 RBI, 585 runs scored, and 105 stolen bases. He led the league with 130 RBI in 1922 and 166 RBI in 1923.

Merkle was inducted to the IL Hall of Fame in 1953.

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