By Sara Tumminia, Sports Information Assistant
NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Dennis Leonard, a former pitcher for the Iona College baseball team has been selected to be a part of the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2015. The induction ceremony takes place Nov. 1 at the Hilton Hotel in Troy, NY.
A Brooklyn, NY native, and one of 15 baseball legends selected for the Class of 2015, Dennis Leonard was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the June Free Agent Draft in 1972, and made his major league debut on September 4, 1974. In his breakout first full season with the Royals, he finished the with a 15-7 record.
Leonard was inducted to the Iona Goal Club Hall of Fame in 1984. As an undergraduate, he pitched for the Maroon & Gold for three seasons, including the 1971 team which compiled 17 straight victories and is generally acknowledged as one of the best teams in Iona history. While at New Rochelle, he earned All-Metropolitan honors.
In 12 major league seasons, he owned a 144-106 major league record with the Royals and held single-season team records in games started, complete games, innings pitched and strikeouts. Leonard was the winningest right-handed pitcher in the major leagues from 1975-82. He was the first Royal pitcher to earn multiple 20-win seasons, achieving the feat in 1977, 1978 and 1980. He finished the 1978 season with a career-best 21 wins.
Leonard was the first Iona alum to appear in the World Series, starting games one and four in 1980 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Although the Royals lost the series in six games, Leonard picked up the game four win, with a strong, seven inning outing.
Dennis Leonard was not only one of the most dominating and impressive players in Iona College history, but in Kansas City Royals history as well.
New York State Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2015:
Joe Austin, honorary
Jesse Braverman, Bethlehem/LaSalle Head Coach
Tom Browning, Cincinnati Reds
John Flaherty, Yankees/Announcer
Orel Hershiser, Dodgers/Indians/Mets
Michael Hetman, Boston Red Sox
Dennis Leonard, Kansas City Royals
Lee Mazzilli, Mets/Yankees/Rangers
Joe Russo, Former St. John's University Coach
Ken Singleton, Orioles/Mets/Expos/Announcer
Bob Southworth, Corcoran High School Coach
Larry Sudbrook, St. Bonaventure University Coach
Bob Umholtz, Umpire
Frank Viola, Twins/Mets/Red Sox
Richie Wurster, Umpire
