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./PORT/CRIPTr (Editor’s Note: This is the fourteenth of a series of articlesl which will feature the outstanding athletes of this Post this : winter.)* I -Ii' With the coming of the 1945 baseball season, we turn our| eyes to those who will be seen in action on the diamond this , year. As our first baseball celebrity, we choose Cpl. Roger i Leonard of Los Angeles, California.Cpl. Leonard is a native of Baton Rouge, La., is over 35, stands 5*.feet I CH/2 inches in height and tips the scales at 202 pounds. For twelve years, he caught for some of the best teams in the South and Southwest.—PhotoCpl. Roger Leonard%He began his professional baseball career in 1929 as a catcher for the New Orleans Black Pelicans, who at that time I had one of the best teams in the South. After two years with , them, Leonard was traded to the Natchez, Miss., Stars whowere also one of the stellar teams of its league.When his contract ended with the Stars, Roger answered the call to captain the Mound Bayou, Miss., Giants. This team represented the All-Negro city of the same name and is the largest Negro owned and operated city in the world. He played and managed this squad for two years.From Mound Bayou, Leonard moved into the receiving slot for the Memphis, Tenn., Reds. He held down this position until he moved to Los Angeles to live.! Continuing his career in pro baseball, Roger played with .the Baltimore Elite Giants in the California winter league. In this league some of the best players in Negro baseball participate I during the winter months, therefore the competition is among ! the keenest in pro baseball. He stayed with this team until hisI induction, April 24, 1941.1 He first saw service at Camp Wolters, Texas, and for twoi years captained the Post team which lost only five games out!of 69 contests.Leonard played with the SCU 1922 Mules during the 1943• series, but was unable to do so last season due to an eye ailment. This year he is in condition and is expected to be one of the team’s mainstays.Cpl. Leonard is married to the former Doris Walker of : Mount Pleasant, Texas, and has one daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who reside on the post with him. He is the son of Mrs. Pinkeyi L. Smith of 137 North 26th Street, Baton Rouge, La., and is a 1 member of Post Headquarters Detachment, SCU 1922, assigned i to the Post Transportation Section.
Newspaper Details
Apache Junction Apache Sentinel
Apache Junction, Arizona, US
Fri, Mar 23, 1945
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
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AL, USA 30 Jul 2021
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