Quote:
Originally Posted by UKBaseballfan
Identified at source as Leon Riley.
Appears to be an image of a 1926 or 1927 Washington Senator.
A Leon Riley appeared in the majors in 1944 as 38 year old. If it the same person he would be in his early 20s at the time of this photo. It seems a plausible match.
Anyone like to add any comments?
Thank you.
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This is not future Major Leaguer Lee Riley (who just so happens to be NBA Hall of Famer Pat Riley's father). Lee grew up in Nebraska, starting out his career with the Lincoln (NE) Links in 1927. He was in Orange, TX that spring for the Links' spring training camp, then moved with the team to Pueblo, CO in 1928. At the end of the 1928 season he was purchased from the Pueblo club by Connie Mack, but I did not find evidence that Riley went to the A's camp in 1929 and he was back in Pueblo for the 1929 season, where he played through 1931.
While Lee toiled in the midwest and Rockies, local papers covered the exploits of
Leon Marshall Riley, a Alexandria (VA) High School graduate who pitched for a semi-pro All-Star team in 1926, then went pro with Norfolk in 1927 & 28. He is almost certainly the player pictured.