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FatJack · 12-21-2016, 02:16 AM

Leon Everitt, who pitched 5 games out of the pen for the expansion Padres in 1969, passed away on August 27, 2016 (word just reaching the necrology sites).

Everitt was a 15th round pick of the Dodgers in 1965. From 1966-1968, Leon put up some very solid numbers--11 and 4 in Single-A in 1966 with a 2.36 ERA and a strikeout per inning, 15-13 in Double-A in 1967 with 200 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.45 (he was also 8-0 with a 1.68 ERA in the Arizona Fall League that year), and 17-10 with a 2.92 ERA and 201 strikeouts with AAA Spokane in 1968. In '68, Everitt was named "the Texas-born minor league pitcher of the year" (apparently by a Texas chapter of the Baseball Writers of America).

Everitt and shortstop Tommy Dean were sent to San Diego for Al McBean in mid-April 1969 and the youngster appeared in 5 games, posting an ERA of 8.04 before being farmed out to Single-A Key West (which had a working arrangement that year between the Cubs and Padres, as the minor league systems of expansion teams are never born fully formed).

Although he was in camp with the Friars in 1970, Leon was outrighted to Salt Lake City before the end of March, but never pitched for them.

I could find no specific mention of the injury that saw Leon drop off the radar so quickly, it is believed that Everitt's issues began as far back as 1967--some back related and some arm related. Although his minor league numbers were exceptional, he was pitching a lot of innings and there were apparently some whispers of a "dead arm" before the trade to San Diego.

After baseball, Leon worked as a taxi driver, insurance salesman and construction worker. Leon was one of 7 children. All of his brothers and sisters save one, sister Betty, preceded him in death. Leon was 69.

The Vault provided great images of Leon with LA and SD back in July, and those were posted by Merkle. The best B&W image we had prior to the Vault release has also been previously posted, that one by tnfoto in 2011. The attached press photo of Leon with Spokane is the only current offering of anything of Leon on eBay.

12-21-2016, 02:16 AM	#29720
FatJack All Star Reserve Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 847	Leon Everitt (1947 - 2016) Leon Everitt, who pitched 5 games out of the pen for the expansion Padres in 1969, passed away on August 27, 2016 (word just reaching the necrology sites). Everitt was a 15th round pick of the Dodgers in 1965. From 1966-1968, Leon put up some very solid numbers--11 and 4 in Single-A in 1966 with a 2.36 ERA and a strikeout per inning, 15-13 in Double-A in 1967 with 200 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.45 (he was also 8-0 with a 1.68 ERA in the Arizona Fall League that year), and 17-10 with a 2.92 ERA and 201 strikeouts with AAA Spokane in 1968. In '68, Everitt was named "the Texas-born minor league pitcher of the year" (apparently by a Texas chapter of the Baseball Writers of America). Everitt and shortstop Tommy Dean were sent to San Diego for Al McBean in mid-April 1969 and the youngster appeared in 5 games, posting an ERA of 8.04 before being farmed out to Single-A Key West (which had a working arrangement that year between the Cubs and Padres, as the minor league systems of expansion teams are never born fully formed). Although he was in camp with the Friars in 1970, Leon was outrighted to Salt Lake City before the end of March, but never pitched for them. I could find no specific mention of the injury that saw Leon drop off the radar so quickly, it is believed that Everitt's issues began as far back as 1967--some back related and some arm related. Although his minor league numbers were exceptional, he was pitching a lot of innings and there were apparently some whispers of a "dead arm" before the trade to San Diego. After baseball, Leon worked as a taxi driver, insurance salesman and construction worker. Leon was one of 7 children. All of his brothers and sisters save one, sister Betty, preceded him in death. Leon was 69. The Vault provided great images of Leon with LA and SD back in July, and those were posted by Merkle. The best B&W image we had prior to the Vault release has also been previously posted, that one by tnfoto in 2011. The attached press photo of Leon with Spokane is the only current offering of anything of Leon on eBay. Attached Images Last edited by FatJack; 12-21-2016 at 02:18 AM.