Buck Leonard #1220

Caption from poster__      " It was only natural that the ” Black Lou Gehrig” would be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame together in 1972.”     Leonard is the only Negro League first baseman enshrined in Cooperstown. A lefthanded power hitter, he teamed with legendary slugger Josh Gibson to lead the Homestead Grays to nine consecutive Negro National League championships from 1937 through 1945. The duo was dubbed the "Thunder Twins" by the black press. Leonard was called a black Lou Gehrig, Gibson a black Babe Ruth. While Gibson slugged tape measure home runs, the pull-hitting Leonard, who feasted on fastballs, demonstrated his smooth, powerful stroke by hitting line drives off and over the walls. Leonard was equally smooth and consistent at first base. His sure-handed glove work was compared with that of Hal Chase and George Sisler. He was a smart fielder who always made the right play. Dependable and respected by his teammates, he was a steadying influence on the Grays. Leonard