Johnnie LeMaster   |   Major Leaguer   1975-1987

Lemaster's career somehow spanned 12 seasons with 4 different teams despite a .222 career batting average. Considered a sweet-fielding shortstop who was not the most sure-handed, Lemaster was the 6th pick overall in the 1973 draft by the Giants and in his 3rd season in the minors, he was called up to the parent club. Ironically, he hit a home run in his first major league at bat, the first of 22 homers in nearly 3200 at bats during his career.

Lemaster was a regular with the Giants for about 8 years and batted 8th twice more than he batted anywhere else in the lineup. You might have seen him batting leadoff or 7th often and once in a while he would hit 2nd but you'd never catch him in the middle of the lineup. What's more incredible is that Lemaster never had more than 32 rbis in a season and he averaged only 35 rbis per 162 games, a rate that is even low for leadoff hitters.

He was the target of boobirds at Candlestick park for a long time and showing a great sense of humor, he sported a jersey for one game in 1979 with the name 'Boo' on the back instead of Lemaster. The fans booed him even harder that day and he switched back to his original jersey the next game and the nickname of 'Boo' Lemaster was born.

In 1983, the Giants installed Lemaster at the top of their order, having him bat leadoff and hoping he could use his speed to help generate some offense. Lemaster would steal 39 bases and walk more often than ever but an obp of .315 from your leadoff hitter is still not acceptable. The Giants finished 4 games under that year and the experiment would end the following year.

He left the game after the 1987 season after brief stints with the Indians, Pirates and A's, never hitting more than .155. He became head coach at Pikeville College in Kentucky and was named KIAC coach of the year in 1997.

He is also a businessman as he became president of 3 corporations, one of which is Johnnie Lemaster's sports Inc. which operates sporting good stores in Kentucky. He speaks at schools and promotes saying 'No to Drugs'. He has even spent time as a city councilman in his hometown of Paintsville and is very active in the community.

His 2 daughters were married in a double wedding ceremony in 1997 and one of his sons in law is Craig Ratliff.

Notes: Lemaster hit well against Jerry Koosman (7/11 .636) and struggled against Fernando Valenzuela (5/37 with 16 k's)

• Head2Head as Batter
• Baseball Reference