Ron LeFlore
A book and a motion picture were made about Ron LeFlore's amazing rise from prison to All-Star outfielder. A Detroit native, LeFlore was convicted of armed robbery and was serving his sentence in Jackson State Prison when he was scouted by Billy Martin and the Tigers. Upon his release, he was signed and quickly made his way to a starting spot as center fielder for the Tigers in the ballpark that he had once snuck into as a kid. He was an All-Star in 1976, batted .300 three times, and led both the American and National leagues in stolen bases. In 1980 with the Expos he swiped 97 bases. His drug addiction cost him his big league career, however, and two seasons into his multi-year contract with the White Sox, he was released in 1983.
Played For
Detroit Tigers (1974-1979)
Montreal Expos (1980)
Chicago White Sox (1981-1982)
Where He Played
Center field
Born
Ronald LeFlore was born on June 16, 1948, in Detroit, MI.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: DET
Major League Debut
August 1, 1974
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1974
Robin Yount
Gary Carter
Jim Rice
Keith Hernandez
Fred Lynn
Jim Sundberg
Kent Tekulve
Dennis Leonard
John Montefusco
Uniform Numbers
#8 with the Detroit Tigers
Related Players
Al Kaline, Gates Brown
Hitting Streaks
31 games (1975)
30 games (1976)
27 games (1978)
15 games (1979)
Transactions
LeFlore was reportedly asking for $4 million over seven years from Detroit in 1979. The team dealt him to Montreal for pitcher Dan Schatzeder instead of losing him as a free agent for nothing. Leflore became a free agent following the 1980 season and inked a deal with the Chicago White Sox.
July 2, 1973: Signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent; December 7, 1979: Traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Montreal Expos for Dan Schatzeder; October 28, 1980: Granted Free Agency; November 26, 1980: Signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago White Sox; April 2, 1983: Released by the Chicago White Sox.
All-Star Selections
1976 AL
Replaced
Mickey Stanley
Replaced By
Ricky Peters
Best Strength as a Player
Speed
Largest Weakness as a Player
Judging flyballs (he did improve later in his career). LeFlore also struck out a lot for a leadoff batter.
Learn More about Ron LeFlore
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