Don Landrum Explained

Don Landrum
Position:Center fielder
Bats:Left
Throws:Right
Birth Date:16 February 1936
Birth Place:Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
Death Place:Pittsburg, California, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 28
Debutyear:1957
Debutteam:Philadelphia Phillies
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:July 21
Finalyear:1966
Finalteam:San Francisco Giants
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.234
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:12
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:75
Teams:

Donald Leroy Landrum (February 16, 1936 – January 9, 2003) was an American professional baseball outfielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and San Francisco Giants, from to . During his playing days, he stood tall, weighing, while batting left-handed and throwing right-handed.

Early life

Landrum was born on February 16, 1936, in Santa Rosa, California. He attended Mount Diablo High School in Concord, California.

Baseball career

Philadelphia Phillies

Originally signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1954,[1] Landrum made his major league debut with the Phils on September 28, 1957, against the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played in just two games for the Quakers, appearing in both games as the team’s starting center fielder at Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium.[2]

St. Louis Cardinals

From 1960 to mid-way through the 1962 season, Landrum played for the St. Louis Cardinals, during which times he appeared in only 73 games, with a batting average of .227. On June 5, 1962, Landrum was traded to the Chicago Cubs.[1]

Chicago Cubs

Landrum may be best-remembered for his time with the Cubs. He was Chicago's regular center fielder in, appearing in 131 games and garnering 425 at bats. But he batted a meager .226 with six home runs and 34 runs batted in (RBI).[1]

San Francisco Giants

Landrum was traded to his hometown San Francisco Giants at year's end, along with pitcher Lindy McDaniel for pitcher Bill Hands and catcher Randy Hundley. While Hands and Hundley would become key members of the Cubs' contending teams under manager Leo Durocher in the late 1960s, Landrum's professional career ended after the season.[3]

For his career, Landrum appeared in 456 MLB games, with 1,160 at-bats and 272 hits for a .234 lifetime batting mark.[1]

After baseball

In retirement, Landrum worked in various businesses in East Contra Costa County. He was an avid San Francisco Giants and 49ers fan. Landrum enjoyed playing Pinochle and collecting baseball cards. More than anything, he enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren.[4]

Death

On January 9, 2003, Landrum died at his Pittsburg, California home, at the age of 66.[4]

Fascinating facts

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Don Landrum Stats. Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com. February 18, 2021.
  2. Web site: Don Landrum. Retrosheet. retrosheet.org. February 18, 2021.
  3. Web site: Don Landrum Minor Leagues Statistics & History. Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com. February 18, 2021.
  4. Web site: The Obit for Don Landrum. January 11, 2003. The Deadball Era. thedeadballera.com. February 18, 2021.
  5. Book: Baseball Players of the 1950s: A Biographical Dictionary of All 1,560 Major Leaguers. 205. 2004. Marazzi. Rich. Fiorito. Len. McFarland & Company. Jefferson, North Carolina. 978-0786412815.
  6. Web site: 1963 Topps. baseballcardpedia.com. February 18, 2021.
  7. Web site: 1966 Topps. baseballcardpedia.com. February 18, 2021.