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Leon Day Park - The Man Behind the Name

Leon Day Photo by: TPL Photo

The Gwynns Fall Trail is a greenway that runs through West Baltimore and connects with numerous recreational and cultural sites along the way.One highlighted spot worth stopping see is the Leon Day Park. Named after the celebrated Baseball Hall of Famer Leon Day, this impressive park features lighted baseball diamonds with bleachers, basketball courts, picnic areas, a playground, and rest station.

Leon Day was born on October 30,1916 in Alexandria, VA. He moved with his family to Baltimore when he was six months old, settling in the Mt. Winans community. Day's 20-year baseball career started as a teenager with the Mt. Winans Athletic Club, then to the Silver Moons semi-pro team. In 1934 he was recruited by Rap Dixon to play for the Baltimore Black Sox. He started as a second baseman and became one of the best pitchers and all-around players in the Negro Leagues. In 1935, he played with the Brooklyn Eagles, who later became the Newark Eagles. Day would spend the next ten years there (1936-1946). Leon Day played two years with the Baltimore Elite Giants (1949-1950). Day played in the minor leagues from 1950-1954. He also played in the Venezuelan League (1940), in the Mexican League (1940, 1947-1948) and in the military (1944-1945). Leon Day passed on March 12, 1995, six days after learning he had been elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Leon Day's Career Records and Major Achievements Leon Day was the 12th player from the Negro Leagues to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame (July 30, 1997). Leon Day was inducted into the Puerto Rico Hall of Fame and the Newark, New Jersey Hall of Fame in 1993.

Over the course of his career Leon Day won five championships:

Baltimore Elite Giants - 1949 Negro League World Series Champions Newark Eagles - 1946 Negro League World Series Champions United States Army - 1944 GI World Series Champions Varas Team - 1940 Venezuelan League Champions Veracruz - 1940 Mexican League Champions

Leon Day beat Satchel Paige four out of five games. He holds the strikeout record in Negro League games (18), East-West games (14), and in Puerto Rico (19). Day holds the record for playing in the most East-West Negro League All-Star games by a pitcher (7). Leon Day's winning percentage as a pitcher is .708; he consistently hit over .300. Day was regarded as the best fielding pitcher in the league. He ran the 100-yard dash in 10 seconds in his baseball uniform. Day played every position except catcher. In 1937, Day was 13-0 on the mound; hit .320 with 8 home runs. In 1942-1943, Day was named the best pitcher in the Negro Leagues. In 1946, after serving two years in the military, Day was named the best pitcher in the Negro Leagues. In 1946, after serving two years in the military, Day pitched an opening day - NO HITTER against the Philadelphia Stars. In 1995, Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke renamed the Eutaw Street Plaza entrance to Oriole Park at Camden Yards to the "LEON DAY WAY". On Saturday, August 23, 1997, Leon Day became the first Negro League Player to have a Baltimore City park named in his honor.