Leo Durocher

Willie Mays and Leo Durocher share a laugh... (http://www.achievement.org/achievers/may0/large/may0-033.jpg)

Leo Durocher is very special to me because he was an amazing coach and player and had a heart for the game of baseball. He was inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.

Leo was a big part of the game. Leo lived from July 27, 1905 to October 7, 1991. He died when he was 86 years old. He was born in West Springfield, Massachusetts and died in Palm Springs, California. He was nicknamed Leo “The Lip” Durocher because he argued about many questionable calls.

Leo was Jackie Robinson’s first coach. He admired Jackie Robinson because he saw potential. He made a difference in the game because if he wasn’t a coach, Jackie Robinson might not have ever played in the major leagues because another coach might not have let him play.

My hero is Leo Durocher because he was one of the best coaches of all time and he is also a Hall of Famer. He was also my great great uncle. Even though I never met him, I know he was a great person. He won seven gold gloves, and he had three All Star appearances as a player and many more as a coach. As a manager, my great great uncle won a World Series and two thousand nine total wins.