Former Major League Baseball player Jose DeLeon has passed away after a battle with cancer.
The 63-year-old is remembered for a storied career in the Majors, which began with his 1983 debut with the Pirates that put him firmly in the public eye.
Jose DeLeon MLB
That season he finished seventh in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. During that season, he posted a record of seven wins and three losses in a total of 15 starts on the mound, including three complete games.
He further distinguished himself by leading the National League in strikeouts in 1989 with a total of 201, which at the time was a blistering number.
→ Swipe to see more articles
How did DeLeon’s career drop off?
Two years later, however, DeLeon’s career took an unexpected turn when he led the league in losses, accumulating an unfavorable record of 2 wins and 19 losses before being traded to the White Sox in exchange for Bobby Bonilla during the 1986 season.
During that same year, he starred in a thrilling showdown at Fenway Park against Red Sox standout pitcher Roger Clemens, earning a 1-0 victory in a nationally televised game as part of ABC’s “Monday Night Baseball” program.
He was subsequently traded to the Cardinals prior to the 1988 season, where he posted a record of 13 wins and 10 losses. It was in 1989, however, that DeLeon regained his form and shone brightest, enjoying the best year of his career with a record of 16 wins and 12 losses, accompanied by an impressive 3.05 ERA in 36 starts, including five complete games.
His 201 strikeouts led the National League, surpassing Dodgers right-hander Tim Belcher, who was second with 200. DeLeon also became only the second Cardinals pitcher to reach the 200-strikeout mark in back-to-back seasons.
Despite these accomplishments, however, he struggled again in 1990, leading the league in losses with an unfavorable record of 7 wins and 19 losses. Consistency had always been a significant problem throughout his time in the Majors.
Throughout his career, he experienced ups and downs, struggling not only with his effectiveness on the mound, but also with bad fortune on several occasions. One example was a memorable 1989 start, where he pitched 11 shutout innings without getting a win. Likewise, in a standout performance in 1985, he struck out 14 Mets players in a game in which he failed to secure a personal victory.
DeLeon, who also pitched for the Phillies and Expos, finished his career with a record of 86 wins and 119 losses, but a respectable 3.76 ERA. He also appeared in the 1993 postseason with the White Sox.
