On November 1, 1944, he was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1944 rule 5 draft, and played for the Dodgers in 1945. The 25-year-old rookie right-hander stood 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and weighed 185 lb (84 kg). Pfund was one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II. He made his major league debut in relief against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds on April 21, 1945, when professional baseball teams conducted spring training in the north. His first major league win came in his first start, on May 14, 1945, as the Dodgers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4–1 at Ebbets Field.
Season and career totals for 15 games include a 3–2 record, 10 games started, 2 complete games, 2 games finished, and an ERA of 5.20 in 62.1 innings pitched. Pfund went 4-for-22 (.182) in batting with a double and 2 walks, had 4 runs batted in and scored 2 runs. Even though he pitched 62.1 innings in 1945, Pfund tied for ninth among National League hurlers with 5 hit batsmen. By contrast, it took the other five pitchers who were tied with him for ninth an average of 191.2 innings to hit the same number of batters. A knee injury curtailed hopes of returning to the majors.
In 1948, Pfund was hired to coach the baseball team while still at the college studying for his bachelor's degree. He was hired to also coach the basketball program in 1951. He was employed at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois for nearly 39 years, as a professor of physical education, baseball coach, basketball coach, and executive director of the Alumni Association (1975–87). He led the basketball team to a championship with the 1957 NCAA College Division basketball tournament, the first basketball tournament for the NCAA College Division (now referred to as NCAA Division II).
Pfund was the winningest coach in Wheaton history for both men's basketball (362) and baseball (249)[1] In 1977, he received the Distinguished Service to Alma Mater award from the Wheaton Alumni Association. In 1985, he was inducted into the Wheaton Athletics Department's Hall of Honor. In the opening weeks of each season every year since 1996, the Wheaton men's basketball program has hosted the Lee Pfund Classic basketball tournament. In 2000, Lee Pfund Gymnasium opened as a practice and recreation space in the Sports and Recreation Complex on the Wheaton campus.[2] In April 2012, Lee Pfund Stadium – outfitted with lights, new dugouts, a new backstop, and artificial turf – opened in Carol Stream, Illinois, where it is the home of the Wheaton baseball program.[3] On April 30, 2016, Pfund's jersey number 17 — the number he wore as skipper of the baseball team at Wheaton — was retired.
Pfund was inducted into the Illinois State Basketball Coaches Association “Hall of Fame”.[3][4] He died on June 2, 2016, at the age of 96.[5] Pfund's son, Randy, was the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and later general manager of the Miami Heat.
Referencesedit
^"Wheaton College Remembers Former Coach and Administrator Le Roy (Lee) Pfund '49 (1919-2016)". Retrieved June 5, 2016.
^Legendary Wheaton College coach remembered for sportsmanship, faith, updated: 6/5/2016 9:56 PM, accessed 6/6/2016
^ ab"Lee Pfund Stadium at Legion Field". Retrieved June 5, 2016.
^"Wheaton College legend Pfund dies". June 3, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
Retrosheet
April 15, 2024
pfund, herbert, pfund, october, 1919, june, 2016, major, league, baseball, pitcher, pitcherborn, 1919, october, 1919oak, park, illinoisdied, june, 2016, 2016, aged, carol, stream, illinoisbatted, rightthrew, rightmlb, debutapril, 1945, brooklyn, dodgerslast, a. Le Roy Herbert Pfund October 10 1919 June 2 2016 was a Major League Baseball pitcher Lee PfundPitcherBorn 1919 10 10 October 10 1919Oak Park IllinoisDied June 2 2016 2016 06 02 aged 96 Carol Stream IllinoisBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutApril 21 1945 for the Brooklyn DodgersLast MLB appearanceJuly 5 1945 for the Brooklyn DodgersMLB statisticsWin loss record3 2Earned run average5 20Strikeouts27TeamsBrooklyn Dodgers 1945 Contents 1 Early life 2 Baseball career 3 College career 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editPfund was born in Oak Park Illinois Baseball career editOn November 1 1944 he was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the St Louis Cardinals in the 1944 rule 5 draft and played for the Dodgers in 1945 The 25 year old rookie right hander stood 6 ft 1 in 1 85 m and weighed 185 lb 84 kg Pfund was one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II He made his major league debut in relief against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds on April 21 1945 when professional baseball teams conducted spring training in the north His first major league win came in his first start on May 14 1945 as the Dodgers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4 1 at Ebbets Field Season and career totals for 15 games include a 3 2 record 10 games started 2 complete games 2 games finished and an ERA of 5 20 in 62 1 innings pitched Pfund went 4 for 22 182 in batting with a double and 2 walks had 4 runs batted in and scored 2 runs Even though he pitched 62 1 innings in 1945 Pfund tied for ninth among National League hurlers with 5 hit batsmen By contrast it took the other five pitchers who were tied with him for ninth an average of 191 2 innings to hit the same number of batters A knee injury curtailed hopes of returning to the majors College career editLee PfundBiographical detailsBorn 1919 10 18 October 18 1919Oak Park IllinoisDiedJune 2 2016 2016 06 02 aged 96 Carol Stream IllinoisCoaching career HC unless noted 1948 19591961 1974Wheaton College baseball 1951 1975Wheaton College basketball Accomplishments and honorsChampionshipsNCAA Division II 1957 In 1948 Pfund was hired to coach the baseball team while still at the college studying for his bachelor s degree He was hired to also coach the basketball program in 1951 He was employed at Wheaton College in Wheaton Illinois for nearly 39 years as a professor of physical education baseball coach basketball coach and executive director of the Alumni Association 1975 87 He led the basketball team to a championship with the 1957 NCAA College Division basketball tournament the first basketball tournament for the NCAA College Division now referred to as NCAA Division II Pfund was the winningest coach in Wheaton history for both men s basketball 362 and baseball 249 1 In 1977 he received the Distinguished Service to Alma Mater award from the Wheaton Alumni Association In 1985 he was inducted into the Wheaton Athletics Department s Hall of Honor In the opening weeks of each season every year since 1996 the Wheaton men s basketball program has hosted the Lee Pfund Classic basketball tournament In 2000 Lee Pfund Gymnasium opened as a practice and recreation space in the Sports and Recreation Complex on the Wheaton campus 2 In April 2012 Lee Pfund Stadium outfitted with lights new dugouts a new backstop and artificial turf opened in Carol Stream Illinois where it is the home of the Wheaton baseball program 3 On April 30 2016 Pfund s jersey number 17 the number he wore as skipper of the baseball team at Wheaton was retired Pfund was inducted into the Illinois State Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame 3 4 He died on June 2 2016 at the age of 96 5 Pfund s son Randy was the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and later general manager of the Miami Heat References edit Wheaton College Remembers Former Coach and Administrator Le Roy Lee Pfund 49 1919 2016 Retrieved June 5 2016 Legendary Wheaton College coach remembered for sportsmanship faith updated 6 5 2016 9 56 PM accessed 6 6 2016 a b Lee Pfund Stadium at Legion Field Retrieved June 5 2016 Lee Pfund Classic Retrieved June 5 2016 Wheaton College legend Pfund dies June 3 2016 Retrieved June 5 2016 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors Retrosheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lee Pfund amp oldid 1178182291, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
