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Denny Lemaster Passes Away

By Nick Deeds | August 7, 2024 at 5:19pm CDT

Former All-Star pitcher Denny Lemaster passed away late last month, according to an obituary from a Georgia funeral home. The former Braves, Astros, and Expos hurler was 85 years old.

A California native, Lemaster signed with the then-Milwaukee Braves shortly after graduating from Oxnard High School and made his pro debut in 1958. The southpaw wouldn’t make his big league debut until July of 1962 but pitched quite well for the Braves in 17 games, including 12 starts, with a 3.01 ERA in 86 2/3 innings of work. That audition during his rookie season earned Lemaster a more regular role in the club’s rotation going forward, and the lefty threw 237 innings during his first wire-to-wire big league campaign with a strong 3.04 ERA in 46 appearances, 31 of which were starts. He also launched two of his four career home runs as a hitter during that first full campaign as a big leaguer.

After his strong sophomore season, Lemaster took a slight step back in terms of results from 1964 to 1966 but was nonetheless a valuable source of innings for the Braves as they made the move from Milwaukee to Atlanta. Lemaster began to turn a corner late in the 1966 season with a 1.64 ERA over his final three starts of the year, including a three-hit gem against the reigning World Series champion Dodgers on August 9 where he managed to out-duel future Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, striking out 10 while allowing just one run in a complete game against a lineup that included All-Stars Jim Lefebvre and John Roseboro. Unfortunately, Lemaster’s 1966 campaign would be cut short rather abruptly due to a pinched nerve that kept him out of action after August 19.

The lefty returned to the mound with a vengeance in 1967, however, and had a strong first half with a 2.82 ERA in 127 2/3 innings of work that included six complete games as well as a brilliant 13-inning performance in a 15-inning game against the Dodgers where he struck out 12 and allowed two runs, only one of which was earned. That performance was enough to make Lemaster an All-Star for the first and only time in his career, although he did not appear in that year’s All-Star game due to an injury. The southpaw threw just 87 2/3 innings during the second half, surely hampered by injury woes, and made his final appearance in a Braves uniform on September 22.

Following the 1967 season, Lemaster was dealt to the Astros alongside All-Star infielder Denis Menke in exchange for infielders Sonny Jackson and Chuck Harrison. Lemaster’s first two seasons in Houston went quite well as he pitched to a 3.00 ERA across a combined 69 starts totaling 468 2/3 innings of work. After struggling through the first half in the 1970 season, Lemaster was moved to the bullpen for the second half and remained in a relief role for the rest of his career. The lefty departed Houston following the 1971 campaign and finished his career with the Expos in 1972. He pitched in his final MLB game on June 21 of that year.

Across his 11 seasons in the big leagues, Lemaster posted a solid career 3.58 ERA with a 90-105 record while racking up 1787 2/3 innings of work and striking out 1305 batters. Following his playing career, Lemaster’s obituary indicates he worked as a custom home builder and developed a talent for woodcarving wildfowl.

Those of us at MLBTR extend our condolences to Lemaster’s family, friends and loved ones.

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View Comments (16)
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16 Comments

  1. Buccoprojectory

    11 months ago

    My condolences to his family
    I remember lemaster as a kid following baseball in the mid 60s. I remember him as a tough competitor. RIP

    9
    Reply
    • Pete'sView

      11 months ago

      This makes me feel old. RIP, Denny.

      2
      Reply
    • TheMan 3

      11 months ago

      More and more, players of my youth are passing away
      My sincere condolences to his family and to RIP

      6
      Reply
  2. davidost233

    11 months ago

    Denny was my favorite player growing up in the mid 60’s and early 70’s. I saw him pitch in relief as a member of the Expos against the Mets at Shea Stadium. I have a Lemaster Astros jersey with #23. RIP Denny.

    16
    Reply
  3. longines64

    11 months ago

    I think when healthy, he was a tandem with Tony Cloninger.

    2
    Reply
  4. all in the suit that you wear

    11 months ago

    RIP

    1
    Reply
  5. Lefty_Orioles_Fan

    11 months ago

    He was a decent pitcher, also he got a couple of shout-outs in Jim Bouton’s Ball Four…. He got clobbered in 1971 by the Giants and knocked out in the first inning of game and was mislabeled in Jim’s book (Index) typo called him Lenny…. so much for getting a shout-out…

    Still none the less, he did make the book, which I think is one of the greatest books ever

    May Denny Lemaster Rest in Peace

    3
    Reply
    • Lefty_Orioles_Fan

      11 months ago

      Also, reading his Obit and Legacy comments, Denny was beloved by the people who knew him, a lot of nice comments

      2
      Reply
  6. Motown is My Town

    11 months ago

    Imagine a young pitcher today going from pitching 87 innings in his rookie year to 237 innings his sophomore year! No way will we see that ever happen again. Although we may never see ANY pitcher pitch 237 innings in a season again. Thank you pitch count gurus as it’s ruined the game

    4
    Reply
    • Gary R

      11 months ago

      I remember reading about pitchers in the 30’s 40’s pitching COMPLETE GAMES and then pitching. 3 or 4 innings the next day in relief. Those guys wanted to pitch. And rember these were games played in the afternoon and starting at two or three o’clock. And I might add pitchers in the 50’s 60’s pitching 9 innings. NOT wanting to come out. What a Vogel idea!

      Reply
  7. This one belongs to the Reds

    11 months ago

    I remember Denny. So many players from my youth going over the rainbow. RIP.

    Reply
  8. Blue Baron

    11 months ago

    He pitched for the Astros against Nolan Ryan and the Mets at Shea Stadium in the first MLB game I attended, 6/18/68.

    ultimatemets.com/gamedetail.php?gameno=1034&t…

    2
    Reply
  9. Spinning Wheel

    11 months ago

    A well written piece, Nick and MLBTR. Thank you for the respectful insight. May Denny RIP.

    5
    Reply
  10. Niekro floater

    11 months ago

    Ol time baseball RIP

    Reply
  11. ozandco1

    11 months ago

    Lemaster has the distinction of being the winning pitcher when the Braves won their last game while based in Milwaukee and their first game while based in Atlanta. Condolences to his loved ones.

    1
    Reply
  12. jorge78

    11 months ago

    RIP Denny…..

    Reply

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