Luke Easter

Positions: First Baseman and Rightfielder
Bats: Left  •  Throws: Right
6-4, 240lb (193cm, 108kg)
Born: August 4, 1915 in Jonestown, MS
Died: March 29, 1979 (Aged 63-237d) in Euclid, OH
Buried: Highland Park Cemetery, Cleveland, OH
Debut: August 11, 1949 (Age 34-007d, 8,219th in MLB history)
vs. CHW 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: May 4, 1954 (Age 38-273d)
vs. PHA 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Full Name: Luscious Luke Easter
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

Luke Easter the 6’4″ 240-lb Negro League veteran was 34 when the Indians promoted him from the minors, his best years were in the Nego Leagues.

In 1950, they thought so highly of the lefthanded hitter that they traded Mickey Vernon, a once and future AL batting champ, making Easter their everyday first baseman. He hit 28 home runs as a rookie; one, a 477-foot shot, is considered the longest ever hit at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. In 1952, he hit 31 homers (his ML career high), one less than the AL leader, teammate Larry Doby; however, Easter’s 7.1 HR percentage topped the AL. He continued playing Triple-A ball into his late forties. He hit 247 years homeruns in the minor leagues.

Working as a bank messenger in 1979, he was shot to death by holdup men.

Notable Events and Chronology for Luke Easter Career

SearchSearch Events, Dates and More Date (Newest)Title (A - Z)

April 8, 1933

Schoolboy Rowe’s launches a batting practice bomb into the Polo Grounds’ center-field bleachers, a feat never before performed

June 23, 1950

Luke Easter has his second consecutive two-homer day to lead the Indians to a 13 – 4 trouncing of the Senators. Easter had two yesterday in a win over New York. Al Rosen adds a single, double, and triple to back Bob Lemon’s pitching.

June 30, 1950

Tribe crush Tigers 11-3

September 12, 1950

The Yankees blow a 6-run lead as Cleveland scores four in the 9th inning off Allie Reynolds to win, 8 – 7. Luke Easter’s 3-run home run – his second of the game – is the big blow, as the Yankees skid to second place, a half game behind Detroit and a half game ahead of Boston.

April 23, 1952

Bob Cain of the St. Louis Browns and Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians each pitch one-hitters, with the Browns prevailing, 1 – 0

July 15, 1952

The Cleveland Indians’ power hitters dazzle the New York Yankees with a triple steal in the 1st inning

September 6, 1952

For the third win in a row‚ Luke Easter homers as the Indians win‚ 8 – 3, over the Browns. Big Luke clouts two to back Bob Lemon’s 19th win‚ and Larry Doby hits his 30th.

March 29, 1979

Negro leagues and Cleveland Indians star Luke Easter is murdered at the age of 63 in Euclid, Ohio

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