What Caused Former MLB Pitcher Jose DeLeon To Pass Away?
Jose DeLeon, a former Major League Baseball player, lost his fight with cancer.
The 63-year-old, Jose DeLeon is known for his legendary Major League Baseball career, which started with his public debut with the Pirates in 1983.
Regarding the National League Rookie of the Year, he came in sixth place that season. In 15 pitching starts, including three full games, he recorded a record of seven wins and three defeats that season.
His record of 201 strikeouts in 1989, a scorching total at the time, put him atop the National League strikeout leaderboard.
How did professional life of Jose DeLeon end?
But after leading the league in losses two years later, and with a dismal record of 2 wins and 19 losses, DeLeon’s career took an unexpected turn. He was transferred to the White Sox in 1986 for Bobby Bonilla.
He was the star of a nationally televised game of “Monday Night Baseball” on ABC the same year, which was an exciting matchup between him and Red Sox great pitcher Roger Clemens at Fenway Park. After winning 1-0.
After that, he was dealt to the Cardinals before the 1988 campaign began, where he finished with a 13–10 record. But 1989 was when Jose DeLeon found his greatest form again, winning 16 games and losing only 12, with an excellent 3.05 ERA in 36 starts, including five complete games. It was the best year of his career.
He surpassed Dodgers right-hander Tim Belcher, who was in second place with 200 strikeouts, to lead the National League with 201. In addition, DeLeon became just the second pitcher in Cardinals history to record 200 strikeouts in consecutive seasons.
Notwithstanding these successes, he faltered once more in 1990, topping the league in defeats with a dismal record of 7 victories and 19 losses. Throughout his tenure in the Majors, consistency had consistently been a major issue.
His career was not without its ups and downs; on multiple occasions, he battled not just bad luck but also his effectiveness on the pitch. He pitched 11 shutout innings in 1989 without earning a win, which stands out as one instance. Similarly, he struck out fourteen Mets batters in an outstanding 1985 outing that ended without him winning the game on his own.
While finishing his career with a record of 86 wins and 119 losses, Jose DeLeon—who also threw for the Phillies and Expos—maintained a solid 3.76 earned run average. Additionally, he played for the White Sox in the 1993 postseason.
