Win–loss record 23–19 Earned run average 4.19 | Strikeouts 141 Name Les Webber | |
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Lester Elmer Webber (May 6, 1915 – November 13, 1986) was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of six seasons (1942–1946, 1948) with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Cleveland Indians. For his career, he compiled a 23–19 record in 154 appearances, most as a relief pitcher, with an 4.19 earned run average and 141 strikeouts. Webber played one game for the 1948 World Series champion Indians, though he did not appear in the postseason.
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Early life and career
Webber was born in Kelseyville, California. He began his professional career with the Seattle Indians of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) in 1936; he had been signed by Seattle after winning 18 straight games for a semi-professional baseball league in Canada. After a trial with them that year, he was sent to the Wenatchee Chiefs of the Western International League for the 1937 season, finishing the season with 21 wins, six losses, and 224 innings pitched over 31 games. He returned to Seattle for the 1938 season, and pitched in 14 games for the team that year. After Fred Hutchinson was promoted to the major leagues, Webber became a regular starting pitcher for Seattle in 1939. In 34 games, 22 of them starts, he had a 2.78 earned run average (ERA), 17 wins and seven losses, five of which were by one run each. He was also named to the PCL All-Star Team. In 1940, he had 13 wins, 10 losses, and a 3.25 ERA in 33 games en route to Seattle winning the PCL title. The following season, Webber had his appendix removed, and ended up missing the first half of the season as a result. In 18 games, he had seven wins, three losses, and a 2.16 ERA, which led the PCL; he also helped Seattle wins a second PCL title. As a result, the Brooklyn Dodgers selected him in the PCL rule 5 draft.
MLB career
Webber made his major league debut on May 17, 1942 after making the team out of spring training, pitching eight innings in a 4–3 victory against the Chicago Cubs. After two more starting appearances, he was placed in the bullpen for the rest of the season. He finished the season with three wins, two losses, and a 2.96 ERA in 19 games. Entering the 1943 Brooklyn Dodgers season, Webber was slated to be the top reliever on the team, as he was classified as 4-F, meaning he would not be lost to the military during World War II, and manager Leo Durocher considered him particularly good at getting opposing batters to ground into double plays.
He played in his final game on April 26, 1948.
Later life
Webber died in Santa Maria, California, at the age of 71.