1. Early Life and Background
Paul Lehner's early life was rooted in Alabama, where he was born and spent his formative years before embarking on his professional baseball career.
1.1. Childhood and Pre-Baseball Life
Lehner was a native of Dolomite, Alabama, located in Jefferson County. As a young man, he worked in the region's coal mines, an experience that shaped his early life prior to his entry into professional sports.
1.2. World War II Service
Before beginning his professional baseball career, Lehner served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. His military service preceded his debut in Major League Baseball.
2. Baseball Career
Paul Lehner's professional baseball career spanned seven seasons in Major League Baseball, marked by his versatility and a notable period of playing for multiple teams within a single season.
2.1. Career Beginnings
Lehner's professional baseball journey began when he was 25 years old, following his service in World War II. This marked his entry into the sport at the highest level after his military obligations.
2.2. Major League Baseball Activities
During his time in Major League Baseball, Paul Lehner played for several teams across the American League, experiencing both individual success and frequent team changes.
2.2.1. Teams Played For
Lehner made his major league debut in 1946 with the St. Louis Browns, where he spent four seasons. In 1950, he moved to the Philadelphia Athletics. The 1951 season saw him as part of a series of successive trades, playing for the Athletics, the Chicago White Sox, the Browns again, and the Cleveland Indians. His final major league season in 1952 included a brief stint with the Boston Red Sox. He was one of a few major league players to play for four different teams in a single season.
2.2.2. Notable Seasons and Anecdotes
Lehner's most productive season came in 1950 while playing for the Philadelphia Athletics. During this year, he achieved career-highs in several key offensive categories, posting a batting average of .309, hitting 9 home runs, and recording 52 RBI in 114 games.
An interesting anecdote from his playing days with the St. Louis Browns reveals a personal superstition. Lehner believed that he could not hit safely if he played on a Sunday. To avoid Sunday games, he would often approach the Browns' trainer with an alleged ailment. Eventually, he confessed his superstition to the trainer, who then offered him "new pills" to help. Lehner took these pills before a Sunday double-header, hit a home run in the first game, and subsequently never again sought to be excused from playing on Sundays.
2.3. Career Statistics
Over his seven-season career in Major League Baseball, Paul Lehner played in a total of 540 games. He concluded his career with a .257 batting average, 22 home runs, and 197 RBI.
3. Death
Paul Lehner died on December 27, 1967, at the age of 47. He passed away in Birmingham, Alabama, and was subsequently buried in Highland Memorial Gardens, located in Bessemer.
4. Legacy
Paul Lehner's legacy in baseball is marked by his seven seasons in Major League Baseball, where he demonstrated his skills as an outfielder for five different American League teams. His most impactful season in 1950, along with his unique personal anecdotes, contribute to his place in the history of the sport.