LUKE EASTER
CHARTER MEMBER - Inducted in 1989
One of the most popular and colorful performers in Rochester history, Luke Easter played or coached for six seasons with the Red Wings, after starring in the Negro Leagues, in the American League with the Cleveland Indians, and the Buffalo Bisons.
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A first baseman, Easter reportedly signed with Rochester for $100 after he was released by Buffalo. He joined the Wings on May 16, 1959. He went on to hit 66 home runs as a Red Wing, despite the fact that in 1963 he revealed he was 52 years old. He was the president of the Luke Easter Sausage Company, and when he first joined the Wings he offered five pounds of sausage to any Rochester player who hit a homer. When his playing career ended in 1964, he became a Rochester coach before returning to Cleveland in 1966. He died tragically on March 29, 1979, the victim of an armed robbery.
He was born Luscious Luke Easter to James and Maude Easter on August
4, 1915 in St. Louis, the fifth of 10 children. For most of his baseball
career, he listed 8/4/21 as his birthday. He played for the Titanium
Giants, Homestead Grays and the Cincinnati Crescents before joining
the San Diego Padres. He was signed for Cleveland by Bill Veeck in 1949.
Some fun things to know and tell about Luke Easter:
- hit 28, 27 and 31 homers over a three-year stint in Cleveland
- he hit what was acknowledged to be the longest home run at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium (477 feet)
- had 114 home runs and 353 RBI in just over three seasons with Buffalo
- on June 14, 1957 he became the first player to hit a ball over the centerfield scoreboard in Buffalo - and repeated the feat two months later
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The
1963 Red Wings Team Picture - taken at Red Wing Stadium, 500
Norton Street. Luke Easter is in the middle row, fourth from the left. At the far right of the same row: teammate Joe Altobelli (#16). (from the collection of Gary Siwicki) |
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Luke
Easter (left) and Steve Bilko (right) flank Bowie Kuhn, Major
League Baseball commissioner, before a June 26, 1975 game at Silver
Stadium. Easter and Bilko were back for an old-timers game. Kuhn
was on hand to present Rochester with an award for being the top
organization in minor-league baseball.
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Luke Easter's widow Virgil, standing in front of Luke's last car and holding one of his bats. (from the collection of Blaise Lamphier) |
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