Rick Leach former San Francisco Giant on his 1990 Mother’s Cookies baseball card (ebay photo image)

HE WAS A GIANT?

Rick Leach – OF/1B – 1990 – # 25

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

In 1990, the “San Francisco Treat” didn’t just refer to the family of tasty Rice-A-Roni dishes, it also described the City’s gourmet collection of quarterback talent.

That season a pair legendary Hall of Famers: Joe Montana and Steve Young, topped SF’s depth chart. Waiting deeper in the wings was the athletic passer Steve Bono.

But Candlestick Park was also home to another record setting signal caller whose college career rivaled all three of those Forty Niners QBs.

This south-paw passer was a four-year Michigan starter, Sports Illustrated cover boy and noted Ohio State killer: Rick Leach.

A college contemporary of Montana, Leach choose to persue a pro baseball career after leading the Wolverines to three straight Rose Bowl appearances in the 1970s.

In a backup role for the Giants in ‘90, Leach batted .293 in 78 games before abruptly leaving the club under a cloud of suspicion in mid-season.

Why Was He a Giant?

After seven checkered seasons in the American League – he went AWOL from a couple of teams – the Giants took a flyer on Leach after Atlanta released him in spring training of ‘90.

Before & After

Leach was the rare athlete whose lengthy big league career was considered an after -thought to his amateur completion in another sport.

Leach will forever be known first and foremost for his quarterback play at Michigan from 1975-78 when he led Big Blue to three consecutive Big 10 Conference Championships.

Though he went 0-3 in the Rose Bowl, Leach is an icon in Ann Arbor because of his ability to beat bad blood rival Ohio State. Leach compiled a 3-1 career record vs. the Buckeyes.

Though he dominated on the collegiate gridiron, Leach was considered an even better pro baseball prospect.

Along with fellow Michiganensian Kirk Gibson – who starred at the same time in both football and baseball at Michigan State – Leach signed with the home state Detroit Tigers in 1979.

Though he never reached star status on the diamond, Leach was a serviceable back-up, compiling a career average of .268.

He was actually having one of my his best MLB seasons with SF when he suddenly vanished with a puff of smoke in early August of ‘90.

Actually that may have been the problem. After one of his previous unexcused absences with Texas, authorities discovered a stash of weed in his hotel room.

On 8/7/90 it was announced that Leach had failed a league mandated drug test and was suspended 60 games – effectively ending his season – and as it turned out his baseball career.

He Never Got His Own (Giants) Bobblehead. But…

After Giants opening day starting RF Kevin Bass was shelved with knee surgery in late May, Leach became the Giants de facto starting RF for a spell.

He was particularly adapt at hitting in difficult Candlestick Park, batting .341 there, a full 100 points better than his road average.

In a 7-3 home shellacking of Houston (6/3/90), Leach tied a career high with four hits, going 4-for-5, with an RBI.

Later, in back- to -back 4-3 home wins over division rival Cincinnati (7/26-27/90), Leach bashed a HR in each contest- his only long balls for the Orange & Black.

He socked a two-run dinger off Jose Rijo in the first game and ripped a solo round-tripper off Scott Scudder in the later.

Giant Footprint

Leach was a productive and popular Giant, making it all the more difficult for the club when it was announced he was suspended for the remainder of the ‘90 contests season.

“This is a real shock. He’s devastated,” said Giants manager Roger Craig. “He’s done so much for us. He’s been a real leader. We’re going to have to pick up from here.”

A year after winning the NL pennant in 1989, the Giants would finish third, six games behind Cincinnati.

Leach was with the Giants in spring training in 1991, but was a late cut. He never played organized ball again.

Tony the Tiger Hayes does He was a Giant? features at http://www.sportsradioservice.com