Len Gilmore

Who was Len Gilmore?

Leonard Preston Gilmore [′′Meow′′] was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who appeared in one game for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1944 season. Listed at 6 ft 3 in, 195 lb, Gilmore batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Fairview Park, Indiana.

Gilmore was one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during the World War II conflict. On the last day of the 1944 season, he got the opportunity to start the second game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies at Shibe Park. Gilmore was credited with the loss, as he allowed seven earned runs on 13 hits, without walks or strikeouts in eight innings of work.

Gilmore also pitched eleven Minor league seasons, playing between 1938 and 1952 for nine teams in nine different leagues. He posted a combined 128–94 record and a 3.66 earned run average in 332 pitching appearances.

Following his baseball career, Gilmore worked for the Oklahoma City Fire Department, retiring as a Captain in 1970.

Gilmore died in Oklahoma City on February 18, 2011 at the age of 93. At the time of his death, he was one of the oldest living major leaguers.