Rounders: A History of Baseball in America

Foul Play Files: Death at 13,000 Feet


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The story of Leonard George Koenecke, an outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers, is mostly etched into baseball history books not because of his incredible plays, but because of the absolutely shocking and bizarre way he died.

His death, which happened violently mid-flight, immediately grabbed public attention. It took what was a pretty promising career and, as one history writer put it, turned it into "a footnote, a trivial oddity."

Imagine the chaos on a small plane, leading to a fatal blow from a fire extinguisher – it paints a picture so tragic that it forever overshadowed Leonard’s on-field achievements.

This episode is all about the complete story of Koenecke's life and his tragic death. We'll even dig into whether his death could have been ruled as foul play. Let’s peel back the layers and explore the man behind those wild headlines and the unanswered questions that still define his legacy today.


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Rounders: A History of Baseball in AmericaBy Shaker Road Media, LLC.

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