BOO! The Giants' Johnnie LeMaster - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 18:25, 30 September 2025

2025-09-30T18:25:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:25, 30 September 2025
Line 43:		Line 43:
	[[Image:Front cover.jpg\|240px]]		[[Image:Front cover.jpg\|240px]]

	~~Originally published as “Satan and the Giants,” excerpted~~ from ''[https://www.amazon.com/God-Squad-Born-Again-Francisco-Giants/dp/1631322079/ The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978].''		Excerpted from ''[https://www.amazon.com/God-Squad-Born-Again-Francisco-Giants/dp/1631322079/ The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978].''

	[[category:Baseball]][[category:Book Excerpts]][[category:Famous characters]][[category:1970s]]		[[category:Baseball]][[category:Book Excerpts]][[category:Famous characters]][[category:1970s]]

Ccarlsson at 18:22, 30 September 2025

2025-09-30T18:22:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:22, 30 September 2025
Line 3:		Line 3:
	''by Matt Sieger''		''by Matt Sieger''

	[[File:Lemaster,J-018.jpg]]		[[File:Lemaster,J-018.jpg\|400px]]

	'''Johnnie LeMaster'''		'''Johnnie LeMaster'''

	''photo courtesy of @S.F. Giants''		''photo courtesy of @S.F. Giants''

	''Johnnie LeMaster played in the Major Leagues for 13 seasons, the first 10 with the San Francisco Giants. A born-again Christian, LeMaster was part of the notorious God Squad of the Giants in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Here is an excerpt about LeMaster from a book by Matt Sieger, ''[https://www.amazon.com/God-Squad-Born-Again-Francisco-Giants/dp/1631322079/ The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978].''
	''

	The boos began for Johnnie LeMaster in 1978—specifically, according to writer Sam Miller, on April 18.		The boos began for Johnnie LeMaster in 1978—specifically, according to writer Sam Miller, on April 18.
Line 39:		Line 36:

	''Matt Sieger, now retired, is a former sports reporter and columnist for ''The Vacaville Reporter''.		''Matt Sieger, now retired, is a former sports reporter and columnist for ''The Vacaville Reporter''.

			''Johnnie LeMaster played in the Major Leagues for 13 seasons, the first 10 with the San Francisco Giants. A born-again Christian, LeMaster was part of the notorious God Squad of the Giants in the late 1970s and early 1980s.''

			<hr>

			[[Image:Front cover.jpg\|240px]]

			Originally published as “Satan and the Giants,” excerpted from ''[https://www.amazon.com/God-Squad-Born-Again-Francisco-Giants/dp/1631322079/ The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978].''

	[[category:Baseball]][[category:Book Excerpts]][[category:Famous characters]][[category:1970s]]		[[category:Baseball]][[category:Book Excerpts]][[category:Famous characters]][[category:1970s]]

MattSieger at 20:41, 29 September 2025

2025-09-29T20:41:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:41, 29 September 2025
Line 40:		Line 40:
	''Matt Sieger, now retired, is a former sports reporter and columnist for ''The Vacaville Reporter''.		''Matt Sieger, now retired, is a former sports reporter and columnist for ''The Vacaville Reporter''.

	[[category:Baseball]][[category:Famous characters]][[category:1970s]]		[[category:Baseball]][[category:Book Excerpts]][[category:Famous characters]][[category:1970s]]

Lisaruth: Lisaruth moved page BOO! The Giants' Johnny LeMaster to BOO! The Giants' Johnnie LeMaster: Misspelled title

2025-04-30T23:15:52Z

Lisaruth moved page BOO! The Giants' Johnny LeMaster to BOO! The Giants' Johnnie LeMaster: Misspelled title

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:15, 30 April 2025
(No difference)

Lisaruth at 23:14, 30 April 2025

2025-04-30T23:14:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:14, 30 April 2025
Line 5:		Line 5:
	[[File:Lemaster,J-018.jpg]]		[[File:Lemaster,J-018.jpg]]

	'''Johnnie LeMaster'''`		'''Johnnie LeMaster'''

	''photo courtesy of @S.F. Giants''		''photo courtesy of @S.F. Giants''

Ccarlsson at 03:49, 8 March 2025

2025-03-08T03:49:53Z

Ccarlsson: Ccarlsson moved page BOO! The Giants' Johnny Lemaster to BOO! The Giants' Johnny LeMaster

2025-03-08T03:47:24Z

Ccarlsson moved page BOO! The Giants' Johnny Lemaster to BOO! The Giants' Johnny LeMaster

← Older revision	Revision as of 20:47, 7 March 2025
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: Ccarlsson moved page BOO! to BOO! The Giants' Johnny Lemaster: needed a more informative title

2025-03-08T03:46:55Z

Ccarlsson moved page BOO! to BOO! The Giants' Johnny Lemaster: needed a more informative title

← Older revision	Revision as of 20:46, 7 March 2025
(No difference)

MattSieger: What do you do when the fans boo you unmercifully? Johnnie LeMaster's wife had the answer.

2025-03-07T19:17:44Z

What do you do when the fans boo you unmercifully? Johnnie LeMaster's wife had the answer.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:17, 7 March 2025
Line 10:		Line 10:
	''Johnnie LeMaster played in the Major Leagues for 13 seasons, the first 10 with the San Francisco Giants. A born-again Christian, LeMaster was part of the notorious God Squad of the Giants in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Here is an excerpt about LeMaster from a book by Matt Sieger, ''[https://www.amazon.com/God-Squad-Born-Again-Francisco-Giants/dp/1631322079/ The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978].''		''Johnnie LeMaster played in the Major Leagues for 13 seasons, the first 10 with the San Francisco Giants. A born-again Christian, LeMaster was part of the notorious God Squad of the Giants in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Here is an excerpt about LeMaster from a book by Matt Sieger, ''[https://www.amazon.com/God-Squad-Born-Again-Francisco-Giants/dp/1631322079/ The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978].''
	''		''

	The boos began for Johnnie LeMaster in 1978 - specifically, according to writer Sam Miller, on April 18.		The boos began for Johnnie LeMaster in 1978 - specifically, according to writer Sam Miller, on April 18.

MattSieger: What do you do when the fans boo you unmercifully? Johnnie LeMaster's wife had the answer.

2025-03-07T19:17:11Z

What do you do when the fans boo you unmercifully? Johnnie LeMaster's wife had the answer.

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:17, 7 March 2025
Line 4:		Line 4:

	'''Johnnie LeMaster'''`		'''Johnnie LeMaster'''`

	''photo courtesy of @S.F. Giants		''photo courtesy of @S.F. Giants
	''		''

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:49, 7 March 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Matt Sieger''

	[[File:Lemaster,J-018.jpg]]		[[File:Lemaster,J-018.jpg]]
Line 5:		Line 7:
	'''Johnnie LeMaster'''`		'''Johnnie LeMaster'''`

	''photo courtesy of @S.F. Giants		''photo courtesy of @S.F. Giants''
	''

	''Johnnie LeMaster played in the Major Leagues for 13 seasons, the first 10 with the San Francisco Giants. A born-again Christian, LeMaster was part of the notorious God Squad of the Giants in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Here is an excerpt about LeMaster from a book by Matt Sieger, ''[https://www.amazon.com/God-Squad-Born-Again-Francisco-Giants/dp/1631322079/ The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978].''		''Johnnie LeMaster played in the Major Leagues for 13 seasons, the first 10 with the San Francisco Giants. A born-again Christian, LeMaster was part of the notorious God Squad of the Giants in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Here is an excerpt about LeMaster from a book by Matt Sieger, ''[https://www.amazon.com/God-Squad-Born-Again-Francisco-Giants/dp/1631322079/ The God Squad: The Born-Again San Francisco Giants of 1978].''
	''		''

	The boos began for Johnnie LeMaster in ~~1978 - specifically~~, according to writer Sam Miller, on April 18.		The boos began for Johnnie LeMaster in 1978—specifically, according to writer Sam Miller, on April 18.

	Miller noted, “The Giants had ace John Montefusco on the mound, and he pitched beautifully, but his teammates managed only a single hit. LeMaster made a throwing error that led to a run, and the Giants lost 1–0. The fans booed the goat, LeMaster. And they just . . . never stopped. They developed a habit and never bothered to break it.”		Miller noted, “The Giants had ace John Montefusco on the mound, and he pitched beautifully, but his teammates managed only a single hit. LeMaster made a throwing error that led to a run, and the Giants lost 1–0. The fans booed the goat, LeMaster. And they just . . . never stopped. They developed a habit and never bothered to break it.”
	On April 26, Glenn Schwarz of the ''San Francisco Examiner'' reported:		On April 26, Glenn Schwarz of the ''San Francisco Examiner'' reported:

	''The first chorus of boos drifted out from the Candlestick stands and reached Johnnie LeMaster’s ears a week ago. By the weekend, you didn’t need a scorecard to know who was coming to bat for the San Francisco Giants. As the catcalls increased, LeMaster bit his lower lip and told himself to ignore the noise.''		<blockquote>''The first chorus of boos drifted out from the Candlestick stands and reached Johnnie LeMaster’s ears a week ago. By the weekend, you didn’t need a scorecard to know who was coming to bat for the San Francisco Giants. As the catcalls increased, LeMaster bit his lower lip and told himself to ignore the noise.''

	“It’s something I have to live with. The fans pay their money and can boo when they want,” the Giants shortstop said. “You just can’t let it get to you.”		“It’s something I have to live with. The fans pay their money and can boo when they want,” the Giants shortstop said. “You just can’t let it get to you.”

	It was no coincidence that it began after LeMaster made a throwing error behind John Montefusco, leading to an unearned run for Atlanta and a 1–0 defeat for the Count.		It was no coincidence that it began after LeMaster made a throwing error behind John Montefusco, leading to an unearned run for Atlanta and a 1–0 defeat for the Count.
	“I would say the error had a little to do with the boos. Maybe a lot,” LeMaster said, “But I haven’t hit yet either.”		“I would say the error had a little to do with the boos. Maybe a lot,” LeMaster said, “But I haven’t hit yet either.” </blockquote>

	The Giants had a great year in 1978, challenging the Dodgers and Reds for the division title until a September swoon. But when the Giants returned to their losing ways in 1979 (71–91 record), the fans, for some reason, directed their displeasure at LeMaster.		The Giants had a great year in 1978, challenging the Dodgers and Reds for the division title until a September swoon. But when the Giants returned to their losing ways in 1979 (71–91 record), the fans, for some reason, directed their displeasure at LeMaster.
Line 27:		Line 28:
	As Miller put it, “It would be too emotionally draining, too real, for Giants fans to hate all 25 players on their losing club, so they invented a myth that LeMaster alone was the scapegoat.”		As Miller put it, “It would be too emotionally draining, too real, for Giants fans to hate all 25 players on their losing club, so they invented a myth that LeMaster alone was the scapegoat.”

	“The only thing I could figure out is I would make an error at the wrong time of the game, or maybe not get a base hit at the right time of the game,” LeMaster said. “Our record wasn’t the greatest the whole time that I played there. Maybe they needed somebody to let their frustration out on, or their anger.”		<blockquote>“The only thing I could figure out is I would make an error at the wrong time of the game, or maybe not get a base hit at the right time of the game,” LeMaster said. “Our record wasn’t the greatest the whole time that I played there. Maybe they needed somebody to let their frustration out on, or their anger.” </blockquote>

	His wife, Debbie, kiddingly suggested he change his name to Boo. LeMaster ran with the idea and asked equipment manager Eddie Logan to make a jersey with “BOO” on the back in place of his last name. After a couple of weeks, on July 23, 1979, at Candlestick Park, LeMaster got up the courage to wear it in a game. The only teammate who knew LeMaster was going to pull the stunt was Rob Andrews.		His wife, Debbie, kiddingly suggested he change his name to Boo. LeMaster ran with the idea and asked equipment manager Eddie Logan to make a jersey with “BOO” on the back in place of his last name. After a couple of weeks, on July 23, 1979, at Candlestick Park, LeMaster got up the courage to wear it in a game. The only teammate who knew LeMaster was going to pull the stunt was Rob Andrews.
Line 39:		Line 40:
	''Matt Sieger, now retired, is a former sports reporter and columnist for ''The Vacaville Reporter''.		''Matt Sieger, now retired, is a former sports reporter and columnist for ''The Vacaville Reporter''.

	[[category:Baseball]][[category:Famous characters]]		[[category:Baseball]][[category:Famous characters]][[category:1970s]]