Bisons celebrate Luke Easter with giveaway
Sunday afternoon -on the 58th anniversary of his legendary home run at Offermann Stadium- the Buffalo Bisons recognized one of their greatest players -Luke Easter. The first 3,000 fans to walk through the gates received a Luke Easter Bobble Head, compliments of NAPA Auto Parts.
Luke Easter played for the Buffalo Bisons from 1956-59, leaving his mark as one of the most popular sports figures in Buffalo history. He hit 114 home runs, brought in countless runs, and quickly became a fan-favorite.
He was the first Bisons player to hit a home run over the scoreboard at Offermann Stadium - a feet he achieved on June 14, 1957 and repeated later that month.
Not only did Easter lead the Herd in home runs and RBI from 1956-58, he also led the International League in home runs and batting average from 1956-57. Overall he ranks third in Bisons' all time history in home runs and sixth in RBI.
The Bisons retired his jersey number, #25. Only two other numbers have ever been retired in the 130-year history of Bisons baseball. He was inducted into the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.
Members of Luke Easter's family came out to Coca-Cola field to celebrate their beloved relative. The baseball great would have been 100 this year. The family had their photos taken by Easter's retired jersey number in the outfield and spent the day celebrating Easter within the ballpark. Easter's grandson threw out the first pitch to the Bisons game against the Charlotte Knights.
Before Easter played for Buffalo, he played one year in Ottawa after playing Major League baseball for the Cleveland Indians. He played with the Indians from 1950-1952 and there he made a name for himself, hitting multiple home runs and was even recognized as Sports News American League Player of the Year.