Dodgers History: Len Koenecke Killed Trying to Take Over Plane

On September 15, Len Koenecke was told by Brooklyn Dodgers manager Casey Stengel to go home for the rest of the year. Two days later, on this day in 1935, Koenecke was killed when he tried to take over the controls of the airplane he hired to bring him back to Buffalo.

It took a while for Len Koenecke to get his start in professional baseball. After graduating high school, he became a fireman for the Chicago & North Western Railroad, where the hard work helped him develop a powerful physique. Koenecke played in various local and semi-pro leagues in the area, eventually signing his first professional contract at 23 years old.

He spent five years in the minors, developing a reputation as a fearsome home run hitter before getting a chance at the majors. He was acquired by the New York Giants in a trade, and made his debut in 1932. In 42 games, Koenecke had a disappointing .255/.320/.380 batting line, hitting four home runs and five doubles before being sent back to the minors.

Two years later, he would get another chance. The Brooklyn Dodgers acquired Koenecke before the 1934 campaign, and he made an immediate impact. Koenecke produced a .320/.411/.509 batting line, belting 14 homers and 31 doubles. He ranked in the top ten in OBP, slugging, and OPS+, while setting a record with a .994 fielding percentage in the outfield. It seemed that Koenecke had found a home.

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Alas, that was not to be the case. While he returned for the 1935 campaign, Koenecke was not nearly the same player. His .283/.3369/.372 batting line was still decent, but not what was expected for a power hitting corner outfielder. After failing to produce as a pinch hitter on September 15, manager Casey Stengel sent Koenecke, and two other teammates, home for the rest of the season.

That set the stage for one of the stranger deaths in baseball history. He attempted to fly home on American Airlines, but was booted off the flight in Detroit for drunken behavior. Koenecke then hired a private plane to bring him to Buffalo, one of his stops during his minor league career. Apparently still drunk, he attempted to take the controls from the pilot. The co-pilot, in an attempt to subdue to the powerful Dodgers outfield, hit him in the head with an onboard fire extinguisher. The blow caused a cerebral hemorrhage which killed Koenecke. The pilot was tried on manslaughter charges, but was acquitted.

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Len Koenecke was a solid outfielder with a bit of pop for the Brooklyn Dodgers. His career, and life, came to an unfortunate end on this day in 1935 after he attempted to take over his chartered airplane.