Jesse Levan – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Jesse Levan’s baseball career didn’t end with cheers or a hero’s sendoff. Instead, he left the game with a lifetime ban, making him the last player ever permanently kicked out of professional baseball for trying to fix games.

The outfielder and first baseman from Reading, Pennsylvania, only played 25 games over three major league seasons between 1947 and 1955. But honestly, his story is a lot more complicated than those brief big league stats might suggest.

In 1959, four years after his time in the majors ended, baseball banned Levan for life because he tried to fix games. He’d already proven himself as a two-time minor league batting champ, and he clearly had the talent to hit. Still, injuries and some bad luck just kept him from sticking in the big leagues.

His .286 career batting average with the Phillies and Senators only tells a sliver of the story. There’s also military service, minor league heroics, and, yeah, the scandal that followed him.

From his days as a youth baseball phenom in Pennsylvania to the infamous end of his career, Levan’s journey through pro ball really shows both the chances and the traps that players faced after World War II. It’s a reminder: promise can turn to disappointment fast, and personal choices can wipe out even the brightest athletic moments.

Early Life and Background

Jesse Roy Levan was born on July 15, 1926, in Reading, Pennsylvania. He quickly became one of the area’s most hyped young baseball talents.

His knack for hitting showed up early. That skill carried him from high school stardom right into a pro contract with the Phillies when he was just 17.

Family and Upbringing in Reading, Pennsylvania

Jesse grew up in Reading, Pennsylvania, in a single-parent household. His dad, Donald, left when Jesse was just a baby, so his mom, Mildred Van Buiskirk, raised him alone and played a huge role in his life.

They lived on Linden Avenue in northeast Reading. Even as a kid, Jesse stood out for his baseball talent.

He dominated local youth teams like the Hillside Mites and Hillside Midgets. Jesse picked up batting championships in both leagues.

People still talk about his hitting. The Reading Eagle-Times once called him “thought by many to be the greatest hitter in Berks County history.”

High School Baseball Achievements

Jesse went to Reading High School and played for the Reading High Knights. His high school baseball career didn’t last long, but wow, it was impressive.

He led the Knights to the East Penn League title. In only 13 games, Jesse hit an insane .443 average.

He had real power, too. He smashed three home runs in a single game during that championship season.

Jesse also played American Legion ball with the well-known Gregg Post 50 team. That team cranked out big league talent and had future stars like Carl Furillo, Vic Wertz, Whitey Kurowski, and Curt Simmons.

Signing with the Philadelphia Phillies

Scouts flocked to Gregg Post 50 games because of all the talent. In 1943, Cardinals scout Pop Kelchner even took Jesse to the World Series to see his favorite player, Whitey Kurowski.

Jesse made a gutsy move and dropped out of Reading High midway through his senior year. He was just 17 when he signed his first pro contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies gave him a $1,000 signing bonus—not bad at all for a teenager back in 1944. That deal kicked off what would be a 14-year run in pro baseball.

Military Service and Impact on Baseball Career

Jesse Levan served two years in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II, from 1945 to 1946. That service put his baseball career on hold when he was just 19.

He’d signed with the Philadelphia Blue Jays organization in 1944, but the military called not long after.

Drafted into the United States Army

Levan got his draft notice in 1945, right after his first pro season. He was only 19 when the Army brought him in during WWII.

The timing couldn’t have been worse for a young baseball player trying to break in. He’d barely started to make a name for himself in pro ball.

Like a lot of his peers, Levan put his sports dreams on ice to serve. The draft took thousands of ballplayers—pros and amateurs alike—off the field during those years.

He served two full years, from 1945 through 1946. That meant missing out on some pretty important development time in the minors.

Performance in Armed Forces Baseball

Not a ton of records survive about Levan’s baseball activities in the Army. Still, plenty of servicemen played ball on military teams during WWII.

The Armed Forces set up leagues and tournaments to keep morale up and give troops something to do. These games often featured former pros and college stars.

Levan probably played on some military teams, but nobody seems to have tracked his stats. Most guys used those games to stay sharp.

Military baseball kept a lot of players in the game, even if it wasn’t quite the same as the minors. The competition could be surprisingly good with so much talent in uniform.

Return to Professional Baseball

Levan got back to pro ball in 1947 after his military stint ended. He rejoined the Phillies organization and made his MLB debut that same year.

His first big league appearance came on September 27, 1947, with the Phillies. He was 21 and picked up four hits in nine at-bats over two games.

Missing two years probably slowed his development. A lot of players struggled to get back to form after the war.

Still, Levan showed flashes in his short major league run. He really took off in the minors after returning, so he clearly bounced back from the lost time.

Serving in the military shaped Levan’s character and changed his approach to the game. That sacrifice was just part of life for his generation of ballplayers.

Major League Baseball Career

Jesse Levan’s MLB career only spanned three seasons across eight years. He debuted with the Phillies in 1947, then returned for the Senators in 1954 and 1955.

Military service and limited chances marked his time in the majors. But whenever he got to play, he showed some real potential.

Debut with the Philadelphia Phillies

Levan made his major league debut on September 27, 1947, with the Phillies at age 21. He broke into the majors during the last week of the season.

Right away, he impressed. He went 4-for-9 over two games, batting a wild .444.

Levan played left field and handled both chances in the field without a miscue. His debut made it look like he’d be back for more.

The Phillies were checking out young talent for the next season, but Levan wouldn’t return to the majors for another seven years.

Time with the Washington Senators

After his military service and bouncing around the minors, Levan returned to the big leagues with the Washington Senators in 1954. He appeared in seven games and collected three hits in ten at-bats, hitting .300.

The Senators used Levan all over the field. He played first, third, and pinch hit. On defense, he didn’t make an error at first base.

In 1955, Levan played his final MLB season with Washington. He got into 16 games, his busiest year in the majors. He batted .188 with three hits in 16 at-bats, but he did manage to hit his only big league home run that season.

He picked up four RBIs in 1955, which was most of his career total. That lone homer and the RBIs showed he could come through in the clutch, even if he didn’t get many chances.

Career Highlights and Statistics

Levan’s MLB stats tell the story of a guy who made the most of his limited opportunities:

Career Totals:

• Games: 25
• At-bats: 35
• Hits: 10
• Batting Average: .286
• Home Runs: 1
• RBIs: 5

His best stretch came as a rookie in 1947 with the Phillies. That .444 average in his debut stood as his career high.

In 1955, he finally hit his only big league homer. His career on-base and slugging percentages were .286 and .371, respectively.

Those numbers show he could make contact and help out when called upon. His .657 OPS was solid for a utility guy.

Notable Teammates and Opponents

In 1947 with the Phillies, Levan suited up alongside some future stars. That roster included players who’d help the team win the NL pennant in 1950.

With the Senators, he played for managers Bucky Harris in 1954 and Chuck Dressen in 1955. The team was rebuilding and looking at young talent.

Levan faced pitchers from both leagues during his career. He got to hit against some pretty tough staffs, including the New York Giants’ arms.

He didn’t get enough playing time to really build relationships with the stars. Still, his work ethic and versatility made a good impression on teammates and coaches.

Minor League Success and Challenges

Jesse Levan’s minor league career was honestly pretty remarkable. He racked up batting titles and big numbers across several leagues, even if he never quite stuck in the majors.

His path through different teams and organizations showed off his hitting skills. But it also highlighted the roadblocks that kept him from a steady big league job.

Teams and Affiliations

Levan started out with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Class B Interstate League in 1944. After his military service, he came back to Wilmington in 1947 and then climbed through the Phillies’ system.

The Phillies eventually sold him to Triple-A Milwaukee, but he couldn’t hold onto the job. He got sent down to Class A Hartford and kept bouncing between lower-level teams.

From 1950 on, Levan played all over: Hagerstown in the Interstate League, Raleigh, St. Hyacinthe in Canada’s Provincial League, and then the Florida International League with Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale.

His most stable stretch came with the Washington Senators’ organization. After brief big league stints in 1954-55, he landed with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, sticking there for four seasons until 1959.

Batting Titles and Accolades

Levan’s minor league numbers were eye-popping. He won the Interstate League batting title in 1950 with Hagerstown, hitting .334, blasting 13 homers, and slugging .508.

He grabbed another batting crown in 1952 with Miami Beach in the Florida International League. That year, he hit .334 with 10 home runs and 35 doubles. Local writers called him the league’s “most feared hitter.”

At Charlotte in 1954, Levan put up crazy stats in a short stint: .412 average, .746 slugging, and seven homers in just 114 at-bats. That performance got him back to the majors.

With Chattanooga, Levan became the franchise’s all-time home run leader with 83 homers. He hit 25, 25, and 26 home runs in three straight seasons from 1956 to 1958.

Demotion and Transfers

Even though his offensive production looked solid, Levan kept getting demoted throughout his career. After he showed promise with Philadelphia in 1947, his weak throwing arm probably played a big part in sending him down to Toronto, and then back to Wilmington.

In 1949, things really got messy—he bounced between four different teams at all sorts of classification levels. He started out with Triple-A Milwaukee, but they sent him down to Class A Hartford, then Class B Sunbury, and, believe it or not, even Class D Bluefield.

Whenever he put together a promising run, it just didn’t seem to matter. After winning the 1950 batting title, Hagerstown sold him to Raleigh, but they released him mid-season. He ended up joining an independent league in Canada.

Even when he tore it up in 1954 at Charlotte and got called up to the majors, it didn’t last. He struggled with Washington and found himself back in the minors. That cycle—brief shots at the big time, then quick demotions—pretty much summed up his minor league life.

Controversies and Retirement in 1955

Jesse Levan’s baseball career closed out under a dark cloud. In 1959, officials permanently banned him from pro ball for his part in a game-fixing scheme.

He technically retired from Major League Baseball in 1955 after his last season with the Washington Senators. Still, he kept playing in the minors up until the scandal broke.

Allegations of Game Fixing

In July 1959, while playing for the Chattanooga Lookouts in the Southern Association, Levan got hit with serious allegations. Sammy Meeks, a teammate who had just arrived from the Mobile Bears, claimed Levan introduced him to a gambler at a Mobile hotel bar.

This wasn’t the typical kind of game fixing. The scheme focused on sign-tipping. Meeks said Levan arranged for shortstop Waldo Gonzalez to signal pitches to opposing batters. If Gonzalez stood upright, it meant a fastball was coming, and if he crouched, it meant a curveball.

Two Chattanooga pitchers also spoke up. Jim Heise said Levan had approached him twice about making money by serving up easy pitches. Tom McAvoy added that Levan asked him about throwing entire games.

Investigators found out Levan admitted he acted as a go-between for gamblers and players. He confessed to introducing teammates to known gamblers so they could fix games.

Ban from Organized Baseball

On July 30, 1959, National Association President George Trautman handed down his decision. Levan got the harshest penalty in professional baseball.

Trautman banned Levan permanently from organized baseball. The official ruling said he went on the permanently ineligible list “for admittedly acting as liaison for a gambler in a program designed to throw Chattanooga games.”

During questioning, Levan at first denied everything. But when they pressed him about whether he knew the gambler wanted to fix games, he finally said, “Yes, sir, I’ll agree.” That ended his baseball career, just like that.

Waldo Gonzalez got a one-year suspension instead. Trautman said this was because both Levan and Gonzalez testified that Gonzalez never actually passed the signs to the other team.

Official Retirement Year and Circumstances

Levan’s Major League Baseball career ended officially in 1955 with the Washington Senators. That season, he played his final MLB games—23 in total between 1954 and 1955.

His MLB numbers were pretty modest: 6 hits in 26 at-bats, one home run, and five RBIs over three seasons. He’d played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1947 before coming back to the majors with Washington.

After 1955, Levan kept playing minor league ball for another four seasons. From 1956 to 1959, he suited up for the Chattanooga Lookouts in the Southern Association, eventually becoming the franchise’s all-time home run leader with 83 homers.

The timing of his ban meant his major league retirement came in 1955, but his professional career didn’t really end until 1959. Jesse Levan, for better or worse, became the last baseball player permanently banned for trying to fix games.

Personal Life, Legacy, and Death

After the ban in 1959, Jesse Levan headed back to his hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania. He lived quietly there until he died from cancer in 1998.

His legacy? It’s complicated. People remember him for his hitting talent but also as the last player permanently banned for trying to fix games.

Life After Baseball

Levan returned to Reading, Pennsylvania, after his permanent ban in 1959. He kept a low profile and didn’t talk much about baseball or the scandal that ended his career.

He stayed close to his mother, Mildred Van Buiskirk, who’d raised him alone after his dad, Donald, left when Jesse was still a baby. Levan never married or had kids, just lived a pretty quiet life.

He struggled with the stigma of being banned from the sport he loved. Even though he always claimed he was innocent of the game-fixing charges, he couldn’t really shake the shadow of how his baseball story ended.

Battle with Cancer

In his later years, Jesse Levan fought cancer. He kept details about his diagnosis and treatment private, preferring to stay out of the spotlight.

The illness took its toll, and his health declined a lot. He got care in the Reading area, sticking close to his Pennsylvania roots right up to the end.

Death and Burial at Charles Evans Cemetery

Jesse Roy Levan died on November 30, 1998, at age 72 in Reading, Pennsylvania. His death closed the book on a life that had seen some real highs and some pretty tough lows.

Levan was buried at Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading. The cemetery, founded in 1846, is the final resting place for many locals.

His grave marker just has his name and dates. There’s nothing about baseball, really. The modest memorial fits the quiet way he lived after leaving the game.

Remembrance in Reading, Pennsylvania

Even with the controversial end to his career, people in Reading, Pennsylvania, still talk about Jesse Levan as one of the most talented baseball players from the area. Some local baseball historians even call him “the greatest hitter in Berks County history,” though not everyone agrees.

The Reading Eagle-Times and a few other local publications bring up his story from time to time. Folks still mention his days at Reading High School and his time with the powerful Gregg Post 50 American Legion team, which feels like an important piece of local baseball lore.

Levan’s story hits like a warning about what can happen when gambling mixes with professional sports. Back then, baseball was still trying to recover from earlier gambling scandals, so his case really pushed the sport to crack down on game-fixing.

In Reading, his legacy sits in this odd place. People remember both his incredible talent and the sad way he threw it all away with some bad choices that cut his career short.