Class of 2013
Vohn Lehman
Vohn Lehman is one of the greatest all-around athletes to ever come out of Bedford County.
The Hyndman area native gained most of his notoriety through his outstanding baseball career, and yet his notable accomplishments on the basketball court are sometimes overlooked. Vohn led the Hyndman Hornet basketball team in scoring in 1960 as well as steals and assists. At the conclusion of his senior season, Lehman had amassed an amazing total of 979 points, all in the era before the three-point basket.
Still, the compact, muscular right-hander’s greatest passion was always connected to a ball and bat. As a three-year starter for Hyndman, Lehman eventually led the Hornets to the Bedford County League championship in 1959 and pitched a one-hitter against Bedford for the title.
Vohn had all the tools that the pro scouts look for with a great arm, the ability to hit for average and with power, lightning speed on the base paths, and an appreciation and understanding of the fundamentals of the game, thanks in large part to the tutelage of his father, Sherman. Throw in a big helping of God-given hand-eye coordination, and you had quite a package in this country boy from Madley.
When the New York Giants organization signed this young fire baller to a professional contract in 1961, Vohn was already being touted as the “next Elroy Face”. Face was a Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher who became one of the first men to be acknowledged by the term “closer”.
In 1963, Lehman led the Lexington Giants of the Western Carolina League in wins and finished the season with an incredible ERA of 1.29.
Vohn eventually chose to return to his hometown, where he went on to lead the Pen-Mar League in every category one can think of in the 1960s and 1970s. The Bedford County star led the league in pitching on separate occasions, and he was the batting champion and Player of the Year in 1968 and 1970 to go along with being named MVP in 1972. When he won the batting title in 1968, Lehman finished the season with a .486 batting average. By the time that he hung up his glove and cleats, the feisty right-hander garnered a total of 117 career wins in the Pen-Mar League.
Bob “Rock” Bryant, a former Hyndman baseball legend and member of the Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame, said this of Lehman: “Simply one of the best you’d ever want to see play the game.”
Paul Evans, an astute follower of area baseball and longtime Hyndman Pen-Mar statistician said “I would place Vohn Lehman at the head of the class as the best all-around player Hyndman ever produced.”
Lee Mazzone, the former pitching coach with the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles, as well as a former mound opponent of Lehman’s, signed an autographed baseball that reads, “Always enjoyed our pitching match-ups ... Lehman was a great pitcher.”
...
Vohn Lehman is one of the greatest all-around athletes to ever come out of Bedford County.
The Hyndman area native gained most of his notoriety through his outstanding baseball career, and yet his notable accomplishments on the basketball court are sometimes overlooked. Vohn led the Hyndman Hornet basketball team in scoring in 1960 as well as steals and assists. At the conclusion of his senior season, Lehman had amassed an amazing total of 979 points, all in the era before the three-point basket.
Still, the compact, muscular right-hander’s greatest passion was always connected to a ball and bat. As a three-year starter for Hyndman, Lehman eventually led the Hornets to the Bedford County League championship in 1959 and pitched a one-hitter against Bedford for the title.
Vohn had all the tools that the pro scouts look for with a great arm, the ability to hit for average and with power, lightning speed on the base paths, and an appreciation and understanding of the fundamentals of the game, thanks in large part to the tutelage of his father, Sherman. Throw in a big helping of God-given hand-eye coordination, and you had quite a package in this country boy from Madley.
When the New York Giants organization signed this young fire baller to a professional contract in 1961, Vohn was already being touted as the “next Elroy Face”. Face was a Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher who became one of the first men to be acknowledged by the term “closer”.
In 1963, Lehman led the Lexington Giants of the Western Carolina League in wins and finished the season with an incredible ERA of 1.29.
Vohn eventually chose to return to his hometown, where he went on to lead the Pen-Mar League in every category one can think of in the 1960s and 1970s. The Bedford County star led the league in pitching on separate occasions, and he was the batting champion and Player of the Year in 1968 and 1970 to go along with being named MVP in 1972. When he won the batting title in 1968, Lehman finished the season with a .486 batting average. By the time that he hung up his glove and cleats, the feisty right-hander garnered a total of 117 career wins in the Pen-Mar League.
Bob “Rock” Bryant, a former Hyndman baseball legend and member of the Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame, said this of Lehman: “Simply one of the best you’d ever want to see play the game.”
Paul Evans, an astute follower of area baseball and longtime Hyndman Pen-Mar statistician said “I would place Vohn Lehman at the head of the class as the best all-around player Hyndman ever produced.”
Lee Mazzone, the former pitching coach with the Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles, as well as a former mound opponent of Lehman’s, signed an autographed baseball that reads, “Always enjoyed our pitching match-ups ... Lehman was a great pitcher.”
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Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania