Hod Lisenbee - Early Years

Early Years

Lisenbee did not play baseball until he entered high school at age twenty-one. He had attended elementary school until he was twelve, and dropped out of school to help his family survive financially. He labored for the next nine years working twelve-hour days on a tobacco farm. He would run to and from work and credits this time in his life as building endurance, a quality that helped him get through his lengthy baseball career.

In his spare time, Lisenbee loved to fling rocks into the Cumberland River. At age 21, Lisenbee entered Clarksville High School, and talked his way onto the baseball team. He told the coach that he was ready to pitch, but was soon cut from the team due to his poor fielding. Soon Lisenbee moved to Memphis in an effort to advance his career. He arrived at the Memphis Chicks playing field seeking to pitch, but his services were not needed.

Not to be put off, he moved to Vicksburg, Mississippi and applied to pitch for their D league team, though their manager declined. He phoned his contact on the Memphis Chicks team and was tipped to try out for the Brookhaven baseball team. Within two days, Lisenbee pitched a four-hit game against the Vicksburg team, including nine strikeouts, and notched a 4–1 win. In his first minor league season, he earned a 10–5 record.