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Dennis "Denny" Lee Leathers, 80, of Bellefonte, passed away peacefully at home on Aug. 5, 2026, surrounded by his family. Born in Bellefonte on Aug. 24, 1945, he was the third of five children of Pearl E. (Hall) and Max B. Leathers. On Dec. 31, 1966, he married his high school sweetheart, Bonita "Bonnie" Evey, with whom he shared a lifetime of love and devotion.
Denny grew up in Coleville, where his love of baseball first took root. Encouraged by his older brother Dick -- who persuaded their mother to let him join Little League -- Denny began a playing career that would span more than 50 years. At age 12, he helped lead his Little League All-Star team to the 1958 state championship. Three years later, in 1961, his Babe Ruth All-Star team also brought home a state championship.
In 1963, Denny graduated from Bellefonte High School, where he was a three-year varsity letter-winner. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies a few months later, two years before the modern draft began. After sitting out the 1967 season to recover from knee surgery, he signed with the San Francisco Giants.
Denny's standout professional season came in 1966 with the Eugene (Oregon) Emeralds, where his 2.00 ERA ranked among the Northwest League's best. One of his finest performances, however, was an 11-inning, 1-0 complete-game victory for the Florida Marlins, then a Phillies affiliate. He struck out 12, allowed only three hits and impressed Hall of Famer Ted Williams, who told the local newspaper that Denny reminded him of Boston Red Sox great Bill Monbouquette.
After injuries ended his minor league career in 1969, Denny returned to Lock Haven University to complete his teaching degree. He graduated in 1970 and began a 35-year career at Bellefonte Middle School, where he taught geography and social studies. He later earned a master's degree and principal certification from Penn State. During a sabbatical in 1990, he returned to PSU for a semester, joining his daughter Tracy, who he often met for lunch at the HUB.
Denny continued to play baseball locally and nationally well into his 50s, earning numerous distinctions along the way. In the Centre County League, he still holds records for career home runs (206) and RBIs (658). During one weekend tournament with the Bellefonte Governors in the early 1980s, he went an astonishing 14-for-19 at the plate, including nine home runs.
Denny was named an All-American pitcher in the 1971 National Baseball Congress World Series, held in Wichita, Kan., where he played semi-pro ball for several years. During that time, he and his wife developed a lifetime friendship with coach and former San Francisco Giant Daryl Spencer and his family.
Denny also excelled at fast-pitch softball. In 1976, he joined a squad from Millersville at the 57-team Class A Fast Pitch Softball tournament. Thanks in part to his MVP performance, the team won the national title. From ages 51 to 53, Denny competed in the Roy Hobbs World Series, where his "Florida Masters" team won three consecutive championships, going 80 each year against squads stacked with former major leaguers. He hit .448, .517 and .483 in successive tournaments, compiling an .850 slugging percentage.
When he wasn't playing baseball, Denny was coaching. After serving as an assistant under Don Robinson, he became head coach of the Bellefonte High School baseball team in 1982. Over 30 seasons, he guided the Red Raiders to 396 wins, seven Central Penn League titles, three District 6 AAA championships and multiple deep postseason runs. His teams had only two losing seasons, and in 1987, USA Today ranked Bellefonte sixth in the nation.
Many of Coach Leathers' players went on to compete at the collegiate and professional levels, but coaching his son was particularly rewarding. The time Ryan was called up from JV to replace an injured outfielder and hit the game-winning home run in a 2-1 victory over Indian Valley was one of the happiest moments of his coaching career.
Despite his many accomplishments -- including induction into the inaugural class of the Centre County Sports Hall of Fame -- Denny remained humble and grateful for the chance to play and teach the game he loved. In fact, he carried with him a copy of the poem "The Man in the Glass" as a reminder that personal integrity matters far more than accolades.
Off the field, Denny enjoyed many Friday nights playing poker with his friends Denny, Joey, Lanny, Dallas and "Monk" -- though the games were sometimes cut short when someone's luck ran out.
In addition to his wife Bonnie, Denny is survived by his son Ryan and his wife Erin Stephens, of Bellefonte; two daughters, Denise Leathers, of Doylestown and Tracy Mitchell, of Bellefonte; and sons-in-law Brian Prudish and Mike Mitchell. He leaves behind seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Caitlin Stephens; Reis and Halle Mitchell; Tate and Shayne Prudish; Max and Gaige Leathers; and Mya, Kayden and Karson Barrow. Also surviving are his brother Dick Leathers, of Bellefonte; sister Patricia Vargo, of Parkton, Md.; and sister-in-law Cathy Leathers, of Pleasant Gap.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws Leroy and Mary Evey; his brother Douglas Leathers; sister Beverly Sampsell; sister-in-law Helen Leathers; and brothers-in-law Gerald Vargo and James Sampsell.
In accordance with Denny's wishes, there will not be a public visitation. A private funeral service will be held at the United Church of Christ in Bellefonte, where Denny and Bonnie were devoted parishioners. All are welcome to attend a Celebration of Life on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nittany Country Club in Mingoville. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite Bellefonte baseball apparel -- Little League, Bellefonte High School or County League.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bellefonte Baseball Booster Club, 100 N. School Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823 or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, or www.michaeljfox.org/donate.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wetzler Funeral Service, Inc. in Bellefonte.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.wetzlerfuneralhome.com