Bob Lemon

Bob Lemon
Pitcher / manager
Born: September 22nd, 1920 San Bernardino , United States
Died on: January 11, 2000 in Long Beach , United States
Suggested: Left	Threw: Right
Debut in Major League Baseball
September 9,  1941  with the  Cleveland Indians
Last MLB assignment
July 1,  1958  with the  Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics (until end of career)
Win-loss	207-128
Earned Run Average	3.23
Strikeouts	1,277
Teams
As a player Cleveland Indians (1941-1942, 1946-1958) As a manager Kansas City Royals (1970–1972) Chicago White Sox (1977-1978) New York Yankees (1978–1979, 1981–1982)
Awards
7 × All-Star (1948–1954) 2 × World Series winner (1948, 1978) 3 × pitchers with the most strikeouts in the American League (1950, 1954, 1955) Pitched a no-hitter on June 30, 1948 In his honor, the # 21 is no longer awarded by the Cleveland Indians
member of
Baseball Hall of Fame
Recorded	1976
Quota	78.61%

Robert Granville Lemon (born September 22, 1920 in San Bernardino , California , † January 11, 2000 in Long Beach , California) was an American baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball .

biography

Bob Lemon tried twice as a third baseman with the Cleveland Indians before World War II . His good approaches as a field player, especially his strong throwing arm, could not hide his mediocre hitting performance. After 3 years in the Navy, he returned to the Indians at the age of 26 and began a stellar career as a pitcher . In 1947 he was the second strongest thrower of the Indians behind Bob Feller . Feller, Gene Bearden and Lemon were the guarantors for Cleveland's 1948 World Series success against the Boston Braves . Lemon led the American League in shutouts , full game, and pitched innings statistics . On June 30 of that year, he threw a no-hitter in the game against the Detroit Tigers.

Together with Feller, Early Wynn , Mike Garcia and Herb Score , he formed the outstanding pitching troupe of the Indians, which caused a sensation in the American League from 1948 to 1956. Only in 1951 with 17 wins and 1955 with 18 wins did Lemon miss the magical number of 20 wins per season, which he exceeded a total of seven times. In 1948, 1950 and 1954 he was named the American League's Outstanding Pitcher by The Sporting News . The Indians lost to the New York Giants in the 1954 World Series with 0: 4 games. Lemon threw in the opening game, but had to allow a home run by Dusty Rhodes in the 10th inning . After a two-day break, he threw again in the 4th game, but could not turn the series any more.

Also in the stroke he showed himself to be much better in the majors. He was considered one of the pitchers with the best average. With 37 home runs , he is still in 2nd place on the all-time best list for pitchers behind Wes Ferrell .

He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976 for his achievements as a player .

After a brief stint in the Pacific Coast League as a pitcher, Lemon turned to baseball coaching. In 1966 he was named Minor League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News . From 1970 to 1972, the Kansas City Royals were his first club as a manager in the major league. Thanks to a second place in 1971, Lemon was also honored as Manager of the Year. He was also able to win this title at the Chicago White Sox when he put down a convincing final spurt with a mediocre team that he had taken over during the season.

After he was released by the White Sox in 1978, he took over the New York Yankees that same year , who had separated from their manager Billy Martin . The Yankees were level on points with the Boston Red Sox at the end of the season , the Yankees won a playoff thanks to a home run by Bucky Dent . In the World Series, the Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers , Lemons first and only World Series title as manager. In the middle of the 1979 season he was replaced by Billy Martin.

His roller coaster ride with the Yankees continued in 1981. The season was divided in half due to the players' strike. Under Gene Michael , the Yankees won the first half, but could not build on their previous performances in the second half after the end of the strike. Lemon took over the managerial post again, was able to win the division title against the Milwaukee Brewers and the American League Championship Series against the Oakland Athletics , but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. After a weak start in 1982, Lemon was replaced by Michaels and ended his managerial career.

His stations as a player

• 1946-1958 Cleveland Indians

His stations as a manager

• 1970–1972 Kansas City Royals
• 1977-1988 Chicago White Sox
• 1978–1979 New York Yankees
• 1981-1982 New York Yankees

Web links

• Player information and statistics from Baseball Reference  or  Fangraphs  or  The Baseball Cube  or  Baseball Reference (Minor League) (English)
• Data as a manager (English)
• Biography of Bob Lemon (English)
• Bob Lemon in the Hall of Fame (English)