Al Lopez Turns 97

[TLAK]

This is from the Hall of Fame Inside Pitch newsletter.

When Al Lopez was born on August 20, 1908, the Cubs were on their way to their last World Series championship to date; the Cleveland Indians, whom Lopez would manage 43 years later, were known as the Cleveland Naps; Detroit's Sam Crawford (with 7) and Brooklyn's Tim Jordan (with 12) led the American and National leagues in home runs, and; Babe Ruth was 13 years old and knocking electrical tape baseballs out of the St. Mary's Industrial School yard.

 

Alfonso Ramon Lopez, born in Tampa, Florida, to Spanish immigrants, spent 19 seasons in the major leagues as a National League catcher, with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians, from 1928-1947.

 

An excellent defensive catcher, for more than 40 years Lopez held the record for most games caught in the major leagues (1,918). He also set the record for most years in the National League catching 100 or more games (12).

 

Lopez later found great success as manager of the Indians and White Sox. From 1951 to 1959, his teams - always known as overachievers - won two pennants and finished second to the Yankees the other seven years. His 1954 Indians won 111 games, an American League record that lasted 44 years, and in 1959 he led the "Go-Go" White Sox to their first pennant since 1919 and their last, to date.

 

He managed the Indians from 1951-1956 and the White Sox from 1957-1965 and from 1968-1969. Combined with his playing days, he spent 36 seasons in a major league uniform. Lopez finished with a .581 winning percentage as a manager and earned a ticket to Cooperstown in 1977, only the ninth manager elected to the Hall of Fame. Today there are 16 managers with bronze plaques.

 

Now 97 years young, Lopez still lives in Tampa and plays gin rummy with friends daily.

 

Happy Birthday Senior, and I hope many more to come.