Thursday, 21 November 2024

Al Lopez

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Baseball
Statistics: 1,410-1,004 Record
Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
Member of the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame

*2 All-Star Games

*As a player
Al Lopez had a long career in the Major Leagues as a catcher, where he was twice an All-Star with 1,547 career hits. His long career behind the plate and overall composure made him a natural manager, which began in the minors immediately after his playing career ended. After three seasons managing Indianapolis in AAA, he moved up to the parent club and his former team, the Cleveland Indians.

Lopez was at the helm in Cleveland for six seasons, with the lowest win total being 88 games. With the New York Yankees in the American League, winning the pennant in 1950 was a tall order, but Cleveland broke through in 1954 with a 111-win season. Cleveland would sadly be swept by the New York Giants in the World Series. As good as Lopez and the Indians were, he was angered by the lack of support that the upper brass showed towards Al Rosen, the team's star third baseman who had been playing hurt all season. Rosen was thrown under the bus by the team, and the principled Lopez resigned on the last day of the 1956 season.

The Chicago White Sox were thrilled to obtain a manager of Lopez's caliber, and they signed him a month after he became available. The White Sox were not a power-hitting team but had excellent speed. Recognizing this, Lopez worked his strategy around his team's strength, and the "Go-Go Sox" were the most exciting team in baseball.

Like it was in Cleveland, Lopez still had to get past the Yankees, and they won the pennant in 1959, but again he couldn't get that elusive World Series. He continued to manage until 1965, never having a losing record, but Lopez's White Sox team did not make the playoffs again.

Lopez went into Chicago’s front office but would come back three times for brief stints in times of managerial turmoil. While Lopez never captured a World Series, he always had a winning season.

We are proud to nominate Al Lopez for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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