Al Lopez
Encyclopedia
Alfonso Ramon "Al" Lopez (August 20, 1908 – October 30, 2005) was an American
catcher
and manager
in Major League Baseball
, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.
Lopez was the son of immigrants from Asturias
, Spain
who went to Cuba
, then settled in Tampa's Spanish-speaking Ybor City neighborhood.
He established a major league record for career games as a catcher, and later became the only manager to interrupt the New York Yankees
' string of American League
pennants from to . With a .584 career winning percentage, he ranks 4th in major league history among managers of at least 2000 games, behind Joe McCarthy (.615), Frank Selee
(.598) and John McGraw
(.586). Over the course of 15 full seasons as manager, he never had a losing record.
Born in Ybor City
in Tampa, Florida
, the son of a cigar factory worker, Lopez' baseball career began with the local team, the Tampa Smokers
, in . He broke into the major leagues briefly in with the Brooklyn Dodgers
, and became their starting catcher in . Over a career which ran until , he played for the Dodgers (1928, 1930-), Boston Bees
(-), Pittsburgh Pirates
(1940-) and Cleveland Indians
(1947). He compiled modest numbers, including 613 runs
, 51 home run
s, and 652 RBI
and a .261 batting average
. His best season was in , when he hit .301, stole
10 bases, and finished 10th in National League
MVP
voting. In , he surpassed Gabby Hartnett
's record for career games as a catcher. The record stood until , when Bob Boone
broke it; Lopez' National League record was broken by Gary Carter
in .
Lopez could get himself thrown out of a game on purpose, according to Baseball's Greatest Managers (1961). During his career as a catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was working behind the plate on a hot day and decided to leave the game even if he had to get the thumb. As luck would have it, the plate umpire was Charley Moran
, who, Lopez knew, had been a college football
coach in Kentucky
. So, between innings, Lopez turned around and baited Moran.
"Charlie, weren't you once a famous football coach?" Lopez asked.
Off guard, Moran said, "Why yes, I coached the Praying Colonels at Centre College
."
"Is that so?" Lopez asked innocently. "What were they praying for--a new coach?"
In a moment he was on his way to the showers.
Lopez' largest contributions to the sport began in , when he became the manager of the Cleveland Indians
, a position he would hold until . In , the Indians won a then American League
record 111 games (since broken by the New York Yankees
and Seattle Mariners
). In every other season he spent with the team, the Indians finished second to the Yankees.
Lopez moved on to manage the Chicago White Sox
in and carried his success over to his new team. As White Sox manager until , he never had a losing season. The White Sox won the American League pennant in 1959
and finished in second place five times, never posting fewer than 82 victories. His 1954 and 1959 teams were the only non-Yankee clubs to win the AL pennant between and inclusive.
Lopez briefly returned to manage 47 games in for the White Sox and 17 games in , then retired. His 1,410 wins ranked 11th all-time upon his retirement, and his 840 wins with the White Sox still rank second in franchise history, behind Jimmy Dykes
(899).
In , Al Lopez Field
in his hometown of Tampa was named in his honor. He was later ejected from a spring training
exhibition game at that field after yelling at an umpire. The field was razed in , and its former location is now the south end zone
of Raymond James Stadium
. In 1992, Horizon Park, a city park a few blocks north of the old ballpark site, was renamed Al Lopez Park in his honor and a statue of him was dedicated there.
Lopez died in Tampa at the age of 97 just four days after the White Sox won the 2005 World Series
, their first championship in 88 years and their first pennant-winning season since Lopez led them to the World Series in 1959
. He had been hospitalized for a heart attack
, suffered two days earlier at his son's home. At the time of his death, Lopez was the last living person who had played major league baseball during the 1920s. At 97, he was the longest-lived member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.
Lopez was the son of immigrants from Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
who went to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, then settled in Tampa's Spanish-speaking Ybor City neighborhood.
He established a major league record for career games as a catcher, and later became the only manager to interrupt the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
' string of American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennants from to . With a .584 career winning percentage, he ranks 4th in major league history among managers of at least 2000 games, behind Joe McCarthy (.615), Frank Selee
Frank Selee
Frank Gibson Selee was an American Major League Baseball manager in the National League . In his 16 year Major League career, he managed the Boston Beaneaters for 12 seasons, and the Chicago Orphans for four.He was noted for his ability to assess and utilize talent, which gave his teams a great...
(.598) and John McGraw
John McGraw
John McGraw may refer to:* John McGraw , , New York lumber tycoon, and one of the founding trustees of Cornell University* John McGraw , , Governor of Washington state from 1893–1897...
(.586). Over the course of 15 full seasons as manager, he never had a losing record.
Biography
Ybor City, Tampa, Florida
Ybor City is a historic neighborhood in Tampa, Florida located just northeast of downtown. It was founded in the 1880s by cigar manufacturers and was populated by thousands of immigrants, mainly from Spain, Cuba, and Italy...
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, the son of a cigar factory worker, Lopez' baseball career began with the local team, the Tampa Smokers
Tampa Smokers
The Tampa Smokers was a name used from 1919 to 1954 by a series of minor league and semi-professional baseball teams based in Tampa, Florida. The nickname was a nod to the local cigar industry, which was the most important industry in Tampa during the years in which the Smokers were active.-Florida...
, in . He broke into the major leagues briefly in with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, and became their starting catcher in . Over a career which ran until , he played for the Dodgers (1928, 1930-), Boston Bees
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(-), Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1940-) and Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1947). He compiled modest numbers, including 613 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 51 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, and 652 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and a .261 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
. His best season was in , when he hit .301, stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
10 bases, and finished 10th in National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
MVP
MLB Most Valuable Player Award
The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award is an annual Major League Baseball award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers Association of America...
voting. In , he surpassed Gabby Hartnett
Gabby Hartnett
Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Until the career of Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest catcher in the history of the National League...
's record for career games as a catcher. The record stood until , when Bob Boone
Bob Boone
Robert Raymond Boone is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and...
broke it; Lopez' National League record was broken by Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
in .
Lopez could get himself thrown out of a game on purpose, according to Baseball's Greatest Managers (1961). During his career as a catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was working behind the plate on a hot day and decided to leave the game even if he had to get the thumb. As luck would have it, the plate umpire was Charley Moran
Charley Moran
Charles Barthell Moran , nicknamed "Uncle Charley," was an American sportsman who gained renown as both a catcher and umpire in Major League Baseball and as a collegiate and professional football coach.-Early life:...
, who, Lopez knew, had been a college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
coach in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. So, between innings, Lopez turned around and baited Moran.
"Charlie, weren't you once a famous football coach?" Lopez asked.
Off guard, Moran said, "Why yes, I coached the Praying Colonels at Centre College
Centre College
Centre College is a private liberal arts college in Danville, Kentucky, USA, a community of approximately 16,000 in Boyle County south of Lexington, KY. Centre is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders, with whom it maintains a loose...
."
"Is that so?" Lopez asked innocently. "What were they praying for--a new coach?"
In a moment he was on his way to the showers.
Lopez' largest contributions to the sport began in , when he became the manager of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, a position he would hold until . In , the Indians won a then American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
record 111 games (since broken by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
). In every other season he spent with the team, the Indians finished second to the Yankees.
Lopez moved on to manage the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in and carried his success over to his new team. As White Sox manager until , he never had a losing season. The White Sox won the American League pennant in 1959
1959 World Series
The 1959 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers beating the American League champion Chicago White Sox, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years . They would have to wait until 2005 to win another championship...
and finished in second place five times, never posting fewer than 82 victories. His 1954 and 1959 teams were the only non-Yankee clubs to win the AL pennant between and inclusive.
Lopez briefly returned to manage 47 games in for the White Sox and 17 games in , then retired. His 1,410 wins ranked 11th all-time upon his retirement, and his 840 wins with the White Sox still rank second in franchise history, behind Jimmy Dykes
Jimmy Dykes
James Joseph Dykes was an American third and second baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox from 1918 to 1939...
(899).
Al Lopez Field
Al Lopez Field was a spring training and Minor League baseball park in Tampa, Florida, United States. It was named for Tampa native and Baseball Hall of Famer Al Lopez....
in his hometown of Tampa was named in his honor. He was later ejected from a spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
exhibition game at that field after yelling at an umpire. The field was razed in , and its former location is now the south end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
of Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events...
. In 1992, Horizon Park, a city park a few blocks north of the old ballpark site, was renamed Al Lopez Park in his honor and a statue of him was dedicated there.
Lopez died in Tampa at the age of 97 just four days after the White Sox won the 2005 World Series
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
, their first championship in 88 years and their first pennant-winning season since Lopez led them to the World Series in 1959
1959 World Series
The 1959 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers beating the American League champion Chicago White Sox, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years . They would have to wait until 2005 to win another championship...
. He had been hospitalized for a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, suffered two days earlier at his son's home. At the time of his death, Lopez was the last living person who had played major league baseball during the 1920s. At 97, he was the longest-lived member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
External links
- Al Lopez, A Legend: The Tampa Tribune
- "Hall of Fame manager Al Lopez dies at 97" - Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, October 30, 2005 - "Al Lopez Dies" - Tampa Tribune, October 30, 2005
- Al Lopez chronology - Tampa Tribune
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