Eddie Lake
Encyclopedia
Eddie Lake, born March 18, 1916 in Antioch, California
, died June 7, 1995 in Castro Valley, California
, nicknamed "Sparky," http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lakeed01.shtml was a Major League Baseball player and shortstop for 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals
(1939-1941), Boston Red Sox
(1943-1945), and Detroit Tigers
(1946-1950).
In 11 seasons, Lake had a .231 batting average, but with his ability to draw bases on balls, Lake had a career on base percentage of .366 -- 135 points higher than his batting average. His 1945 on base percentage of .412 with the Red Sox led the American League.
Lake had over 100 bases on balls in three consecutive seasons. His walk totals were 106 in 1945 (2nd best in the AL); 103 in 1946 (3rd in the AL), and 120 in 1947 (3rd in the AL). He was also 4th best in the AL in times hit by pitche in 1946 with 4.
Lake was also a solid fielder, leading AL shortstops in assists and double plays in 1945. For the 1945 season, Lake collected 265 putouts, 459 assists, and 112 double plays. His range factor was 5.57 -- 63 points above the league average for shortstops.
Lake was traded by the Red Sox to the Tigers on January 3, 1946 for Rudy York
. Lake scored 105 runs in his first season for the Tigers in 1946.
He is interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
in Hayward, California
.
Antioch, California
Antioch is a city in Contra Costa County, California. Located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area along the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, it is a suburb of San Francisco and Oakland. The city's population was 102,372 at the U.S...
, died June 7, 1995 in Castro Valley, California
Castro Valley, California
Castro Valley is a census-designated place in Alameda County, California, United States. As of the 2000 census, it is the fifth most populous unincorporated area in California, and the twenty-third in the United States...
, nicknamed "Sparky," http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lakeed01.shtml was a Major League Baseball player and shortstop for 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1939-1941), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1943-1945), and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1946-1950).
In 11 seasons, Lake had a .231 batting average, but with his ability to draw bases on balls, Lake had a career on base percentage of .366 -- 135 points higher than his batting average. His 1945 on base percentage of .412 with the Red Sox led the American League.
Lake had over 100 bases on balls in three consecutive seasons. His walk totals were 106 in 1945 (2nd best in the AL); 103 in 1946 (3rd in the AL), and 120 in 1947 (3rd in the AL). He was also 4th best in the AL in times hit by pitche in 1946 with 4.
Lake was also a solid fielder, leading AL shortstops in assists and double plays in 1945. For the 1945 season, Lake collected 265 putouts, 459 assists, and 112 double plays. His range factor was 5.57 -- 63 points above the league average for shortstops.
Lake was traded by the Red Sox to the Tigers on January 3, 1946 for Rudy York
Rudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
. Lake scored 105 runs in his first season for the Tigers in 1946.
He is interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery (Hayward, California)
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery is a cemetery in Hayward, California. It is a Catholic cemetery run by the Oakland Diocese, which also operates the Holy Angels Funeral and Cremation Center at the same location....
in Hayward, California
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
.