Sherm Lollar
Encyclopedia
John Sherman Lollar was an American
professional
baseball
player and coach
. He played as a catcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Cleveland Indians
(1946), New York Yankees
(1947–1948), St. Louis Browns
(1949–1951), and the Chicago White Sox
(1952–1963). Although he was often overshadowed by his contemporary, Yogi Berra
, Lollar was a nine-time All-Star
, and was considered one of the best catchers in the major leagues during the 1950s.
. He was a batboy
for the Fayetteville Angels in the Class D
Arkansas-Missouri League
in the 1930s. After studying at Pittsburg State Teachers College, Lollar both played and managed for the semipro Baxter Springs Miners, where he was a teammate of Mickey Mantle
. He worked as a brakeman in a local mine when he wasn’t playing baseball.
Lollar was signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent
in 1943
at the age of 18. In 1945, while playing for the Indians' minor league
team, the Baltimore Orioles
, he led the International League
with a .364 batting average
and won the league's Most Valuable Player
award. After making his major league debut in 1946
, Lollar played infrequently behind catchers Frankie Hayes
and Jim Hegan
, so he asked to be sent back to the minor leagues.
Lollar was traded to the Yankees where he competed with Yogi Berra for the catching position in 1947
. Lollar and Berra were considered excellent hitting prospects but defensive liabilities, although both eventually would become outstanding receivers. He started two games in the 1947 World Series
for the Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers
and went 3 for 4 with two double
s. Yankee coach and former catching great, Bill Dickey
, advised the Yankees that Berra's left-hand bat was more suited to Yankee Stadium
than Lollar's right-hand bat. After seeing limited action in 1948
due to a hand injury following a foul
tip, he was traded to the lowly St. Louis Browns and replaced Les Moss
as their starting catcher for the 1949
season. Lollar was hitting for a .314 batting average by mid-July in 1950
and, earned his first All-Star
selection as a reserve for the American League
team in the 1950 All-Star Game
. He ended the season with a career-high .391 on base percentage
.
Lollar was traded to the White Sox following the 1951
season, taking over the catching job from veteran Phil Masi
. For the next ten seasons, he was a mainstay at the catcher's position for the Go-Go White Sox teams of the 1950s and early 1960s that included future Hall of Fame members Nellie Fox
, Luis Aparicio
and Early Wynn
. His defensive skills improved under the tutelage of manager
Paul Richards
, who was himself a former major league catcher. Lollar, who Richards called, "a manager on the field," was a quiet workhorse who led by example and was an excellent handler of pitchers. In 1954
, after allowing a stolen base to Al Smith on May 25, he threw out all 18 would-be base stealers during the remainder of the year. Lollar tied a major League record on April 23, 1955
when he hit safely twice in two different innings
of the same game.
After finishing in third place for five consecutive seasons, in 1957
the White Sox would hold first place until late June before finishing the season in second place behind the New York Yankees
. Lollar won the Gold Glove Award
for catchers in , the first year of the award, which initially had one recipient per position for both leagues. That year he caught Bob Keegan
's no-hitter
on August 20. In 1958
, the White Sox would battle back from being in last place on June 14 to once again finish the season in second place behind the Yankees
. Lollar led the team with 20 home run
s and 84 runs batted in.
In 1959
, the White Sox won their first American League pennant
in 40 years, finishing the regular season five games ahead of the Cleveland Indians
. Lollar helped guide the White Sox pitching staff to the lowest earned run average
in the league. He also led the team once again with a career-high 22 home runs and 84 runs batted in and, won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award. He had 5 hits and 5 runs batted in, including a home run in the 1959 World Series
as the White Sox were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in a six-game series.
Lollar remained the White Sox starting catcher through the 1961
season. In 1962
, he appeared in only 84 games as Cam Carreon
caught the majority of the games. Lollar retired at the end of the 1963
season at the age of 38.
, accumulating 1,415 hits
in 5,351 at bats for a .264 career batting average along with 155 home runs, 808 runs batted in and a .357 on base percentage
. A nine-time All-Star
, Lollar led American League catchers in fielding percentage
four times over his career. In 1961
, he committed only one error
over the entire season. At the time of his retirement in 1963
, Lollar's .992 career fielding percentage was the highest for a catcher in major league history. During his career, Lollar threw out 46.18% of the base runners
who tried steal
a base on him, ranking him 5th on the all-time list. At the time of his retirement, he ranked 9th all-time in home runs by catchers.
for the Baltimore Orioles
from 1964
to 1968
. He won another World Series as a coach with the Orioles in 1966
. He subsequently was a coach for the Oakland Athletics
in 1969
and managed the Athletics' minor league affiliates the Iowa Oaks and the Tucson Toros
in the 1970s. He died of cancer
at age 53 in Springfield, Missouri
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
. He played as a 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...
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...
for 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...
(1946), 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...
(1947–1948), St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1949–1951), and 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...
(1952–1963). Although he was often overshadowed by his contemporary, Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
, Lollar was a nine-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, and was considered one of the best catchers in the major leagues during the 1950s.
Major League career
Lollar was born in Durham, ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. He was a batboy
Batboy
A batboy is an individual who carries the baseball bats around to a baseball team. A batboy may also lay out the equipment and mud the baseballs to be used in the game.Mascots and batboys had both been part of baseball since the 1880s....
for the Fayetteville Angels in the Class D
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Arkansas-Missouri League
Arkansas-Missouri League
The Arkansas-Missouri League was a "Class D" league in Minor League Baseball that operated from 1936-1940. It was formerly known as the Arkansas State League.-Cities Represented:*Bentonville, AR: Bentonville Mustangs 1936...
in the 1930s. After studying at Pittsburg State Teachers College, Lollar both played and managed for the semipro Baxter Springs Miners, where he was a teammate of Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
. He worked as a brakeman in a local mine when he wasn’t playing baseball.
Lollar was signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1943
1943 Cleveland Indians season
- Offseason :* Prior to 1943 season **Sherm Lollar was signed as an amateur free agent by the Indians.**Pete Milne was signed as an amateur free agent by the Indians.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
at the age of 18. In 1945, while playing for the Indians' minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team, the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (minor league)
The city of Baltimore, Maryland has been home to two minor league baseball teams called the Baltimore Orioles.-Name history:"Orioles" is a traditional name for baseball clubs in Baltimore . It was used by major league teams from 1882 through 1899 in the American Association/National League and by...
, he led the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
with a .364 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 :...
and won the league's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
award. After making his major league debut in 1946
1946 Cleveland Indians season
In 1946, Bill Veeck finally became the owner of a major league team, the Cleveland Indians. He immediately put the team's games on radio, and set about to put his own indelible stamp on the franchise...
, Lollar played infrequently behind catchers Frankie Hayes
Frankie Hayes
Frank Witman Hayes was an American professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to and, was highly regarded for his defensive abilities. He played most of his career for Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics and also spent time with the St. Louis Browns,...
and Jim Hegan
Jim Hegan
James Edward Hegan was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played for seventeen seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to and from to , most notably for the Cleveland Indians. After his playing career was over, he became a coach and scout in a baseball...
, so he asked to be sent back to the minor leagues.
Lollar was traded to the Yankees where he competed with Yogi Berra for the catching position in 1947
1947 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 45th season in New York, and its 47th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 15th pennant, finishing 12 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. New York was managed by Bucky Harris. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee...
. Lollar and Berra were considered excellent hitting prospects but defensive liabilities, although both eventually would become outstanding receivers. He started two games in the 1947 World Series
1947 World Series
The 1947 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning the Series in seven games for their first title since , and the eleventh championship in team history...
for the Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers
1947 Brooklyn Dodgers season
On April 15, Jackie Robinson was the opening day first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first black player in Major League Baseball since . Robinson went on to bat .297, score 125 runs, steal 29 bases and be named the very first Rookie of the Year...
and went 3 for 4 with two double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s. Yankee coach and former catching great, Bill Dickey
Bill Dickey
William Malcolm Dickey was a Major League Baseball catcher and manager.He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the New York Yankees . During Dickey's playing career, the Yankees went to the World Series nine times, winning eight championships...
, advised the Yankees that Berra's left-hand bat was more suited to Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
than Lollar's right-hand bat. After seeing limited action in 1948
1948 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 46th season in New York and its 48th overall. The team finished with a record of 94-60, finishing 2.5 games behind the Cleveland Indians and 1.5 games behind the second-place Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Bucky Harris...
due to a hand injury following a foul
Foul ball
In baseball, a foul ball is a batted ball that:* Settles on foul territory between home and first base or between home and third base, or* Bounds past first or third base on or over foul territory, or...
tip, he was traded to the lowly St. Louis Browns and replaced Les Moss
Les Moss
John Lester "Les" Moss is a former American professional baseball player, coach, scout and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the St...
as their starting catcher for the 1949
1949 St. Louis Browns season
The 1949 St. Louis Browns season involved the Browns finishing 7th in the American League with a record of 53 wins and 101 losses.- Offseason :...
season. Lollar was hitting for a .314 batting average by mid-July in 1950
1950 St. Louis Browns season
The 1950 St. Louis Browns season involved the Browns finishing 7th in the American League with a record of 58 wins and 96 losses.- Offseason :* October 3, 1949: Ralph Winegarner was released by the Browns....
and, earned his first All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
selection as a reserve for the 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...
team in the 1950 All-Star Game
1950 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1950 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 17th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 11, 1950, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois the home of the...
. He ended the season with a career-high .391 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
.
Lollar was traded to the White Sox following the 1951
1951 St. Louis Browns season
The 1951 St. Louis Browns season involved the Browns finishing eighth in the American League with a record of 52 wins and 102 losses.- Bill Veeck :When Bill Veeck bought an 80 percent interest in the Browns, the first thing he did was sign Satchel Paige...
season, taking over the catching job from veteran Phil Masi
Phil Masi
Philip Samuel Masi was an American professional baseball player. From though , he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Boston Braves , Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox...
. For the next ten seasons, he was a mainstay at the catcher's position for the Go-Go White Sox teams of the 1950s and early 1960s that included future Hall of Fame members Nellie Fox
Nellie Fox
Jacob Nelson Fox was a Major League Baseball second baseman for the Chicago White Sox. Fox was born in St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania. He was selected as the MVP of the American League in...
, Luis Aparicio
Luis Aparicio
Luis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel is a former shortstop in professional baseball. His career in Major League Baseball spanned three decades, from through . Aparicio played for the Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
and Early Wynn
Early Wynn
Early Wynn Jr. , nicknamed "Gus", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 25-year baseball career, he pitched for the Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox...
. His defensive skills improved under the tutelage of 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...
Paul Richards
Paul Richards (baseball)
Paul Rapier Richards was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and executive in Major League Baseball. During his playing career, he was a catcher and right-handed batter with the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
, who was himself a former major league catcher. Lollar, who Richards called, "a manager on the field," was a quiet workhorse who led by example and was an excellent handler of pitchers. In 1954
1954 Chicago White Sox season
The 1954 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 54th season in the major leagues, and its 55th season overall. They finished with a record 94-60, good enough for third place in the American League, 17 games behind the first place Cleveland Indians....
, after allowing a stolen base to Al Smith on May 25, he threw out all 18 would-be base stealers during the remainder of the year. Lollar tied a major League record on April 23, 1955
1955 Chicago White Sox season
The 1955 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 55th season in the major leagues, and its 56th season overall. They finished with a record 91-63, good enough for third place in the American League, 5 games behind the first place New York Yankees....
when he hit safely twice in two different innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
of the same game.
After finishing in third place for five consecutive seasons, in 1957
1957 Chicago White Sox season
The 1957 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 57th season in the major leagues, and its 58th season overall. They finished with a record 90-64, good enough for second place in the American League, 8 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
the White Sox would hold first place until late June before finishing the season in second place behind the New York Yankees
1957 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 55th season for the team in New York, and its 57th season overall. The team finished with a record of 98-56 to win their 23rd pennant, finishing eight games ahead of the Chicago White Sox. New York was managed by Casey Stengel...
. Lollar won the Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
for catchers in , the first year of the award, which initially had one recipient per position for both leagues. That year he caught Bob Keegan
Bob Keegan
Robert Charles Keegan was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox from 1953-1958. He was originally from Rochester, New York....
's no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
on August 20. In 1958
1958 Chicago White Sox season
The 1958 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 58th season in the major leagues, and its 59th season overall. They finished with a record 82-72, good enough for second place in the American League, 10 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
, the White Sox would battle back from being in last place on June 14 to once again finish the season in second place behind the Yankees
1958 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 56th season for the team in New York, and its 58th season overall. The team finished with a record of 92-62, winning their 24th pennant, finishing 10 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox. In the World Series, they defeated the Milwaukee Braves in 7 games. New...
. Lollar led the team with 20 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 84 runs batted in.
In 1959
1959 Chicago White Sox season
The Chicago White Sox season was the team's 59th season in the major leagues, and its 60th season overall. They finished with a record 94-60, good enough to win the American League championship, five games ahead of the second place Cleveland Indians...
, the White Sox won their first American League pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
in 40 years, finishing the regular season five games ahead of the Cleveland Indians
1959 Cleveland Indians season
The 1959 Cleveland Indians season was the 59th in franchise history. The Indians finished in second place in the American League with a record of 89 wins and 65 losses, five games behind the AL Champion Chicago White Sox.- Offseason :...
. Lollar helped guide the White Sox pitching staff to the lowest earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in the league. He also led the team once again with a career-high 22 home runs and 84 runs batted in and, won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award. He had 5 hits and 5 runs batted in, including a home run in the 1959 World Series
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...
as the White Sox were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers
1959 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished in a first-place tie with the Milwaukee Braves, then won the pennant as they swept the Braves in a best-of-three playoff series. They went on to defeat the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series in just their second season since leaving Brooklyn.- Offseason :*...
in a six-game series.
Lollar remained the White Sox starting catcher through the 1961
1961 Chicago White Sox season
The 1961 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 61st season in the major leagues, and its 62nd season overall. They finished with a record 86-76, good enough for fourth place in the American League, 23 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
season. In 1962
1962 Chicago White Sox season
The 1962 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 62nd season in the major leagues, and its 63rd season overall. They finished with a record 85-77, good enough for fifth place in the American League, 11 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
, he appeared in only 84 games as Cam Carreon
Cam Carreon
Camilo Carreon was an American Major League Baseball player from 1959 to 1966 for the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles. His son Mark was also a Major League player....
caught the majority of the games. Lollar retired at the end of the 1963
1963 Chicago White Sox season
The 1963 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 63rd season in the major leagues, and its 64th season overall. They finished with a record 94-68, good enough for second place in the American League, 10½ games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
season at the age of 38.
Career statistics
In a 18 year career, Lollar played in 1752 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1,415 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 5,351 at bats for a .264 career batting average along with 155 home runs, 808 runs batted in and a .357 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
. A nine-time All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, Lollar led American League catchers in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
four times over his career. In 1961
1961 Chicago White Sox season
The 1961 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 61st season in the major leagues, and its 62nd season overall. They finished with a record 86-76, good enough for fourth place in the American League, 23 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
, he committed only one error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
over the entire season. At the time of his retirement in 1963
1963 Chicago White Sox season
The 1963 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 63rd season in the major leagues, and its 64th season overall. They finished with a record 94-68, good enough for second place in the American League, 10½ games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
, Lollar's .992 career fielding percentage was the highest for a catcher in major league history. During his career, Lollar threw out 46.18% of the base runners
Baserunning
In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat.In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. In fact, the goal of batting is generally to produce baserunners, or help move...
who tried steal
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...
a base on him, ranking him 5th on the all-time list. At the time of his retirement, he ranked 9th all-time in home runs by catchers.
Coaching and minor league managing career
When his playing career ended, he became a coachCoach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
from 1964
1964 Baltimore Orioles season
The 1964 Baltimore Orioles season involved the Orioles finishing 3rd in the American League with a record of 97 wins and 65 losses, two games behind the AL champion New York Yankees.- Offseason :...
to 1968
1968 Baltimore Orioles season
The 1968 Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. The team finished second in the American League with a record of 91 wins and 71 losses, 12 games behind the AL and World Series champion Detroit Tigers. The team was managed by Hank Bauer, until he was replaced right after the...
. He won another World Series as a coach with the Orioles in 1966
1966 World Series
The 1966 World Series matched the Baltimore Orioles against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Orioles sweeping the Series in four games to capture their first championship in franchise history...
. He subsequently was a coach for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in 1969
1969 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's compiling a record of 88 wins and 74 losses. With its expansion to 12 teams in 1969, the American League had been divided into two 6-team divisions. In their first year in the newly-established American League West, the Athletics finished second, nine...
and managed the Athletics' minor league affiliates the Iowa Oaks and the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
in the 1970s. He died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at age 53 in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
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External links
- Sherm Lollar SABR Biography
- Sherm Lollar in Baseball Digest, October 1953
- The Go-Go White Sox Again by Roy Terrell, Sports Illustrated, May 13, 1957
- Sherm Lollar at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...