Bob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon ( born September 22 1920 in San Bernardino, California, † January 11, 2000 in Long Beach, California ) was an American baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball.
Biography
Bob Lemon tried before the Second World War, twice at the Cleveland Indians as a third baseman. His good approaches as a fielder, especially his strong throwing arm, but could not hide his mediocre performance impact. After 3 years in the Navy, he returned at the age of 26 years back to the Indians and began a distinguished career as a pitcher. As early as 1947 he was behind Bob Feller 's second-strongest throwers of Indians. Feller, Gene Bearden and Lemon were the guarantors of the World Series success of Cleveland in 1948 against the Boston Braves. Lemon led the American League in the statistics of shutouts, complete games and innings pitched. On June 30th of the year, he threw a no- hitter in the game against the Detroit Tigers.
Together with Feller, Early Wynn, Mike Garcia and Herb Score, he was the outstanding Pitchertruppe the Indians who attended from 1948 to 1956 splash in the American League. Only in 1951 with 17 wins and missed 1955 with 18 wins Lemon the magic number of 20 wins per season, he surpassed a total of seven times. 1948, 1950 and 1954, he was chosen by The Sporting News Pitcher of the outstanding American League. The New York Giants were subject to the Indians in the World Series in 1954 with 0:4 games. Lemon threw in the opening game, but had to allow a home run in the 10th inning of Dusty Rhodes. After two days of rest he threw already back in the fourth game, but the series could also be no more turning.
In shock, he showed greatly improved in the majors. He was considered one of the pitcher with the best batting average. With 37 home runs, he is still on the second place in the all leaderboard for pitcher Wes Ferrell behind.
For his achievements as a player, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976.
After a brief stint in the Pacific Coast League as a pitcher to Lemon dedicated the coaching duties in baseball. In 1966 he was chosen by The Sporting News for Minor League Manager of the Year. From 1970 to 1972, the Kansas City Royals, his first club as a manager in Major League were. Thanks to a second-place 1971 Lemon was able to receive the award as manager of the year here. This track he was able to win even with the Chicago White Sox, when he, a convincing sprint lay down with mediocre team, which he had taken during the season.
After he was released in 1978 by the White Sox, he took over the same year the New York Yankees, who had separated from their manager Billy Martin. The Yankees were at the end of the season tied with the Boston Red Sox, in a game the Yankees won decision thanks to homers by Bucky Dent. In the World Series, the Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers, Lemons first and only World Series titles as a manager. In half of the 1979 season, he was again replaced by Billy Martin.
His roller-coaster ride with the Yankees in 1981 went on. The season was divided into two halves due to the players strike. Under Gene Michael, the Yankees won the first half, but could in the second half did not go on from the previous benefits after the termination of the strike. Lemon again took over the managerial positions, won the division title against the Milwaukee Brewers and the American League Championship Series against the Oakland Athletics, but was subject to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. After a weak start in 1982 Lemon was replaced again by Michaels and ended his management career.