Al Lopez

cooperstownexpert.com
Birthdate 8/20/1908
Death Date 10/30/2005
Debut Year 1928
Year of Induction 1977
Teams Braves, Dodgers, Indians, Pirates, White Sox
Positions Catcher, Manager

From 1949-64 the Yankees won the AL pennant every year but two. Al Lopez managed both of those teams, the ’54 Indians and the ’59 White Sox.

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In the collection:

Lopez enjoyed a 19-year career catching career and set the lifetime mark for games caught

Lopez enjoyed a 19-year career catching career and set the lifetime mark for games caught

Al Lopez played his first seven big league seasons with Brooklyn. His time with the Dodgers included a .301 batting average in 1933 and an All Star selection in 1934. In both seasons he received support in MVP balloting. Lopez’s time in Brooklyn ended after the 1935 season when he was shipped
In Lopez's first four seasons he caught Hall of Fame pitcher Dazzy Vance

In Lopez's first four seasons he caught Hall of Fame pitcher Dazzy Vance

Al Lopez broke in with the Brooklyn Dodgers as a 20-year old catcher in 1928. For the first four seasons of his career he caught Hall of Fame pitcher Dazzy Vance. During Lopez’ first big league season, Vance led the senior circuit with 200 strikeouts and a 2.09 ERA while winning 22 games. Two
Lopez has the highest winning percentage in the history of the Cleveland franchise

Lopez has the highest winning percentage in the history of the Cleveland franchise

After finishing his playing career in 1947, Al Lopez had ambitions of becoming a big league skipper. First he managed in the Indians’ minor league club in Indianapolis for a few seasons. Then in 1951 he got his chance with the big club. Lopez guided the Indians to second place finishes in 1951
This letter traces the drawing to Lopez' final season as a big league player

This letter traces the drawing to Lopez' final season as a big league player

In this handwritten letter Al Lopez praises the artist of the drawing shown in the previous image. Lopez writes, “Enjoyed the sketch very much. Would enjoy one just like it or a bit larger if possible.”. The letter is on “Hotel Denver” stationary that boasts “Air Condit
Ten full seasons at the helm of the White Sox resulted in five 90-win seasons

Ten full seasons at the helm of the White Sox resulted in five 90-win seasons

Al Lopez had great success in Cleveland. That good fortune followed him to Chicago with the White Sox. Lopez guided the Chisox from 1957-1965, and for a handful of games in ’68 and ’69 after Chicago fired their skipper. In his nine full seasons in Chicago, the Sox won 90 or more five tim
In this handwritten letter Lopez identifies his greatest baseball thrill

In this handwritten letter Lopez identifies his greatest baseball thrill

Al Lopez enjoyed 36 years in a big league uniform, 19 as a player and 17 more as a manager. Here Lopez responds to a fan’s request to identify his greatest thrill. Lopez has difficulty narrowing down his many positive experiences. He does identify playing and managing in All Star games, and
Here Lopez provides his signature while saying he has quit signing autographs

Here Lopez provides his signature while saying he has quit signing autographs

A willing signer through the mail for many years Lopez decided to stop signing sometime in the early 1990s. In the collection is a note to a collector who requested that Lopez sign baseball cards. Lopez informs the collector of his change in policy writing, “I have never charged for my autogra

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"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball…"

~Jacques Barzun, 1954