Eddie Lopat
| Birthdate | 6/21/1918 |
| Death Date | 6/15/1992 |
| Debut Year | 1944 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Athletics, Orioles, White Sox, Yankees |
| Positions | Manager, Pitcher |
Eddie Lopat, Vic Raschi and Allie Reynolds formed The Big Three that pitched the Yankees to five straight World Series titles from 1949-1953.
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Eddie Lopat averaged more than 16 wins per season from 1947-53 with the White Sox and Yankees
Eddie Lopat averaged more than 16 wins per season from 1947-53 with the White Sox and Yankees
Eddie Lopat toiled in the bushes for seven seasons before reaching the big leagues. One he got there, he made the most of it.
The 5’10” left-hander put up 11 wins in his first season with the White Sox in 1944. After 10 wins in ’45, he posted consecutive sub-3.00 ERA campaigns in ’46 and ’47. Lopat won 50 games for Chicago, before Yankees General Manager George Weiss acquired him for three players in February, 1948.
The deal paid immediate dividends. In ’48 the southpaw tallied 17 wins for New York. Then in ’49, Lopat’s career took off. Teaming with Allie Reynolds and Vic Raschi, he pushed the Yankees to 97 wins and the World Series title.
From 1949 through 1953 the three pitchers combined for 255 wins against just 117 losses. Each of The Big Three had 20-win seasons, with five in total. Reynolds and Lopat each claimed an ERA title. Together the trio earned an MLB-record 5 straight World Series titles. In Fall Classic play the three went 15-6 with 10 complete games and 3 shutouts.
Despite debuting two months shy of his 26th birthday, Lopat finished his career with 166 wins, 164 complete games, and 27 shutouts to go along with the five World Series rings.
Shown here is an index card signed by Lopat. The 1953 American League leader in winning percentage has added the inscription, “1953 % leader and 16-4, 1953 ERA leader 2.43 Best of luck Eddie Lopat”.
Vic Raschi earned six World Series rings with the New York Yankees from 1947-1953
Vic Raschi earned six World Series rings with the New York Yankees from 1947-1953
No starting pitcher has earned more World Series rings than Vic Raschi of the New York Yankees. His six championships came in 1947 and every season from 1949-1953. Fellow right-hander Allie Reynolds joined Raschi for each of those championships and in the record books.
Raschi is best known for teaming with Reynolds and southpaw Eddie Lopat for an MLB-record five straight Fall Classic titles. Known as The Big Three, the trio was quite formidable. Raschi did his part during the five-year run, leading the league in starts twice, and winning percentage and strikeouts once each. During the championship run, it was Raschi, the four-time All Star and three-time 21-game winner who led the team in wins.
Overall Raschi won 132 big league games with 106 complete games and 26 shutouts. Had the war not delayed his MLB start until age 27, Vic Raschi just might be in the Hall of Fame.
Shown here is a government postcard signed by Vic Raschi. The back of the postcard can be seen on Raschi’s page by clicking here. It has a postmark of April 8, 1950. Raschi was days away from the starting the second of three straight 21-win seasons. By the end of the 1950 campaign, Raschi would have the highest winning percentage in the American League, thanks to his 21-8 record.
In Game 1 of the World Series Raschi vanquished NL MVP Jim Konstanty and the Phillies with a two-hit shutout as the Yankees swept the Phillies. Raschi earned the third of his record six World Series rings.
Only Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi and three Yankee Cooperstown hurlers have six championships
Only Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi and three Yankee Cooperstown hurlers have six championships
Allie Reynolds is one of five starting pitchers to earn six World Series rings. He’s joined by fellow Yankees Red Ruffing, Whitey Ford, Lefty Gomez, and Vic Raschi. Reynolds got his rings in 1947 and from 1949-1953 as a teammate of Raschi.
Together with southpaw Eddie Lopat, Reynolds and Raschi made up The Big Three that powered New York to an MLB-record five straight Fall Classic triumphs.
Reynolds enjoyed a 13-year big league career that included five seasons of 17 or more wins, including a 20-win campaign in 1952 when he also led the AL in ERA. His first five years were with the Indians. Reynolds won 51 games in Cleveland. He made one All Star Game with the Tribe and led the Junior Circuit in strikeouts in 1943.
During his time in New York, Reynolds and the Yankees were in the thick of the pennant race every year. He appeared in six Fall Classics, going 7-2 with four saves and a 2.89 ERA. At bat, he helped his own cause, hitting .308, 145 points over his regular season average. On baseball’s biggest stage, Reynolds was at his best.
Shown here is a pair of index cards signed by Reynolds. In the top card he has added the inscription “7 World Series Wins, 4 Saves, 2 losses”. In the bottom card, Reynolds has written his nickname, “Super Chief”.
