Tony Lazzeri
| Birthdate | 12/6/1903 |
| Death Date | 8/6/1946 |
| Debut Year | 1926 |
| Year of Induction | 1991 |
| Teams | Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Yankees |
| Position | Second Base |
Tony Lazzeri is one of 14 players to hit for the natural cycle – single, double, triple, homer in sequence. He’s the only one to cap it with a grand slam.
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In the collection:
Lazzeri's 11 RBI on May 24, 1936 remains the AL record
Lazzeri's 11 RBI on May 24, 1936 remains the AL record
Second baseman Tony Lazzeri broke in with the Yankees in 1926 and made an immediate impact. The rookie’s 117 RBI helped push New York to the World Series.
The Fall Classic was a familiar destination during Lazzeri’s 14-year big league career. He played in 7 championship tilts and came away with 5 rings.
Lazzeri enjoyed his finest campaign in 1929. He hit .354 with a .429 on-base percentage and a .561 slugging mark. The 5’11” 170-pounder added in triple-digit totals in both runs scored and RBI.
On May 24, 1936, Lazzeri had a game for the ages, becoming the first player in Major League history to slug to grand slams in one game. His 11 runs batted in remain the American League’s standard.
When he left the bigs in 1939, Lazzeri’s career totals included a 380 on-base percentage, and a 121 OPS+. He was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
In the collection is a payroll check made out to Tony Lazzeri signed by Hall of Famers Jacob Ruppert, Ed Barrow, and Lazzeri.
Lazzeri was enjoying another outstanding year when this was written on August 15th, 1930.
He posted a career high 121 runs batted in during the 1930 campaign and hit over .300 for the fourth consecutive season.
Ruppert and Barrow have boldly signed the front of the check. Lazzeri’s signature appears on the back.
The second baseman drove in 100 or more run 7 times
The second baseman drove in 100 or more run 7 times
Tony Lazzeri’s run production was historic among second baseman. Ten of his 14 big league seasons featured at least 80 RBI, seven of them topped the 100-RBI mark.
His high-water mark for runs batted in came in 1930. That year he drove in 121 and scored a career-high 109 runs. It was his fourth-consecutive campaign with over a .300 average.
Shown here is the back of the Yankee payroll check made out to Lazzeri during that 1930 season. According to BaseballReference.com, the Yankees paid the second sacker $16,000 in 1930.
Lazzeri died in 1946 at just 42 years of age. His signature remains uncommon and can be seen here in the form of his endorsement.
Lazzeri was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991
Lazzeri was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991
Tony Lazzeri passed away at age 42 in 1946. According to the United Press International, upon returning from vacation Lazzeri’s wife found him dead at their home.
Forty-five years after his death Lazzeri gained baseball’s highest honor when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Shown here is the invitation to his induction. The Veterans Committee voted him in along with baseball showman Bill Veeck. The two were inducted along with writers selections 7-time batting champ Rod Carew, 314-game winner Gaylord Perry, and 7-time 20-game winner Fergie Jenkins. Cooperstown opened the doors to the quintet on July 21, 1991.
The back of this invitation is signed by Carew, inscribed to Herb Stein the scout who signed him. It can be viewed by clicking here.
