Bob Lemon (1976)


Date of Birth: 9/22/1920
Date of Death: 1/11/2000
Birthplace: San Bernadino, California

Bob Lemon was a star baseball player in high school but not as a pitcher. He started his career as a shortstop and didn't start pitching until 1946, seven years after he signed his first major league contract.

Cleveland Indians

In 1937, Lemon, while still in high school, signed with the Cleveland Indians. He played in the minor leagues until 1941 when he joined the Indians in September for five games as a third baseman. The following season, he again played in just five games with the Indians.

Lemon joined the US Navy in 1943 and he did not return to the Indians until the end of World War II. In 1946, his first season back in the major leagues, he started as a center fielder but he was moved to the bullpen, pitching in 32 games with the Indians. That season he had a 4-5 record with 39 strikeouts to 68 walks and a 2.49 ERA. The following season, he had a 3.44 ERA with 11 wins and 5 losses in 37 games.

In 1948, Lemon was named the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year. He led the AL in innings pitched (293.2) and in complete games pitched (20). He had a 20-14 record with 147 strikeouts to 129 walks and a 2.82 ERA in 43 games. He pitched a no hitter on June 30th of that season.

Lemon had a 2.99 ERA in 37 games in 1949. He had 22 wins and 10 losses in 279.2 innings. His strikeout to walk ratio, however, was poor, something that was a problem for him throughout his career. In 1949, he walked 137 batters, almost the same number that he struck out (138).

In 1950, Lemon led the AL in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, and complete games, and he won his second Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award. He had career highs in games played (44), wins (23 to 11 losses), and strikeouts (170 to 146 walks). He finished the season with a 3.84 ERA in 288.0 innings. He pitched 22 complete games that year.

Lemon had a 3.52 ERA in 42 games in 1951. He had 17 wins and 14 losses and 132 strikeouts to 124 walks. He played well defensively, leading all AL pitchers in assists with 60.

Lemon had a strong season in 1952, when he led the AL in innings pitched (a career high 309.2) and complete games pitched (a career high 28). He had 22 wins and 11 losses, 131 strikeouts to 105 walks, and a career low ERA of 2.50 in 42 games. He again led all AL pitchers in assists with 79.

Lemon pitched a league leading 286.2 innings in 41 games in 1953. He had a 21-15 record and a 3.36 ERA. However, he had control issues, walking 110 batters and striking out 98. He once more led AL pitchers in assists with 74.

Lemon led the AL in wins and complete games in 1954, and he won his third Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award. He had a career high 23 wins to 7 losses, 110 strikeouts to 92 walks, and a 2.72 ERA in 258.1 innings in 36 games. He pitched 21 complete games.

In 1955, Lemon again led the AL in wins with 18 (to 10 losses). He had a 3.88 ERA and 100 strikeouts to 74 walks in 211.1 innings in 35 games. The next year, he once again led the AL in complete games pitched with 21. He finished the 1956 season with 20 wins and 14 losses and a 3.03 ERA in 39 games.

Lemon pitched in just 21 games in 1957, and he had a 4.60 ERA. The next year, he had a 5.33 ERA in 25.1 innings in 11 games. He retired after the 1958 season.

Awards and MLB Records

  • Sporting News Pitcher of the Year (3 times)
  • Led AL in wins (3 times)
  • Led AL in innings pitched (4 times)
  • Led AL in complete games (5 times)

Career Statistics

Statistics for Lemon as a pitcher in 13 seasons (1946-1958) in the major leagues include:

  • 7 seasons with 20 or more wins, with a high of 23 in 1950 and 1954
  • 5 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with lows of 2.49 in 1946 and 2.50 in 1952

Career pitching statistics for Lemon include:

  • 460 games played
  • 2,850.0 innings pitched
  • 207-128 win-loss record
  • 1,277 strikeouts to 1,251 walks
  • 3.23 ERA

Post Playing Career

Lemon became a pitching coach from 1958 until 1979, coaching for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels, Kansas City Royals, and New York Yankees. During those years, he also coached and managed in the minor leagues.

Lemon's first major league managerial position came during the 1970 season when the Kansas City Royals promoted him. In 1971, he led the Royals to their first winning season since their establishment as a franchise in 1969. That effort and success earned Lemon the American League Manager of the Year award. He remained manager of the Royals through the 1972 season.

In 1973, Lemon went back to coaching until 1977, when he became the manager of the Chicago White Sox. Although he was successful that season, and won his second American League Manager of the Year award, he was fired by the White Sox owner midway through the 1978 season.

Shortly after leaving the White Sox in 1978, Lemon was hired to manage the New York Yankees. Under his leadership in 1978, the Yankees won the American League pennant race. The following season, the Yankees faltered in the first half of the season and Lemon was fired. He came back, however, in 1981 to lead the Yankees to the World Series. They lost the series and shortly after the start of the 1982 season, Lemon was again fired. At that point, he retired permanently from major league baseball. As a manager in 833 games in the major leagues, Lemon had 430 wins to 403 losses.

Lemon was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1976 on the twelfth ballot with 78.6% of the vote.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Bob Lemon
ESPN - Bob Lemon
Baseball Reference - Bob Lemon

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