gold star for USAHOF

5. Bob Lemon

5. Bob Lemon
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: September 22, 1920 in San Bernardino, CA USA
  • Weight: 180 lbs.
  • Height: 6'0"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: September 09, 1941
  • Final Game: July 01, 1958
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1948
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1948
  • TSN All-Star - 1948
  • TSN Pitcher of the Year - 1948
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1950
  • TSN All-Star - 1950
  • TSN Pitcher of the Year - 1950
  • TSN All-Star - 1954
  • TSN Pitcher of the Year - 1954
  • MVP - 1948
  • MVP - 1949
  • MVP - 1950
  • MVP - 1952
  • MVP - 1953
  • MVP - 1954
  • MVP - 1956
 
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Bob Lemon sought out his baseball journey as an everyday player in the Outfield, first debuting in 1941, playing five Games that year and another five in 1942 at the Major League level.  During World War II, he joined the Military, missing three years but returned at age 25 and was set to become the starting Centerfielder.  He got off to a great start, with a spectacular diving catch saving the win for the Indians.  Despite this, the Indians had other ideas, as they needed pitching help and thought his past experience on the mound would serve the team better.  They would be right.

Lemon was a middling hurler in his first two years, but he broke out in 1948, throwing a no-hitter and going 20-14, and leading the American League in Shutouts (10), Innings Pitched (293.2), and WHIP (1.226).  This year also began a seven-year streak of All-Star Games, and he was fifth for the MVP while being named the Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News.  He would also go 2-0 in the World Series, helping Cleveland win it all.

Lemon never won a World Series ring again, but he remained a potent Pitcher until the first half of the 1950s.  He led the AL twice more in Wins (1954 and 1955) with seven 20-Win years in total. Lemon also captured a Strikeouts title in 1950, and the workhorse also led hurlers four times in Innings pitched. Lemon also matched his fifth-place finish in MVP voting two more times (1950 & 1954), with him again winning the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year in both those seasons.  Notably, in that '54 campaign, he led the Indians to the American League Pennant, but his team lost to the New York Giants.  

He played until 1958, winning 207 Games against 128 Losses with 1,277 Strikeouts.

As a former Outfielder, his batting was expectedly decent.  He had a lifetime Batting Average of .232 with 274 Hits.  

After his playing days were done, he became a Manager, highlighted by a World Series win with the New York Yankees in 1978.

Lemon was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976, sixteen years after Cleveland enshrined him into their Hall of Fame.  Lemon's #21 was retired by the team in 1998.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Pitcher
  • Acquired: Signed as an Amateur Free Agent before the 1938 Season.
  • Departed:

    Released 7/2/58.

  • Games Played: 460
  • Notable Statistics:

    207 Wins
    128 Losses
    350 Games Started
    3.23 ERA
    188 Complete Games
    31 Shutouts
    73 Games Finished
    22 Saves
    2,850 Innings Pitched
    1,227 Strikeouts
    3.79 FIP
    1.377 WHIP
    1.02 SO/BB
    37.6 bWAR

    4 Playoff Games
    2 Wins
    2 Losses
    3.94 ERA
    4 Games Started
    2 Complete Games
    29.2 Innings Pitched
    17 Strikeouts
    1.54 WHIP
    1.13 SO/BB

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Champion (1948)
    TSN Pitcher of the Year (1948, 1950 & 1954)
    All-Star (1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 & 1954)
    Most Wins (1950, 1954 & 1955)
    Lowest WHIP (1948)
    Lowest H/9 (1952)
    Most Innings Pitched (1948, 1950, 1952 & 1953)
    Most Strikeouts (1950)
    Most Games Started (1950, 1951 & 1952)
    Most Complete Games (1948, 1950, 1952, 1954 & 1956)
    Most Shutouts (1948)
    Highest Win Probability Added (1949)
    Highest Championship Win Probability Added (1952)
    Most Putouts by a Pitcher (1948, 1949, 1952, 1953 & 1954)
    Most Assists by a Pitcher (1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953 & 1956)
    Highest Range Factor per Game by a Pitcher (1948, 1949 & 1953)

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