AL Lopez

[rangercal]

http://sports.tbo.com/sports/MGB6PBKLFFE.html

 

BREAKING NEWS

 

Al Lopez Dies

Skip directly to the full story.

By JOEY JOHNSTON [email protected]

 

Published: Oct 30, 2005

 

 

 

He would've played major-league baseball for free. Al Lopez used to say that, usually with a smile. Money wasn't his object. His top annual playing salary was just $16,500 - a laughable figure when you consider the million-dollar payoffs for some of today's marginal performers.

 

But that's missing the point. Lopez's memories were priceless.

 

For him - and for everyone else in Tampa.

 

Lopez, a record-setting catcher and ironman whose managerial excellence earned him a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame, died Saturday night after a lifetime of being the most famous athletic patriarch in his hometown. At age 97, he had been the oldest baseball player enshrined at Cooperstown, N.Y., and - until last week - the last manager to lead the Chicago White Sox into the World Series, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games in 1959.

 

Lopez is survived by his son, Al Jr., daughter-in-law, three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Lopez's wife, Connie, died in 1983.

 

His influence is everywhere. Lopez's baseball success helped to fuel Tampa's passion for the sport, which, at last count, had produced more than 60 major-league players and dozens of championship teams in the youth leagues.

 

''People who grew up around Tampa rooted for Al and his teams,'' said Brandon resident Tony Saladino, whose annual high school baseball tournament set up an Old-Timers Day to honor Lopez and players from past eras. ''He never forgot where he was from. He stayed true to his roots and I believe that's a reason why he was so loved around here.''

 

Following his 19-season playing career for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians, which ended with his 1947 retirement, Lopez held the record for most games caught (1,918) in the major leagues (later broken by Bob Boone). He did it the hard way, breaking every finger on his hand (some twice).

 

Lopez later became manager of the Indians and Chicago White Sox, during a time when the New York Yankees ruled the American League.

 

Lopez's 1954 Indians won a league-record 111 games to win the AL pennant, but were later swept by the New York Giants in the World Series. The New York Yankees, who seven times finished ahead of Lopez's second-place clubs during the 1950s, won 103 games and finished eight games back. No other Yankees team won 100 games that decade.

 

''It wasn't like the Yankees blew it,'' Lopez once said. ''The Yankees were great. We just beat them that time.''

 

Lopez's managerial career ended with 1,422 wins and 1,026 losses for a .581 winning percentage, which was ninth on the all-time list. In a poll taken by retired major-leaguers in the mid-1980s, Lopez was voted the seventh-best defensive catcher and the seventh-best manager of all time.

 

''He knew about catching, he knew about defense, he knew about pitching,'' Al Rosen, the Indians' third baseman in 1954, once said of Lopez. ''He was one of those people who just had a great feel for the game.

 

''I think every player who ever played for him must feel the same way: He was the consummate gentlemen, and you knew he was always in your corner.''

 

Lopez made his reputation … of athletic toughness and a gentlemanly demeanor … during his many baseball travels around the country. Through it all, he always returned to his hometown.

 

When named manager of the Indians in 1951, he received a parade from the locals. In 1954, the city's new spring training stadium was named Al Lopez Field. It would become home for the Cincinnati Reds and the Florida State League's Tampa Tarpons. It also hosted a rally for President Kennedy in 1963, days before he was assassinated in Dallas.

 

Al Lopez Field, razed in 1989, was on the parcel of land now occupied by the south end zone of Raymond James Stadium. Lopez had the stadium's dedication plaque and its home plate among his memorabilia. A group of citizens, seeking another way to honor Lopez's legacy, funded construction of a bronze statue of Lopez, the catcher, at the southeast corner of what is now Al Lopez Park.

 

''To be remembered like that is one of the highlights of my life,'' Lopez once said.

 

That life began when many of Tampa's main thoroughfares were dirt roads. Lopez, the son of Spanish immigrants (by way of Cuba), was born in Ybor City. His father, Modesto, worked in a cigar factory before dying of throat cancer at age 54.

 

Lopez had just been offered $150 a month to play for the Tampa Smokers, thus beginning his climb toward the major leagues. His father never saw any of the storied baseball career.

 

From start to finish, it was one to remember.

 

Lopez had been the only surviving player from the second All-Star Game (1934) and was the oldest living member of the Hall of Fame. On Aug. 20, 2003, he became the first person enshrined at Cooperstown to turn 95, breaking the previous longevity record of 94 years, 363 days held by Elmer Flick, who began playing in the 19th century.

 

He once caught Walter Johnson. In spring training, he played against Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. He was managed by a young Casey Stengel. He saw the end of Joe DiMaggio and the beginning of Mickey Mantle.

 

Later - much later, actually - he threw out a ceremonial first pitch at the Devil Rays' inaugural game. He constantly watched Tampa Bay games on television and remained hopeful that Manager Lou Piniella would turn around the team's fortunes.

 

For years, Lopez lived alone in his waterfront home. He used to love golf … sometimes, he would shoot his age at Palma Ceia … but back problems derailed that hobby. So he looked elsewhere, to old friends and daily games of gin rummy.

 

His mind was clear and his memory excellent. He always told great stories and loved to talk baseball.

 

''He'd ask you about yourself, with genuine interest,'' Saladino said. ''Here was this man who had seen and done it all. And he wants to know about you. The way he lived, the way he treated people, that's why Al Lopez is my role model.''

 

 

RIP AL Lopez

Edited October 30, 2005 by rangercal

[Rowand44]

RIP

[Punch and Judy Garland]

Thats too bad. He was the oldest living HOF'er. Not sure who holds that distinction now. I don't know how much he cares about White Sox baseball, but if he does Im glad he saw the win

[nitetrain8601]

RIP. Poor guy. At least he got to witness a White Sox World Series winner.

[iWiN4PreP]

wow.. RIP.

[SnB]

you know he died with a smile on his face, he saw a championship.

[WilliamTell]

Do you suppose he was just holding on? I don't know if I'm one to believe that sort of thing, but it was kind of interesting that an unusual amount of older Red Sox fans passed away after they won it last year.

[greasywheels121]

Glad to see he got to see one of the best Sox moments ever. RIP.

[Punch and Judy Garland]

Do you suppose he was just holding on? I don't know if I'm one to believe that sort of thing, but it was kind of interesting that an unusual amount of older Red Sox fans passed away after they won it last year.

 

Was he really a Sox fan? I know he managed here but I wasn't sure if his loyalties were more to Cleveland, someone else, or no one at all

[WilliamTell]

Was he really a Sox fan? I know he managed here but I wasn't sure if his loyalties were more to Cleveland, someone else, or no one at all

 

yeah that's what I was wondering.

[Antonio Osuna]

Seems he died a Devil Rays fan.

 

But it seems that, above all, he was simply a baseball fan. And therefore, I don't think he really had a problem with how this White Sox team won it all. I'm sure he approved.

[rangercal]

For those of us wondering If Al Lopez was a fan : http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/co...ley-lopez_x.htm

 

Lopez — the Senor — has 'wonderful' memories of '59 Series

 

 

Al Lopez stayed up way past his bedtime on Sunday night, but it was worth it. He watched — and celebrated in a quiet way — the Chicago White Sox's first trip to the World Series since 1959.

For Lopez, who turned 97 in August, it was a warm and fuzzy feeling seeing the White Sox mob each other on the field at Angel Stadium after knocking the Los Angeles Angels out of the American League Championship Series.

 

For Lopez, who turned 97 in August, it was a warm and fuzzy feeling seeing the White Sox mob each other on the field at Angel Stadium after knocking the Los Angeles Angels out of the American League Championship Series.

 

The Senor could close his eyes, think back 46 years and vividly remember what that scene was like to win the pennant. He managed the White Sox the last time they went to the World Series.

 

"They have a darn good ballclub," Lopez said on the phone Monday morning from his home in Tampa. "I was so happy to see it. Chicago's a real fine city, and that manager (Ozzie Guillen) is doing a great job."

 

The current White Sox ended a long drought. It was also that way for Lopez in 1959.

 

There was an enormous celebration when his "Go Go" White Sox made it for the first time since 1919 when Shoeless Joe Jackson and the "Black Sox" threw the scandal-ridden Series.

 

"That was a great year (1959) for the White Sox, but a tough loss in the World Series," said Lopez, who was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1977 as a manager.

 

Opening at the old Comiskey Park, the White Sox won the first game against the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-0. Early Wynn, who had pitched for Lopez when Al managed the 1954 Cleveland Indians to the World Series, threw seven scoreless innings on six hits before he was replaced in the eighth.

 

Ted Kluszewski, obtained from Pittsburgh in August, drove in five runs with a couple of two-run homers and an RBI single. The trademark of that team was the Luis Aparicio-led running attack.

 

And Lopez's adroit managing.

 

The White Sox had a 2-1 lead after six innings in Game 2, but lost 4-3 and went on to lose the Series to the Dodgers, who moved to California the year before, four games to two.

 

Despite the loss, taking the White Sox to the World Series that year ranks high on Lopez's achievements.

 

During our conversation, he kept repeating how "wonderful it was to do it for the great city of Chicago."

 

He'd also coaxed an overachieving season out of the '54 Indians, who along with his '59 White Sox, were the only teams to beat out the New York Yankees for first place in the AL from 1949-64.

 

Lopez is not from the same mold as Guillen, who has great rapport with his players. The Senor wasn't tough on his players but still ruled with an iron hand.

 

I can remember during that era Lopez, always a gentleman, was one of the most respected men in baseball. One time he talked about catching Walter Johnson "when I was 16 years old." He was the captain of three teams he played for — the Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

In reality, the White Sox probably had no business winning the AL pennant in '59. The Indians, who finished second, might have been better — on paper.

 

"He was a great manager," said Jerome Holtzman, Hall of Fame writer now MLB historian who covered the 1959 White Sox for the Chicago Sun-Times. "He never missed a pitch. He had been a catcher, and one of the things he was very good at was that he knew when a pitcher was losing his stuff. He could anticipate so well. He just wouldn't wait until he was clobbered."

 

Lopez, whose record of 1,918 games caught lasted for more than 40 years, played for four teams from 1928 to 1947. He managed the Indians (1951-56), and the White Sox (1957-65, 1968-69). His '54 Indians, with Wynn, Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Mike Garcia and Art Houtteman on the pitching staff, won 111 of 154 games, an AL record that lasted 44 years.

 

Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser, who pitched for Lopez in Cleveland, once said: "He's probably the finest manager I ever played for, running a ballclub and just being the gentleman that he is. He wasn't that easy. He was the manager, and no one ran all over him."

 

After managing the White Sox from 1957 through 1965, Lopez returned during the '68 season and left before the '69 season ended.

 

Stress was getting to him. "I finally quit when I was having problems going to sleep," he said. "That's when it was time to get out."

 

Now, with the White Sox back in the World Series there probably will be a lot more sleepless nights for the Senor.

[aboz56]

Seems he died a Devil Rays fan.

We can always leave it to you to get your word in, no matter what it is. Grow up dude, seriously. You aren't making any friends.

 

Anyhow, RIP Mr. Lopez.

 

Glad you lived to see a White Sox World Series Winner.

 

Prayers and thoughts to your family.

[Antonio Osuna]

We can always leave it to you to get your word in, no matter what it is.  Grow up dude, seriously.  You aren't making any friends.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Huh?

 

The article states that he followed the Devil Rays in the past few years of his life.

[Soxfest]

RIP........Tonight could of been game 7

[Milkman delivers]

Huh?

 

The article states that he followed the Devil Rays in the past few years of his life.

 

Yeah, I don't see what's wrong with that at all. The article seemed to say he was a fan of everything Tampa, including the Devil Rays.

 

I'm sure he was still happy to see the White Sox win it all, and it's still eerie that he died so soon after it, but it doesn't mean the guy was a White Sox fan.

[Antonio Osuna]

I think he took my comment out of context. People were asking what team he felt closest to, and, by what I read in the article, it seemed to me that the Devil Rays were his favorite ballclub at the time of his death.

 

But I certainly didn't mean that in a "he's a D-Rays fan, let's not mourn his passing" kind of way, and, indeed, I stated that he probably approved of this year's Sox. Shortly thereafter, an article was posted proving me correct.

[Texsox]

RIP Al.

[YASNY]

I had forgotten the Lopez came back to manage the Sox in 68 and 69. RIP Senor.

[Guest JimH]

I had forgotten the Lopez came back to manage the Sox in 68 and 69.  RIP Senor.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Eddie Stanky was having the same sort of stress problems, and there was a mini revolt in the clubhouse, because 1968 was going so poorly. Sox ownership at the time felt the need to bring back someone who could keep everything in line, that's why they went back to Lopez.

 

Don Gutteridge, one of Lopez's long time coaches, finished up the 1969 season as I recall.

[Dan]

RIP Al Lopez. the White Sox have lost the last of the Go Go White Sox, but your memory will live on! you know the man was happy, he made his championship.

[Greg The Bull Luzinski]

RIP AL, God bless and Godspeed.

Edited October 31, 2005 by Greg The Bull Luzinski

[BigEdWalsh]

RIP Senor. Thanks for some great memories!!

[whitesoxmanager]

what a way to go! unreal!

[elrockinMT]

Al Lopez was a great Sox manager and even after retirement he would be at the Sox training camps when Spring Training for the team was in Sarasota, FL. Luis Aparicio, who was traded from the Sox to Baltimore and returned to the Sox spoke with reverence of Al Lopez and called him sir when he saw him at the Sox training camp. Yes, Al Lopez was a Sox fan, who loved baseball no matter where or who was playing. This is a sad day.