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A light-hitting shortstop, Lavan was error-prone, booting the ball for both St. Louis teams. He made 75 errors in 1915 for the Browns and later twice led NL shortstops in miscues while with the Cardinals. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 8, 1917: Following yesterday's loss to Chicago, Browns owner Phil Ball accuses his players of laying down on the job because they dislike manager Fielder Jones. SS Doc Lavan and 2B Del Pratt sue him for $50,000 damages for alleged slanderous statements in St. Louis newspapers. Both are in the lineup, however, when Detroit beats the Browns, 1–0 in 12 innings. Ty Cobb triples off the RF fence in the 12th and scores on a sac fly. » September 17, 1920: The Cards set a National League record by cracking out 12 consecutive hits in the 4th and 5th innings against the Braves. Ten of the hits occur in the 4th inning when St. Louis scores eight runs. The last two outs come as Milt Stock tries to stretch a single and Austin McHenry tries the same on a double. Both are thrown out. In the 5th inning, Doc Lavan opens with a double and Cliff Heathcote singles before a Redbird finally makes an out. St. Louis wins 9–4. » June 12, 1922: The Cards get 10 straight hits in the sixth to beat the Phils 14–7, tying their own record of September 17, 1920. One of the hits is a smash over the short RF fence with 2 men on by SS Specs Torporcer, the first nonpitcher to wear glasses. But Toporcer’s first homer is negated when he passes base runner Doc Lavan. Specs is credited with a single. » September 29, 2002: The Cardinals win their 97th, beating the Brewers, 4–0. Andy Benes pitches five innings before leaving with a back twinge. Wayne Franklin pitches seven innings for the Brewers. Edgar Renteria knocks in the game's 1st run in the 8th with the 1st of two RBIs. He finishes with 82 RBIs, the highest for a Bird SS since Doc Lavan's 82 in 1921. Albert Pujols has no RBIs, but finishes with 127, one behind National League leader Lance Berkman. Pujols is the first batter since Ted Williams in 1939–40 to drive in more than 250 runs in his first two seasons in the majors. Pujols drove in 257 runs in his first two campaigns. Just four big–leaguers have posted 250 or more RBIs in their first two years in the majors. Joe DiMaggio holds the record with 292 ribbies in his first two; Dale Alexander with 272, is in 2nd place.