Books and articles about Johnny Lindell

Johnny Lindell made the transition from a pitcher to an outfielder in the major leagues, then battled back to the majors again as a pitcher near the end of his career. After signing with the Yankees while at the University of Southern California, he posted outstanding minor league pitching marks, including 23-4 at Newark in 1941. He was called up to the majors at the end of that season and spent '42 on the Yankee staff. He threw a knuckleball and curve, but Yankee manager Joe McCarthy did not believe he had a major league fastball and switched him to the outfield in 1943. In his best season, 1944, he hit .300 with 18 home runs and 103 RBI. After WWII ended, he was used mostly as a reserve. All told, he played on three pennant winners (1943, '47, '49).

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Sold to the Cardinals in May 1950, he managed only a .186 batting average. At the end of the season, he was sold again, this time to Hollywood of the PCL, where manager Fred Haney put him back on the pitching mound. In 1952 he posted a 24-9 pitching record, batted fourth, and occasionally played the outfield. He was easily the league MVP. At age thirty-six he returned to the majors, pitching for the Pirates and Phillies in 1953 for a combined 6-17 mark. He had trouble putting his knuckleball over (his 139 bases on balls led the league) and hitters sat on his fastball. (BC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » March 19, 1940: In an exhibition game that might be a spring training record of sorts, the Kansas City Blues pound the Washington Senators, 22–5. The Blues collect 23 hits for 46 bases. Frenchy Bordagaray starts the scoring with a home run in the 1st; Jack Saltzgaver is 3-for-3 with three triples and five RBIs. Another familiar name, Johnny Lindell, yields three hits in three innings for the Blues. » April 18, 1944: Hank Borowy of the Yankees shuts out the Red Sox 3-0, as Johnny Lindell hits the first HR of 1944. » August 17, 1944: Yankee OF Johnny Lindell, converted from a pitcher the year before, hits four straight doubles to share a major-league mark. » November 23, 1944: Five groups totaling 23 players, managers, umpires, and writers visit war theaters as part of the USO program. Included are Mel Ott, Dutch Leonard, Frankie Frisch, Bucky Walters, Harry Heilmann, Carl Hubbell, Freddie Fitzsimmons, Bill Summers, Beans Reardon, Johnny Lindell, Tuck Stainback, Steve O'Neill, Leo Durocher, Joe Medwick, Nick Etten, Dixie Walker, Paul Waner, and Rip Sewell. » April 19, 1945: Joe Cronin of the Red Sox, catches his spikes at 2B and fractures his right leg in a 4–3 loss to the Yankees. The 39-year-old will retire but continues as manager. Mike Ryba decides the game by hitting Johnny Lindell on the wrist with the bases full in the 9th. » May 13, 1947: The Yankees pound the Browns 9–1 with Charlie Keller, DiMaggio, and Johnny Lindell combining for consecutive homers off starter Fred Sanford in the 6th inning. » May 20, 1948: At Chicago, Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle and adds another homer to drive in six runs, as the Yanks coast, 13–2. DiMag almost has a 6th extra base hit, but left fielder Ralph Hodgin snares it at the wall. Johnny Lindell adds a homer to back Vic Raschi's pitching over Orval Grove. DiMaggio is the first Yankee in eight years to hit for the cycle. DiMag last cycled in 1937. » May 5, 1949: Before the start of a series with the Yanks, the White Sox abandon their trick LF fence. The 5-foot chicken wire fence, erected to cut the distance by 20 feet, resulted in 11 home runs in eight games, but opponents hit seven of them. The American League will subsequently rule that fences cannot be moved more than once a season. The Yanks still win today, 7–5, to go 13–3. Tommy Henrich has the only homer, while Johnny Lindell, Yankee left fielder, twice makes catches that would've cleared the wire fence. Allie Reynolds, with help from Joe Page, is the winner. » October 1, 1949: The Red Sox need to win just one of the final 2 games against New York to clinch the title. Before a crowd of 69,551 at Yankee Stadium, New York overcomes a 4-0 deficit, as Joe Page is nearly untouchable in 5 innings of relief. Johnny Lindell's HR wins it 5-4. » May 15, 1950: The Yankees sell veteran OF Johnny Lindell to the Cardinals and P Clarence "Cuddles" Marshall to the Browns. » May 3, 1953: Johnny Lindell, the converted outfielder, pitches the Pirates to their 5th straight win, beating the Cards, 6–2. Lindell drives in the 4th run with a double to beat Harvey Haddix and earn his first win since 1942.