Books and articles about Sherm Lollar

Lollar, a quiet workhorse who led by example, was the White Sox' catcher through the "Go-Go" years. This was ironic, since he was painfully slow. But he was a dangerous hitter with good power and was outstanding on defense. He led AL backstops four times in fielding and his .992 career average ranks in the top five all-time. In 1962 he equaled the ML record by catching six pop-ups in one game.

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Lollar came up with the Indians in 1946 but was traded to the Yankees that December in the deal that sent Gene Bearden to Cleveland. After he put in two years of backup work in New York, the Browns acquired him in one of their many deals with the Yankees. In 1952 an eight-player deal brought him to Chicago, where he appeared in over 100 games for ten straight seasons.

On April 23, 1955 he became the third major leaguer in history to collect two hits in one inning twice in the same game. He slugged a pair of homers and had five RBI as the Sox defeated Kansas City 29-6. His best season was 1959. He hit 22 homers and had 84 RBI while handling Sox pitchers faultlessly as Chicago won its first pennant in 40 years. (RL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 20, 1946: With the trade for Al Lopez, the Indians send young catcher Sherm Lollar and 2B Ray Mack to the Yankees for minor league P Gene Bearden, P Al Gettel, and OF Hal Peck. Peck never played for New York after they acquired him in June. Lollar will play just 33 games in two years, while Mack is swapped after one game. Bearden, as a rookie knuckleballer in 1948, will win 20 games and the lead the American League in ERA. » December 13, 1948: After a year in New York, Red Embree is traded, along with young C Sherm Lollar, Dick Starr and $100,000, to the Browns. Embree will slump to 3–13 in St. Louis after having his only winning ML season in NY. Lollar is the prize, and will catch in the majors through 1963. The Yankees receive Fred Sanford and Roy Partee. Partee is ticketed for the minors, but Sanford will help the Yanks as a starter/reliever in 1949. » August 24, 1951: In another of Bill Veeck's legendary PR stunts, "Fans Managers' Night," the Browns defeat the Athletics 5–3. The Browns coaches hold up placards for 1115 fans, who vote "yes" or "no" on the options given them. Manager Zack Taylor sits in a box behind the dugout with two fans who monitor the voting. Adding to the festivities is Max Patkin, the clown prince of baseball, who coaches at 1B for several innings. Sherm Lollar voted in behind the plate instead of Matt Batts, has three hits including a homer, and Hank Arft, also voted in, knocks home two. Gus Zernial's 28th home run, off Garver, accounts for all the A's runs. When the stunt was announced on August 15th, A's GM Art Ehlers bitterly denounced it as "farcical." » November 27, 1951: The Browns send C Sherm Lollar, P Al Widmar, and infielder Tommy Upton to the White Sox for C Gus Niarhos, P Dick Littlefield, 1B Gordy Goldsberry, Joe DeMaestri, and OF Jim Rivera. Rivera, a favorite of Browns manager Hornsby, will return to the Sox in eight months. » May 25, 1954: Billy Pierce and Virgil Trucks combine to give the White Sox a 4–2 win over the Indians, and stop Cleveland's 11-game win streak. Bob Lemon takes the loss. Cleveland's Al Smith steals a base off Sherman Lollar, the last base runner to swipe one this year. The Sox catcher will throw out the next 18 base runners who try. » April 11, 1959: The White Sox top the Tigers, 5–3, as Early Wynn racks up his 250th career victory. He retires the last 10 batters in tossing a complete game. Luis Aparicio hits a homer, and Sherm Lollar belts two. » July 9, 1961: Sherm Lollar's 9th-inning pinch-hit grand slam, off Frank Funk, for the White Sox crushes Cleveland 7–5. It is the 5th pinch slam in the American League this season—two by the Sox—and ties the ML record. The Sox also win a 2nd game 9–8. Over the afternoon eight home runs are hit.