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Lopez, Al

Alfonso Ramon Lopez
Born: August 20, 1908, Tampa, Florida
Died: October 30, 2005, Tampa, Florida
Bats: 
Right
Throws: 
Right
Played For: 
Brooklyn Robins, Dodgers (1928-1935), Boston Braves (1936-1940), Pittsburgh Pirates (1940-1946), Cleveland Indians (1947)
Elected to the Hall of Fame by Veterans Committee: 1977
Biography: 

A solid major league catcher whose record of 1,918 games caught stood for more than 40 years, Al Lopez later found great success as manager of the Indians and White Sox. From 1951 to 1959, his teams - always known as overachievers - won two pennants and finished second to the Yankees the other seven years. His 1954 Indians won 111 games, an American League record that lasted 44 years, and in 1959 he led the Go-Go White Sox to their first pennant since 1919.

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HOFers who reached their 90th birthday (pdf)

Induction Speech

Did You Know: 
that Al Lopez managed the 1954 Indians and the 1959 White Sox, the only teams to beat out the Yankees for first place in the American League from 1949-1964?
Probably the finest manager I ever played for, baseball-wise, running a ball club and just being the gentleman that he is. He wasn't all that easy, he was the manager and no on ran all over him.
Hal Newhouser