Lemon made history on mound with Indians

The Cleveland Indians’ rotation of the late 1940s and early 1950s was considered one of the best in the game.

And among all those All-Star pitchers, Bob Lemon was often considered the ace.

On June 20, 1998, the Indians celebrated the 50th anniversary of their 1948 World Series championship – and retired Lemon’s No. 21 prior to their game with the New York Yankees.

“It’s a great honor,” Lemon said to the Associated Press. “What else can you say?”

A promising young third baseman who hit .300-or-better in three of his first four minor league seasons, Lemon debuted as a third baseman in 1941 with the Indians, garnering one hit in four at-bats. The left-handed hitting Lemon would go hitless in five at-bats in 1942 before World War II took him into military service.

A native of San Bernardino, Calif., Lemon served in the military from 1943-45. While in the military, Lemon used his strong arm to pitch in service games. He returned to the Indians in 1946, and after a failed attempt at playing center field, was switched over to pitcher after reports of his pitching in the military circulated.

The right-handed throwing Lemon went 4-5 with a 2.49 ERA in 32 games in 1946. After serving a similar role in 1947, he broke out in 1948, going 20-14 with a 2.82 ERA. He paced the league with 20 complete games, 10 shutouts and 293 2/3 innings pitched, and was named to the American League All-Star team. He led the Indians to a World Series title throwing a complete game in Game 2, while going 7 1/3 innings in Game 6.

“When I used to be an outfielder I didn’t feel the pressure, because I was playing every day,” Lemon told the International News Service after giving up a run in the first inning of Game 2. “This is different.”

The seven-time American League All-Star went on to win 17-or-more games from 1948 to 1956. He won 186 games in that span and pitched to the tune of a 3.16 ERA. He also threw a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers in 1948.

From 1950 through 1956 – with fellow future Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Early Wynn usually in the Indians’ rotation – Lemon was Cleveland’s Opening Day starter five out of seven years.

Meanwhile, Lemon still swung the bat well despite the transition to the mound. In 403 plate appearances from 1948 to 1950, Lemon hit .275 with 18 home runs, 66 RBI and a .334 on-base percentage.

He went on to hit .232, mashing 37 home runs and 54 doubles, while driving in 147 over his career.

Retiring after the 1958 season, Lemon played 15 seasons in the majors and pitched 13 years. He accrued 207 wins and pitched to a 3.23 ERA. He won 20-or-more games six times and led the league in complete games five times. Leading the league in innings pitched four times, Lemon totaled 188 complete games and 31 shutouts in his career.