Eddie Lopat

Eddie Lopat

Lopat in 1963 as manager of the Athletics.
Pitcher
Born: June 21, 1918
New York, New York
Died: June 15, 1992(1992-06-15) (aged 73)
Darien, Connecticut
Batted: Left Threw: Left 
MLB debut
April 30, 1944 for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 23, 1955 for the Baltimore Orioles
Career statistics
Win–Loss record     166–112
Earned run average     3.21
Strikeouts     859
Teams

As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards

Edmund Walter ""The Junkman"" Lopat (originally Lopatynski) (June 21, 1918 – June 15, 1992) was a Major League Baseball pitcher.

Lopat was born in New York, New York. His Major League debut was on April 30, 1944, playing for the Chicago White Sox.

He was traded to the New York Yankees on February 24, 1948 for Aaron Robinson, Bill Wight, and Fred Bradley. From 1948 to 1954 he was the third of the "Big Three" of the Yankees' pitching staff, together with Allie Reynolds and Vic Raschi. He pitched in the All-Star Game in 1951 for the American League. In 1953 he led the AL in both earned-run average and won/lost percentage.

On July 30, 1955, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Jim McDonald and cash, finishing out the season and retiring. Over his 12-year AL career, Lopat won 166 games, losing 112 (.597) with an ERA of 3.21.

Lopat managed the AAA Richmond Virginians for the Yankees in the late 1950s, and in 1960 served one season as the Yankees' pitching coach before holding the same post with the Minnesota Twins in 1961 and the Kansas City Athletics in 1962. In 1963 Lopat was tapped to manage the Athletics and continued in this role until June 11, 1964. His Major League managerial record was 90-124 (.421). Lopat stayed on as a senior front office aide to team owner Charlie Finley until the club moved to Oakland after the 1967 season. He then scouted for the Montreal Expos during their early years in Major League Baseball.

Lopat was sometimes known as "The Junk Man," but better known as "Steady Eddie.", a nickname later given to Eddie Murray.

He died at his son's home in Darien, Connecticut, and had been a resident of Hillsdale, New Jersey until his death.[1]

Lopat pitched for five victorious Yankees teams in the World Series during his career, in 1949-1953.

See also

References

  1. ^ Harvin, Al. "Eddie Lopat, 73, Yankee Pitcher On 5 Series Championship Teams", The New York Times, June 16, 1992. Accessed March 10, 2008. "Mr. Lopat, who lived in Hillsdale, N.J., had been battling a recurrence of pancreatic cancer, his son said."

External links

Preceded by
Allie Reynolds
American League ERA Champion
1953
Succeeded by
Mike Garcia
Preceded by
Hank Bauer
Kansas City Athletics Manager
19631964
Succeeded by
Mel McGaha
Preceded by
Jim Turner
New York Yankees pitching coach
1960
Succeeded by
Johnny Sain
Preceded by
Bob Swift
Minnesota Twins pitching coach
1961
Succeeded by
Gordon Maltzberger
Preceded by
Ted Wilks
Kansas City Athletics pitching coach
1962–1963
Succeeded by
Tom Ferrick