- Johnny Lipon
Infobox MLB retired
name = Johnny Lipon
width =
caption =
position =Shortstop , manager
birthdate = birth date|1922|11|10
deathdate = death date and age|1998|8|17|1922|11|10
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = August 16
debutyear = 1942
debutteam =Detroit Tigers
finaldate = April 25
finalyear = 1954
finalteam =Cincinnati Redlegs
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .259
stat2label = Hits
stat2value = 690
stat3label =Sacrifice hit s
stat3value = 74
teams =As player
*Detroit Tigers (by|1942, by|1946, by|1948–by|1952)
*Boston Red Sox (by|1952–by|1953)
* St. Louis Browns (by|1953)
*Cincinnati Redlegs (by|1954)As manager
*Cleveland Indians (by|1971)
highlights =John Joseph Lipon (
November 10 ,1922 -August 17 ,1998 ) was an AmericanMajor League Baseball shortstop for theDetroit Tigers ,Boston Red Sox , St. Louis Browns andCincinnati Reds over the course of 12 seasons. Like many at his position, he was never known for his power, but he wasn't an exceptional fielder, either. One of the most memorable moments of his playing career was in 1951, whenBob Feller of the Indians threw his third career no-hitter, but lost the shutout when Lipon reached on an error, stole second base, advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw, and scored on a sacrifice fly.In 1952, he was part of a trade to the Red Sox that included longtime star
Johnny Pesky going to the Tigers. His playing time diminished, and in the 1953 season, he was sold to the St. Louis Browns. In 1954, the Browns moved east to Baltimore, but Lipon was quickly traded to theChicago White Sox . Before playing a game for the White Sox, however, he was traded to theCincinnati Reds . He had oneNational League at-bat before he was farmed to the new Cuban Sugar Kings. He played in the high minors several years, evolving into a player/coach.In 1959, Lipon moved to the minors as a manager, beginning at the Class D level with Selma of the
Alabama-Florida League . Lipon spent 30 of the next 34 years as a manager in the Cleveland, Detroit andPittsburgh Pirates farm system s, winning 2,185 games and losing 1,987 (.524). In 1961, he managed the Toronto Maple Leafs of theInternational League . His success as skipper of the AAAPortland Beavers in the mid-1960s earned him a promotion to the Indians' coaching staff, where he served from 1968-71.Many expected Lipon to be a manager at the major league level, but his only chance came during the 1971 season, when Cleveland fired
Alvin Dark with 59 games left. But the Indians went only 18-41 (.305) under Lipon, good for last place in theAmerican League East , 43 games behind theBaltimore Orioles . He returned to managing the next season, with theToledo Mud Hens of the AAAInternational League .Lipon retired from managing after the 1992 season. His last club, the
Lakeland Tigers of theFlorida State League , won its division's second-half championship. He died in Houston at age 75.ee also
*
1950 Detroit Tigers season External links
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