Stan Lopata

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#263473
bgcolor2=#A50024
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Stan Lopata


position=Catcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1925|9|12
debutdate=September 19
debutyear=by|1948
debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
finaldate=June 12
finalyear=by|1960
finalteam=Milwaukee Braves
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.254
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=116
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=397
teams=
*Philadelphia Phillies (1948-1958)
*Milwaukee Braves (1959-1960)
highlights=
*NL All-Star: 1955, 1956
*Finished 20th in voting for 1956 NL MVP

Stanley Edward "Stan" Lopata (born September 12, 1925 in Delray, Michigan) was a former Major League Baseball player. Stan was a graduate of Southwestern High school, Detroit, where his career started under the tutelage of Lyle VanDeventer, baseball coach and Dick Strohmer Athletic Director for the "Prospectors". Fact|date=October 2007

Lopata, a catcher was a two-time all-star who played for parts of 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Braves. He made his debut in by|1948 and served as a backup to Andy Seminick and Smoky Burgess for many seasons. In by|1955 he hit 22 home runs and became the Phillies full time catcher the next season. In by|1956, Lopata had his best season as he hit 32 home runs finished second in the league in doubles and was in the top ten in other statistical categories including Slugging percentage, Runs batted in, OPS, and homers.

After two years of declining performance Lopata was traded to the Braves in by|1960 and played in 32 games over two more seasons before retiring.

He finished his career having played in 863 games with a .254 batting average and 116 home runs.

Lopata served in the military during World War II.

He was the first National League catcher to wear glasses.

ee also

*Specs Toporcer

External links

*baseball-reference|id=l/lopatst01
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/L/Lopata_Stan.stm Baseball Library ]