- Al Lakeman
Albert Wesley Lakeman (
December 31 1918 -May 25 1976 ) was acatcher inMajor League Baseball who played for theCincinnati Reds (1942-1947 ["start"] ),Philadelphia Phillies (1947 ["end"] -1948), Boston Braves (1949) andDetroit Tigers (1954). Lakeman batted and threw right-handed. Nicknamed "Moose", he was a native ofCincinnati, Ohio .The light-hitting Lakeman was a fine defensive catcher as he took responsibility for getting the most out of his pitchers. The high point of his major league career was serving as an efficient, reliable backup for
Andy Seminick (Phillies),Del Crandall (Braves) andFrank House (Tigers). His most productive season came in 1945 with Cincinnati, when he posted career-highs ingames played (76),batting average (.256),home run s (eight), RBI (31) and runs (22).In a nine-season career, Lakeman was a .203 hitter with 15 home runs and 66 RBI in 239 games. After his playing career ended, he managed in the Tigers'
farm system (1956-62; 1965-66) and served two terms as thebullpen coach at the major league level for theBoston Red Sox (1963-64; 1967-69). He was on the coaching staff of Boston's by|1967 American League champions.Lakeman died in
Spartanburg, South Carolina , at age 57.External links
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/L/Lakeman_Al.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lakemal01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/lakeman.htm Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers]
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