Lou Boudreau

Louis Boudreau
Born: July 17, 1917 in Harvey, Illinois 
Died: August 19, 2001 in Olympia Falls, Ill.
Debut: 1938 | Pos: SS
Ht: 5'11" | Wt: 185 | B: R | T: R

>> Visit the Lou Boudreau biography on Baseball Almanac for complete statistics.

As a college athlete, Lou Boudreau seemed to have several options after his graduation. However, the captain of the basketball and baseball teams at the University of Illinois signed a deal to join the Cleveland Indians following his graduation.

Big 10 officials heard about his agreement and ruled that Boudreau was ineligible to compete as an amateur in college. So, Boudreau appeared as a pinch hitter in one game with the Indians during the 1938 season. He also played professional basketball with Hammond, Indiana's entry into the National Basketball League.

At the beginning of the 1939 season, Boudreau found himself with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League. Boudreau had played third base or caught during his college career, but Buffalo manager Steve O'Neill moved Boudreau to shortstop and teamed him up with second baseman Ray Mack. The two worked together beautifully and both were called up to Cleveland in the second half of the seasons.

In his first full season with the Indians in 1940, Boudreau hit .295 and drove in 100 runs. His performance earned him a spot in the 1940 All-Star game.  In the 1942 season, Boudreau, just 24, was named player-manager of the team. It made him the youngest individual ever to manage a Major League team from the beginning of a season.

As a manager, Boudreau was a strategic thinker. He helped to convert Bob Lemon from an infielder into a pitcher. His other claim to fame is the development of the "Williams Shift." His teams used this shift to try to throw the prolific batter off balance. Despite having to work as a manager, Boudreau didn't lose his touch at shortstop. He was the top fielding shortstop in the AL eight times. He also won the AL batting title in 1944 and led the league in doubles in 1941, 1944 and 1947.

Bill Veeck bought the Indians in 1946. His plan to replace Boudreau as manager sparked a public outcry and Boudreau was allowed to keep the position. 

Boudreau's career highlight as a manager and a player had to be the 1948 season. Boudreau's Indians won the American League Pennant and the World Series. Boudreau the batter hit .355, collected 18 home runs, drove in 106 runs and scored 116. The numbers and the managing performance earned him American League MVP honors.

Many sources will point to Boudreau as one of the toughest players to have ever taken part in the game. On August 8, 1948, Boudreau, suffering from an ankle injury, limped to the plate hit a game tying single in a game against the Yankees. At the end of the season, the Red Sox and the Indians were tied. In the one-game playoff, Boudreau delivered a four hit performance with two home runs.

The incredible 1948 season almost didn't happen. Boudreau was nearly traded to the St. Louis Browns early in the season. Fan protests kept Bill Veeck from making the deal.

"Sometimes the best trades are the ones you never make," Veeck said.

Two years later, Boudreau is fired by the Indians and he signs a contract with the Boston Red Sox. In 1954, the Athletics hire Boudreau as a manager. In 1960, Boudreau was working as a broadcaster for the Cubs when he was called upon to manage the team.

He was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1970 and his No. 5 was retired by the Indians.

Boudreau managed 2,404 games and finished his career with a 1162-1224 (.487) record. As a player, Boudreau hit .295 with 68 home runs, 789 runs batted in, 385 doubles and 51 stolen bases.