Buddy Lewis
Encyclopedia
John Kelly Lewis better known as Buddy Lewis, was a third baseman
/right fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played his entire career with the Washington Senators
(1935–41, 1945–47, 1949). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Only Ty Cobb
had more career hits at the age of 24 than Lewis. Lewis was born in Gastonia, North Carolina
.
In an 11-season career, Lewis posted a .297 batting average
(1,563-for-5,261) with 73 home run
s, 607 RBI
, 830 runs
, 249 doubles
, 93 triples
, and 83 stolen base
s in 1,349 games played
.
Lewis' nephew is former major league player Hal Morris
. Morris' youngest son, John Kelly, is named in Lewis' honor.
During World War II
, Lewis served in the United States Army Air Force. Between 1942-44, he flew more than 350 missions and was cited for his service.
Lewis died on February 18, 2011, at the age of 94, after a long battle with cancer.
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
/right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played his entire career with the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1935–41, 1945–47, 1949). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Only Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
had more career hits at the age of 24 than Lewis. Lewis was born in Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
.
In an 11-season career, Lewis posted a .297 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(1,563-for-5,261) with 73 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 607 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, 830 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 249 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 93 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 83 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s in 1,349 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
.
Lewis' nephew is former major league player Hal Morris
Hal Morris
William Harold Morris III is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Cincinnati Reds. He attended Munster High School in Munster, Indiana, and the University of Michigan. Morris was the Player of the Year while attending Munster High School...
. Morris' youngest son, John Kelly, is named in Lewis' honor.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Lewis served in the United States Army Air Force. Between 1942-44, he flew more than 350 missions and was cited for his service.
Lewis died on February 18, 2011, at the age of 94, after a long battle with cancer.
See also
External links
- The Baseball Page - biography
- Baseball Library - profile
- Matt's Pen & Paper Heroes - baseball card