Eddie Lopat
Encyclopedia
Edmund Walter ""The Junkman"" Lopat (originally Lopatynski) (June 21, 1918 – June 15, 1992) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
.
Lopat was born in New York, New York. His Major League debut was on April 30, 1944, playing for the Chicago White Sox
.
He was traded to the New York Yankees
on February 24, 1948 for Aaron Robinson
, Bill Wight
, and Fred Bradley. From to he was the third of the "Big Three" of the Yankees' pitching staff, together with Allie Reynolds
and Vic Raschi
. He pitched in the All-Star Game
in for the American League
. In he led the AL in both earned-run average and won/lost percentage.
On July 30, 1955, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
for Jim McDonald
and cash, finishing out the season and retiring. Over his 12-year AL career, Lopat won 166 games, losing 112 (.597) with an ERA of 3.21.
Lopat managed the AAA Richmond Virginians
for the Yankees in the late 1950s, and in served one season as the Yankees' pitching coach
before holding the same post with the Minnesota Twins
in and the Kansas City Athletics
in . In Lopat was tapped to manage the Athletics and continued in this role until June 11, 1964. His Major League managerial record was 90-124 (.421). Lopat stayed on as a senior front office aide to team owner Charlie Finley until the club moved to Oakland
after the season. He then scouted for the Montreal Expos
during their early years in Major League Baseball.
Lopat was sometimes known as "The Junk Man," but better known as "Steady Eddie.", a nickname later given to Eddie Murray
.
He died at his son's home in Darien, Connecticut
, and had been a resident of Hillsdale, New Jersey
until his death.
Lopat pitched for five victorious Yankees teams in the World Series during his career, in 1949-1953.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
.
Lopat was born in New York, New York. His Major League debut was on April 30, 1944, playing for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
He was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
on February 24, 1948 for Aaron Robinson
Aaron Robinson
Aaron Andrew Robinson , was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from to for the Chicago White Sox, the Detroit Tigers, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Red Sox...
, Bill Wight
Bill Wight
William Robert Wight was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals . Listed at 6' 1", 180 lb...
, and Fred Bradley. From to he was the third of the "Big Three" of the Yankees' pitching staff, together with Allie Reynolds
Allie Reynolds
Allie Pierce Reynolds was a pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
and Vic Raschi
Vic Raschi
Victor John Angelo "Vic" Raschi was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was responsible for allowing Hank Aaron's first career home run....
. He pitched in the All-Star Game
All-star game
An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league, except in the circumstances of professional sports systems in which a democratic voting system is used...
in for the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. In he led the AL in both earned-run average and won/lost percentage.
On July 30, 1955, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for Jim McDonald
Jim McDonald (baseball pitcher)
Jimmie Le Roy McDonald [Hot Rod] is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for five different teams between 1950 and 1958. Listed at 5' 10", 185 lb., he batted and threw right-handed....
and cash, finishing out the season and retiring. Over his 12-year AL career, Lopat won 166 games, losing 112 (.597) with an ERA of 3.21.
Lopat managed the AAA Richmond Virginians
Richmond Virginians
The Richmond Virginians was the name of a minor league baseball Class AAA International League franchise that played in Richmond, Virginia, from 1954 through 1964....
for the Yankees in the late 1950s, and in served one season as the Yankees' pitching coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
before holding the same post with the Minnesota Twins
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...
in and the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in . In Lopat was tapped to manage the Athletics and continued in this role until June 11, 1964. His Major League managerial record was 90-124 (.421). Lopat stayed on as a senior front office aide to team owner Charlie Finley until the club moved to Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
after the season. He then scouted for the Montreal Expos
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
during their early years in Major League Baseball.
Lopat was sometimes known as "The Junk Man," but better known as "Steady Eddie.", a nickname later given to Eddie Murray
Eddie Murray
Eddie Clarence Murray , nicknamed "Steady Eddie", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He was known as one of the most reliable and productive hitters of his era. Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters ever to play the game...
.
He died at his son's home in Darien, Connecticut
Darien, Connecticut
Darien is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. A relatively small community on Connecticut's "Gold Coast", the population was 20,732 at the 2010 census. Darien was listed at #9 at CNN Money's list of "top-earning towns" in the United States as of 2011...
, and had been a resident of Hillsdale, New Jersey
Hillsdale, New Jersey
Hillsdale is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 10,219.The populated area today known as Hillsdale took form in the mid-to-late 19th century as land speculators, led by David P. Patterson, developed subdivisons to profit from the...
until his death.
Lopat pitched for five victorious Yankees teams in the World Series during his career, in 1949-1953.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions