Jerry Lane
Encyclopedia
Jerald Hal Lane was an American
professional baseball
player. He was a right-handed pitcher
who appeared in 32 games
in Major League Baseball
for the Washington Senators
and the Cincinnati Redlegs
(–), in addition to 429 games over 12 seasons (1948–1959) in the minor leagues
. The native of Ashland, New York
, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 205 pounds (93 kg).
Lane signed initially with the Boston Braves
in 1948, but after two years of Class D ball he was acquired by Washington. Recalled from the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
in the middle of the 1953 season, Lane made his Major League debut at Griffith Stadium
against the Boston Red Sox
on July 7 as a starting pitcher
, but lost a low-scoring duel to Hal Brown
, giving up only one run
in eight innings of work. He started only one other game all season — on September 13 — and again lasted eight innings in a losing effort (this time against the Detroit Tigers
). As a rookie
, Lane compiled a 1–4 record in 20 games and 56⅔ innings, with an earned run average
of 4.92. His lone victory, however, came against the eventual 1953 world champion
New York Yankees
in relief on August 18.
Sent back to Chattanooga for 1954, Lane posted a 13–8 (2.97) record in 31 games and was purchased by the Redlegs on August 7. He made his National League
debut September 7 as a relief pitcher
and held the St. Louis Cardinals
scoreless over two innings. Five days later, he relieved Fred Baczewski
in the first inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
with Cincinnati already leading, 3–0. He worked the next 7⅓ frames to earn the win in a 13–2 Redleg victory, which would represent his last MLB win and his only Senior Circuit triumph.
Lane appeared in three games for Cincinnati in 1954 and eight more in relief at the outset of 1955 before returning to the minor leagues for the remainder of his career. In the Majors, he allowed 84 hits
and 25 bases on balls in 78⅓ innings of work. As a minor leaguer, he posted a 114–118 mark before leaving the game.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He was a right-handed 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...
who appeared in 32 games
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,...
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...
for 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...
and the Cincinnati Redlegs
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(–), in addition to 429 games over 12 seasons (1948–1959) in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. The native of Ashland, New York
Ashland, New York
Ashland is the name of some places in the U.S. state of New York:*Ashland, Chemung County, New York*Ashland, Greene County, New York...
, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 205 pounds (93 kg).
Lane signed initially with the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in 1948, but after two years of Class D ball he was acquired by Washington. Recalled from the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
in the middle of the 1953 season, Lane made his Major League debut at Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
on July 7 as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, but lost a low-scoring duel to Hal Brown
Hal Brown
Hector Harold Brown , nicknamed "Skinny," is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , New York Yankees and Houston Colt .45's...
, giving up only one run
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...
in eight innings of work. He started only one other game all season — on September 13 — and again lasted eight innings in a losing effort (this time against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
). As a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
, Lane compiled a 1–4 record in 20 games and 56⅔ innings, with an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 4.92. His lone victory, however, came against the eventual 1953 world champion
1953 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 14 at Crosley Field: National League, 5-1-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce *College World Series: Michigan...
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...
in relief on August 18.
Sent back to Chattanooga for 1954, Lane posted a 13–8 (2.97) record in 31 games and was purchased by the Redlegs on August 7. He made his National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
debut September 7 as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
and held the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
scoreless over two innings. Five days later, he relieved Fred Baczewski
Fred Baczewski
Fredereric John "Lefty" Baczewski was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs. After some time in the independent minor leagues, Baczewski was purchased from his Shreveport club in October 1949 by the Cubs for $30,000 and a player to be named...
in the first inning of a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
with Cincinnati already leading, 3–0. He worked the next 7⅓ frames to earn the win in a 13–2 Redleg victory, which would represent his last MLB win and his only Senior Circuit triumph.
Lane appeared in three games for Cincinnati in 1954 and eight more in relief at the outset of 1955 before returning to the minor leagues for the remainder of his career. In the Majors, he allowed 84 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and 25 bases on balls in 78⅓ innings of work. As a minor leaguer, he posted a 114–118 mark before leaving the game.