Joe Lutz
Encyclopedia
Rollin Joseph "Joe" Lutz (February 18, 1925 – October 20, 2008) was an American
professional baseball player and coach, who was the first Caucasian
to manage a team in Japan
ese professional baseball
.
. Lutz was a high school baseball standout and signed a professional contract the St. Louis Browns
in 1941. After the US became involved in World War II
, Lutz enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
after graduating from high school and served in the South Pacific theater.
and San Antonio, Texas
in the Brown's farm system, while earning bachelor's and master's degrees in science. His only major league experience was when he appeared with the Browns in the , playing first base and going 6-for-36 in 14 games, with one triple and 2 RBI in 14 games with the team for a .167 batting average. The Browns traded him on July 24, 1951 to the Brooklyn Dodgers
together with Johnny Bero
and cash in exchange for Ben Taylor
.
and Davenport, Iowa
, where he led Davenport's baseball to a state championship, and was an athletic coach at Parsons College
in Iowa.
Lutz became the head coach of the Southern Illinois University
baseball team, leading the Salukis to the 1968 College World Series
, in which they lost the final game 4-3 in nine innings to the University of Southern California Trojans, after finishing the regular season with a 34-12 record. Lutz was selected as the National Coach of the Year in 1968 by the American Association of College Coaches. The following season, Lutz led the #1 nationally-ranked Salukis to a 36-7 regular season record and the 1969 College World Series
. Having played in the major leagues for Bill Veeck
, Lutz adopted some of his flourishes, including female batgirls, giveaway contests for fans and skydivers landing on the pitching mound. Through the 1969 season, Lutz had coached the team to a 149-48 record (plus two ties) in four seasons as coach.
The Cleveland Indians
named Lutz as their first-base coach in 1971, after he had been coordinator of its minor league teams. He was on the team's coaching staff in 1972 and 1973.
He was hired by the Hiroshima Carp in 1974 as a batting instructor. The following season, Lutz became the first foreigner to manage a team in Japanese professional baseball, when he was selected to manage the Carp. Hall of Fame
pitcher Warren Spahn
was hired to serve as the team's temporary pitching coach, after having worked together with Lutz on the Indian's coaching staff. As manager, Lutz had the team change the colors of its caps to red to represent the team's fighting spirit. Lutz left the team after 15 games due to an umpiring dispute, but the Carp went on to win its first-ever Central League
championship under replacement manager Takeshi Koba
.
in 1969 while he was part of the Cleveland Indians organization. He spent 12 years as the executive director of the Boys Club in Sarasota, until he left in 1988 following concerns regarding the financial management of the organization.
He died at age 83 on October 20, 2008, after years of declining health resulting from a stroke
and diabetes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball player and coach, who was the first Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
to manage a team in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.
Life
Lutz was born on February 18, 1925, in Keokuk, IowaKeokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
. Lutz was a high school baseball standout and signed a professional contract the St. Louis Browns
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...
in 1941. After the US became involved in 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...
, Lutz enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
after graduating from high school and served in the South Pacific theater.
Baseball career
After returning from military service, Lutz was signed by the St. Louis Browns as an amateur free agent before the 1946 season. He played for minor league teams in Elmira, New YorkElmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
and San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
in the Brown's farm system, while earning bachelor's and master's degrees in science. His only major league experience was when he appeared with the Browns in the , playing first base and going 6-for-36 in 14 games, with one triple and 2 RBI in 14 games with the team for a .167 batting average. The Browns traded him on July 24, 1951 to the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
together with Johnny Bero
Johnny Bero
John George Bero was a former Major League Baseball shortstop who played a total of 65 games for the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Browns in the years 1948 and 1951, respectively.- References :...
and cash in exchange for Ben Taylor
Ben Taylor (first baseman)
Benjamin Eugene Taylor was an American Major League Baseball first baseman.Born in Metropolis, Illinois, Taylor originally signed as a free agent in 1944 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1949, he was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the Minor League Draft. He would be returned to the Dodgers the...
.
Coach
Following his major league career, Lutz coached high school baseball, football and basketball in Argyle, IowaArgyle, Iowa
Argyle is an unincorporated community in southwestern Lee County, Iowa, United States. It lies along the concurrent Iowa Highways 27 and 394 southwest of the city of Fort Madison, the county seat of Lee County. Its elevation is 679 feet . Although Argyle is unincorporated, it has a post...
and Davenport, Iowa
Davenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
, where he led Davenport's baseball to a state championship, and was an athletic coach at Parsons College
Parsons College
Parsons College was a private liberal arts college in Fairfield, Iowa. The school, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, was founded in 1875 and closed in 1973....
in Iowa.
Lutz became the head coach of the Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
baseball team, leading the Salukis to the 1968 College World Series
1968 College World Series
The 1968 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 10 to June 15. The twenty-second tournament's champion was the University of Southern California, coached by Rod Dedeaux...
, in which they lost the final game 4-3 in nine innings to the University of Southern California Trojans, after finishing the regular season with a 34-12 record. Lutz was selected as the National Coach of the Year in 1968 by the American Association of College Coaches. The following season, Lutz led the #1 nationally-ranked Salukis to a 36-7 regular season record and the 1969 College World Series
1969 College World Series
The 1969 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 13 to June 20. The twenty-third tournament's champion was Arizona State University, coached by Bobby Winkles...
. Having played in the major leagues for Bill Veeck
Bill Veeck
William Louis Veeck, Jr. , also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a franchise owner and promoter in Major League Baseball. He was best known for his publicity stunts to raise attendance. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis...
, Lutz adopted some of his flourishes, including female batgirls, giveaway contests for fans and skydivers landing on the pitching mound. Through the 1969 season, Lutz had coached the team to a 149-48 record (plus two ties) in four seasons as coach.
The Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
named Lutz as their first-base coach in 1971, after he had been coordinator of its minor league teams. He was on the team's coaching staff in 1972 and 1973.
He was hired by the Hiroshima Carp in 1974 as a batting instructor. The following season, Lutz became the first foreigner to manage a team in Japanese professional baseball, when he was selected to manage the Carp. Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
pitcher Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn
Warren Edward Spahn was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He won 20 games each in 13 seasons, including a 23-7 record when he was age 42...
was hired to serve as the team's temporary pitching coach, after having worked together with Lutz on the Indian's coaching staff. As manager, Lutz had the team change the colors of its caps to red to represent the team's fighting spirit. Lutz left the team after 15 games due to an umpiring dispute, but the Carp went on to win its first-ever Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
championship under replacement manager Takeshi Koba
Takeshi Koba
Takeshi Koba is now the manager of Tokyo International University's baseball team and was formerly a professional baseball player and manager in Japan.-Career as Player:...
.
Retirement
Lutz had moved with his family to Sarasota, FloridaSarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
in 1969 while he was part of the Cleveland Indians organization. He spent 12 years as the executive director of the Boys Club in Sarasota, until he left in 1988 following concerns regarding the financial management of the organization.
He died at age 83 on October 20, 2008, after years of declining health resulting from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
and diabetes.