L. D. Meyer
Encyclopedia
Lambert Dalton "Little Dutch" Meyer (October 7, 1915 - January 19, 2003) was college football player and baseball
manager, as well as the nephew of the famous and similarly named Texas Christian University
football coach Leo "Dutch" Meyer
.
A native of Waco, Texas
, Meyer played baseball and football at TCU in the 1930s. On the gridiron, he was the favorite target of future Hall of Fame Quarterback Sammy Baugh
. He kicked the winning field goal in the famous 3-2 TCU victory over LSU
in the 1936 Sugar Bowl
. The next year, he scored all the points in TCU's 16-6 victory over Marquette
in the Cotton Bowl Classic
.
Young Dutch took up a career in baseball upon graduating TCU and signed with the Knoxville Smokies. On June 23, 1937, he made his Major League Baseball
debut as a pinch runner for the Chicago Cubs
. The Detroit Tigers
bought his contract in 1940, and he spent the next three seasons bouncing between Detroit and the minor league
Buffalo Bisons
.
In 1942, Meyer left baseball to serve in World War II
, joining the U.S. Army Air Corps
. When he was discharged in 1945, he rejoined the Tigers who traded him to the Cleveland Indians
. That season was Dutch's best, as he led the Indians in hits with 153 with an average of .292. After the 1947 season, he was traded to the New York Yankees
, who demoted him to the minors.
After a few more seasons playing in the minors, he became a manager, making stops in Gladewater, Texas
, Dallas, Tulsa, Oklahoma
and Fayetteville, North Carolina
. While managing in Tulsa in 1955, Meyer got into a serious argument with a young Roger Maris
. Maris was in a terrible slump and Meyer devised a series of drills to help his youthful right fielder, but Maris refused to do them. Meyer kicked Maris off the team, and was subsequently fired. Six years later Maris would break Babe Ruth's
single-season home run record with the Yankees.
After retiring from baseball in 1956, Meyer also had a career in the oil and Insurance businesses. He died on January 19, 2003 in Fort Worth.
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...
manager, as well as the nephew of the famous and similarly named Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
football coach Leo "Dutch" Meyer
Dutch Meyer
Leo R. "Dutch" Meyer was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Texas Christian University from 1934 to 1952, compiling a record of 109–79–13. His TCU Horned Frogs football teams of 1935 and 1938 have been recognized...
.
A native of Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, Meyer played baseball and football at TCU in the 1930s. On the gridiron, he was the favorite target of future Hall of Fame Quarterback Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh
Samuel Adrian "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh was an American football player and coach. He played college football for the Horned Frogs at Texas Christian University, where he was a two-time All-American. He then played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1937 to 1952...
. He kicked the winning field goal in the famous 3-2 TCU victory over LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in the 1936 Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
. The next year, he scored all the points in TCU's 16-6 victory over Marquette
1936 Marquette Golden Avalanche football team
The 1936 Marquette Golden Avalanche football team represented Marquette University in the 1936 college football season. Marquette was led by long-time head coach Frank Murray. The team competed as a football independent and played their home games at Marquette Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
in the Cotton Bowl Classic
1937 Cotton Bowl Classic
The 1937 Cotton Bowl Classic, part of the 1936–37 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1937, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. The competing teams were the Marquette Golden Avalanche, competing as a football independent, and the TCU Horned Frogs, representing the Southwest Conference as...
.
Young Dutch took up a career in baseball upon graduating TCU and signed with the Knoxville Smokies. On June 23, 1937, he made his 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...
debut as a pinch runner for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. 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...
bought his contract in 1940, and he spent the next three seasons bouncing between Detroit and the minor league
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...
Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
.
In 1942, Meyer left baseball to serve 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...
, joining the U.S. Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. When he was discharged in 1945, he rejoined the Tigers who traded him to 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...
. That season was Dutch's best, as he led the Indians in hits with 153 with an average of .292. After the 1947 season, 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...
, who demoted him to the minors.
After a few more seasons playing in the minors, he became a manager, making stops in Gladewater, Texas
Gladewater, Texas
Gladewater is a city in Gregg and Upshur Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 6,228 at the 2010 census. U.S. Highway 80 traverses the city....
, Dallas, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
and Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
. While managing in Tulsa in 1955, Meyer got into a serious argument with a young Roger Maris
Roger Maris
Roger Eugene Maris was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During the 1961 season, he hit a record 61 home runs for the New York Yankees, breaking Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60 home runs...
. Maris was in a terrible slump and Meyer devised a series of drills to help his youthful right fielder, but Maris refused to do them. Meyer kicked Maris off the team, and was subsequently fired. Six years later Maris would break Babe Ruth's
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
single-season home run record with the Yankees.
After retiring from baseball in 1956, Meyer also had a career in the oil and Insurance businesses. He died on January 19, 2003 in Fort Worth.