Lou Lucier

Summary

Louis Joseph Lucier (March 23, 1918 – October 18, 2014) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. He is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II.

Lou Lucier
Pitcher
Born: (1918-03-23)March 23, 1918
Northbridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died: October 18, 2014(2014-10-18) (aged 96)
Millbury, Massachusetts, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 23, 1943, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
June 13, 1945, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Win–loss record3–5
Earned run average3.81
Strikeouts31
Teams

Biography edit

Lucier was born in 1918 in Northbridge, Massachusetts. During his baseball career, he was listed at 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) and 160 pounds (73 kg).

Lucier made his major-league debut on April 23, 1943, pitching for the Boston Red Sox in relief against the Philadelphia Athletics at Shibe Park, giving up one run and one hit in two innings of work.[1] His first major-league start was the second game of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park on May 16, 1943—he was the winning pitcher in a 4–2 complete game effort.[2] After pitching for the Red Sox in 1943, Lucier split 1944 between the Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies, then pitched for the Phillies in 1945.

Career totals include 33 games pitched, 9 starts, 3 complete games, an overall 3–5 win–loss record, 1 save, and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.81. Lucier handled 45 of 46 total chances successfully for a fielding percentage of .978, which was above the league average at the time.[citation needed]

From 2012 until his death in 2014, Lucier was the oldest living former Red Sox player.[3][4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Philadelphia Athletics 5, Boston Red Sox 0". Retrosheet.org. April 23, 1943.
  2. ^ "Boston Red Sox 4, Chicago White Sox 2 (2)". Retrosheet.org. May 16, 1943.
  3. ^ Grossfield, Stan (March 27, 2012). "Old, faithful". The Boston Globe – via boston.com.
  4. ^ "Lou Lucier, 96, oldest living Red Sox, dies". telegram.com. March 27, 2012.

External links edit

  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
  • Lou Lucier at the SABR Baseball Biography Project , by Bill Nowlin, Retrieved November 26, 2016.
  • Lou Lucier at Find a Grave