Johnny Lindell
Encyclopedia
John Harlan Lindell was an American
professional
baseball
player. He played as an outfielder
and pitcher
in the Major League Baseball
from to and from to . Lindell played for the New York Yankees
, St. Louis Cardinals
, Philadelphia Phillies
, and Pittsburgh Pirates
.
in Monrovia, California
, where he starred in football
and track
as well as in baseball. At the 1935 Southern California Prep Championships, he won the 120 yard High Hurdles and placed third in the long jump. Lindell won a scholarship to attend the University of Southern California
.
Lindell began his professional baseball career in at the age of 19 when he was signed by the New York Yankees organization. He progressed through the Yankees' minor league
system as a pitcher. While playing for the Kansas City Blues
in , he led the American Association
with 18 victories. Lindell made his major league debut at the age of 24 with the Yankees on April 18, 1941
before being returned to the minor leagues where, he won 23 games against 4 defeats to help the Newark Bears win the International League
championship. In December , he was selected as the Minor League Player of the Year.
Lindell returned to the major leagues in 1942
as a relief pitcher
but, Yankees manager Joe McCarthy thought that his low strikeout
totals indicated that his fast ball had lost its velocity. During spring training
in 1943
, McCarthy experimented with using Lindell as a first baseman and as an outfielder. He hit well enough to win the starting right fielder's position and, had a batting average above the .300 mark in early June to earn a place as a reserve player for the American League
team in the 1943 All-Star Game
. In the second half of the season, his hitting tapered off and he was replaced in the starting lineup by Bud Metheny
. Lindell ended the season leading the league with 12 triples
along with a .245 batting average
in 122 games as, the Yankees won the American League pennant by 13½ games over the Washington Senators
.
Lindell played a crucial role in Game 3 of the 1943 World Series
against the St. Louis Cardinals
. With the series tied at one game apiece and the Yankees trailing by a score of 2 to 1, Lindell hit a single
to lead off the eighth inning and, reached second base when center fielder Harry Walker
mishandled the ball. When Snuffy Stirnweiss
hit a bunt to first baseman Ray Sanders
, Lindell attempted to advance to third base. Sanders' throw reached third baseman Whitey Kurowski
in time as Lindell made a head-first slide. His head bounced up into Kurowki's head forcing him to drop the ball. The Yankees then proceeded to score five runs
to win the game 6 to 2. The play at third base was considered a turning point in the series as the Yankees went on to win the next two games and won the world championship.
Lindell had his most productive season in 1944
when he led the league in triples, extra base hit
s, total bases
, and had a .300 batting average with 18 home run
s and 103 runs batted in. Also in 1944, Lindell tied a major league record by hitting four doubles
in a game, and he recorded 468 putout
s, the tenth best season total for an outfielder during the years he played. Lindell was drafted into the United States Army in June 1945
and only appeared in 44 games that season. He was discharged from the Army in March 1946
.
With outfielders Joe DiMaggio
, Tommy Henrich
and Charlie Keller
returning to the Yankees from military service after the Second World War, Lindell slipped into the role of a utility player
. An injury to Keller in 1947
gave him another chance and in the 1947 World Series
, Lindell had a .500 batting average, leading the team with 7 runs batted in, as the Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers
in a seven-game series. In 1948
, he posted a .317 batting average with 13 home runs, 55 runs batted in and a career high .387 on base percentage
while appearing in 88 games.
During spring training in 1949
, Lindell developed a knuckleball
and new Yankees manager Casey Stengel
experimented with using him as a relief pitcher. On October 1, , during a late-season pennant race, he hit an eighth-inning, game-winning, home run
against the Boston Red Sox
, putting the Yankees into a tie their Boston arch-rivals with one game left to play. The Yankees went on to win the final game to clinch the American League pennant
then defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1949 World Series
.
In May 1950
, Lindell's contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals
from the Yankees. After posting just a .186 batting average in 36 games for the Cardinals, he was sold to the Cardinals' minor league affiliate, the Columbus Red Birds
who then traded him to the Hollywood Stars
of the Brooklyn Dodgers
organization. The Stars' manager
, Fred Haney
, converted Lindell into a knuckleball pitcher and, in , he won 24 games against 9 losses to help the Stars win the Pacific Coast League
pennant. He led the league in victories and strikeouts and, was voted the league's Most Valuable Player
. His knuckleball proved to be elusive as he also led the league in bases on balls.
Lindell returned to the major leagues in at the age of 36 as a knuckleball pitcher, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates
, before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
in August 1953. His knuckleball proved to be difficult to control in , as he led the league in bases on balls and wild pitch
es. Lindell played his last major league game on May 9, 1954 at age 37. The Phillies released him in May 1954
.
with 762 hits
in 2795 at bat
s for a .273 batting average along with 72 home runs, 404 runs batted in and a .344 on base percentage. As a pitcher, he compiled an 8-18 record with a 4.47 earned run average
. He led American League outfielders in 1943 with a .994 fielding percentage
.
Lindell died of lung cancer in Laguna Beach, California on August 27, .
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
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....
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...
player. He played as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and 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...
in the 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...
from to and from to . Lindell played for 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...
, 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...
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and 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...
.
Athletic career
Lindell attended Monrovia High SchoolMonrovia High School
Monrovia High School is a public high school located in Monrovia, California, a northeastern suburb of Los Angeles. Monrovia High School is the only 9-12 comprehensive high school in the Monrovia Unified School District...
in Monrovia, California
Monrovia, California
Monrovia is a city located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 36,590 at the 2010 census, down from 36,929 at the 2000 census...
, where he starred in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
as well as in baseball. At the 1935 Southern California Prep Championships, he won the 120 yard High Hurdles and placed third in the long jump. Lindell won a scholarship to attend the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.
Lindell began his professional baseball career in at the age of 19 when he was signed by the New York Yankees organization. He progressed through the Yankees' 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...
system as a pitcher. While playing for the Kansas City Blues
Kansas City Blues (American Association)
The Kansas City Blues are a former minor league baseball team located in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Midwestern United States. The team was one of the eight founding members of the American Association....
in , he led the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
with 18 victories. Lindell made his major league debut at the age of 24 with the Yankees on April 18, 1941
1941 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 39th season for the team in New York, and its 41st season overall. The team finished with a record of 101-54, winning their 12th pennant, finishing 17 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy. The Yankees played their home games at...
before being returned to the minor leagues where, he won 23 games against 4 defeats to help the Newark Bears win the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
championship. In December , he was selected as the Minor League Player of the Year.
Lindell returned to the major leagues in 1942
1942 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 40th season in New York and its 42nd overall. The team finished with a record of 103-51, winning their 13th pennant, finishing 9 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy. The Yankees played home games at Yankee Stadium. In...
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...
but, Yankees manager Joe McCarthy thought that his low strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
totals indicated that his fast ball had lost its velocity. During spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1943
1943 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 41st season in New York, and its 43rd season overall. The team finished with a record of 98-56, winning their 14th pennant, finishing 13.5 games ahead of the Washington Senators. Managed by Joe McCarthy, the Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World...
, McCarthy experimented with using Lindell as a first baseman and as an outfielder. He hit well enough to win the starting right fielder's position and, had a batting average above the .300 mark in early June to earn a place as a reserve player 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...
team in the 1943 All-Star Game
1943 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1943 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 11th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 13, 1943, at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the home...
. In the second half of the season, his hitting tapered off and he was replaced in the starting lineup by Bud Metheny
Bud Metheny
Arthur Beauregard “Bud” Metheny, was an American baseball player and coach. He played professional baseball for the New York Yankees and served Old Dominion University for 32 years as head baseball coach, head basketball coach and athletic director.Metheny was a graduate of the College of...
. Lindell ended the season leading the league with 12 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
along with a .245 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in 122 games as, the Yankees won the American League pennant by 13½ games over the Washington Senators
1943 Washington Senators season
The Washington Senators won 84 games, lost 69, and finished in second place in the American League. They were managed by Ossie Bluege and played home games at Griffith Stadium.- Offseason :...
.
Lindell played a crucial role in Game 3 of the 1943 World Series
1943 World Series
The 1943 World Series matched the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the New York Yankees, in a rematch of the 1942 Series. The Yankees won the Series in five games for their tenth championship in 21 seasons. It was Yankees' manager Joe McCarthy's final Series win...
against the St. Louis Cardinals
1943 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 62nd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 52nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 105-49 during the season and finished 1st in the National League. In the World Series, they met the New York Yankees. They lost the series in 5...
. With the series tied at one game apiece and the Yankees trailing by a score of 2 to 1, Lindell hit a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
to lead off the eighth inning and, reached second base when center fielder Harry Walker
Harry Walker
Harry William Walker, known to baseball fans of the middle 20th century as "Harry the Hat" , was an American baseball player, manager and coach.-Early life and family:...
mishandled the ball. When Snuffy Stirnweiss
Snuffy Stirnweiss
George Henry "Snuffy" Stirnweiss was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball. From through , Stirnweiss played for the New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns and Cleveland Indians...
hit a bunt to first baseman Ray Sanders
Ray Sanders
Raymond Floyd Sanders was a professional baseball player. Primarily a first baseman, he played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball between 1942 and 1949.- Cardinals :...
, Lindell attempted to advance to third base. Sanders' throw reached third baseman Whitey Kurowski
Whitey Kurowski
George John Kurowski was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals . Kurowski batted and threw right-handed. He debuted on September 23, 1941, and played his final game on October 1, 1949...
in time as Lindell made a head-first slide. His head bounced up into Kurowki's head forcing him to drop the ball. The Yankees then proceeded to score five runs
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...
to win the game 6 to 2. The play at third base was considered a turning point in the series as the Yankees went on to win the next two games and won the world championship.
Lindell had his most productive season in 1944
1944 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 42nd season in New York, and its 44th season overall. The team finished in third place in the American League with a record of 83-71, finishing 6 games behind the St. Louis Browns. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy...
when he led the league in triples, extra base hit
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s, total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
, and had a .300 batting average with 18 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 103 runs batted in. Also in 1944, Lindell tied a major league record by hitting four doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in a game, and he recorded 468 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, the tenth best season total for an outfielder during the years he played. Lindell was drafted into the United States Army in June 1945
1945 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 43rd season in New York and its 45th overall. The team finished in fourth place in the American League with a record of 81-71, finishing 6.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy...
and only appeared in 44 games that season. He was discharged from the Army in March 1946
1946 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 44th season in New York, and its 46th overall. The team finished with a record of 87-67, finishing 17 games behind of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy, Bill Dickey, and Johnny Neun...
.
With outfielders Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
, Tommy Henrich
Tommy Henrich
Thomas David "Tommy" Henrich , nicknamed "The Clutch" and "Old Reliable", was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played his entire baseball career for the New York Yankees . He led the American League in triples twice and in runs scored once, also hitting 20 or more home runs four times...
and Charlie Keller
Charlie Keller
Charles Ernest "Charlie" Keller was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1952, Keller played for the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers...
returning to the Yankees from military service after the Second World War, Lindell slipped into the role of a utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
. An injury to Keller in 1947
1947 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 45th season in New York, and its 47th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 15th pennant, finishing 12 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. New York was managed by Bucky Harris. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee...
gave him another chance and in the 1947 World Series
1947 World Series
The 1947 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning the Series in seven games for their first title since , and the eleventh championship in team history...
, Lindell had a .500 batting average, leading the team with 7 runs batted in, as the Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers
1947 Brooklyn Dodgers season
On April 15, Jackie Robinson was the opening day first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first black player in Major League Baseball since . Robinson went on to bat .297, score 125 runs, steal 29 bases and be named the very first Rookie of the Year...
in a seven-game series. In 1948
1948 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 46th season in New York and its 48th overall. The team finished with a record of 94-60, finishing 2.5 games behind the Cleveland Indians and 1.5 games behind the second-place Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Bucky Harris...
, he posted a .317 batting average with 13 home runs, 55 runs batted in and a career high .387 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
while appearing in 88 games.
During spring training in 1949
1949 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 47th season in New York, and its 49th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 16th pennant, finishing 1 game ahead of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Casey Stengel. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee...
, Lindell developed a knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
and new Yankees manager Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
experimented with using him as a relief pitcher. On October 1, , during a late-season pennant race, he hit an eighth-inning, game-winning, home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
against the Boston Red Sox
1949 Boston Red Sox season
The 1949 Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing second in the American League with a record of 96 wins and 58 losses.- Regular season :...
, putting the Yankees into a tie their Boston arch-rivals with one game left to play. The Yankees went on to win the final game to clinch the American League pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
then defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1949 World Series
1949 World Series
The 1949 World Series featured the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning in five games for their second defeat of the Dodgers in three years, and the twelfth championship in team history...
.
In May 1950
1950 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 48th season for the team in New York and its 50th overall as a franchise. The team finished with a record of 98-56, winning their 17th pennant, finishing 3 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. In the World Series, they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in 4...
, Lindell's contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals
1950 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 69th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 59th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 78-75 during the season and finished 5th in the National League.- Offseason :...
from the Yankees. After posting just a .186 batting average in 36 games for the Cardinals, he was sold to the Cardinals' minor league affiliate, the Columbus Red Birds
Columbus Red Birds
The Columbus Red Birds was the name of a top-level minor league baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio, in the American Association from 1931 through 1954. The Columbus club, a member of the Association continuously since 1902, was previously known as the Columbus Senators — a typical...
who then traded him to the Hollywood Stars
Hollywood Stars
The Hollywood Stars were a minor league baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early and mid 20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.-Hollywood Stars :...
of 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...
organization. The Stars' manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
, Fred Haney
Fred Haney
Fred Girard Haney was an American third baseman, manager, coach and executive in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he won two pennants and a world championship with the Milwaukee Braves and, as an executive, he was the first general manager of the expansion Los Angeles Angels of the American...
, converted Lindell into a knuckleball pitcher and, in , he won 24 games against 9 losses to help the Stars win the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
pennant. He led the league in victories and strikeouts and, was voted the league's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. His knuckleball proved to be elusive as he also led the league in bases on balls.
Lindell returned to the major leagues in at the age of 36 as a knuckleball pitcher, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates
1953 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 72nd in franchise history. In April 1953, the New York Yankees visited Forbes Field and played two preseason games against the Pirates...
, before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
1953 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season was the 71st in franchise history.- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :...
in August 1953. His knuckleball proved to be difficult to control in , as he led the league in bases on balls and wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
es. Lindell played his last major league game on May 9, 1954 at age 37. The Phillies released him in May 1954
1954 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season was a season in Major League Baseball. The Phillies finished fourth in the National League with a record of 75 wins and 79 losses.- Offseason :* December 1, 1953: 1953 minor league draft...
.
Career statistics
In a 12-year career, Lindell played in 854 gamesGames 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,...
with 762 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....
in 2795 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s for a .273 batting average along with 72 home runs, 404 runs batted in and a .344 on base percentage. As a pitcher, he compiled an 8-18 record with a 4.47 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...
. He led American League outfielders in 1943 with a .994 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
Lindell died of lung cancer in Laguna Beach, California on August 27, .