Another one for my 52 Topps collection. For it not being a very expensive/rare card it sure was difficult to land one!
John Sherman “Sherm” Lollar (1924-1977) developed into an excellent backstop in the Chicago White Sox organization and won the very first Rawlings Gold Glove for catchers, but also succeeded at the plate striking out fewer times than walking in each of his 15 seasons after becoming an everyday starter (1949-1963). The Cleveland Indians signed Lollar in 1943 and he debuted in 1946, but played much of his first six seasons platooning at catcher with Hall of Famer Yogi Berra and All-Star Jim Hegan, among others. Lollar led the Major Leagues four times in fielding percentage at his position and is the third player in history to register two hits in one inning twice in the same game. Sherm was considered a “dangerous hitter with power” and he had his best season in 1959 when he batted .265 with 22 home runs and 84 RBI as he led the White Sox to the American league pennant. He was a member of the 1947 World Series champion New York Yankees, but lost the 1959 World Series as the “Go-Go White Sox” fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The seven-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner posted a .992 career fielding percentage with a 47% caught stealing percentage. In 1954, Lollar led the American League with a 68% caught stealing percentage. Sherm Lollar finished his career with a .264 career batting average, 1,415 hits including 244 doubles and 144 home runs, 623 runs and 808 RBI over 18 seasons. He played for the Indians (1946), the New York Yankees (1947-1948), the St. Louis Browns (1950-1951) and the White Sox (1952-1963). Following his playing days, he joined the Baltimore Orioles coaching staff and won another World Series in 1966.
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