Donald Andrew Lund(May 18, 1923 – December 10, 2013) was anAmericanprofessional baseballoutfielderwho played inMajor League Baseballfor theBrooklyn Dodgers(1945, 1947–1948),St. Louis Browns(1948) andDetroit Tigers(1949, 1952–1954). He batted and threw right-handed.
| Don Lund | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Outfielder/Coach | |
| Born:May 18, 1923 Detroit,Michigan,U.S. | |
| Died:December 10, 2013(aged 90) Ann Arbor, Michigan,U.S. | |
Batted:Right Threw:Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 3, 1945, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 29, 1954, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .240 |
| Home runs | 15 |
| Runs batted in | 86 |
| StatsatBaseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| As player
As coach | |
Born inDetroit,Michigan,Lund graduated fromDetroit Southeastern High Schooland then attended theUniversity of Michiganwhere he lettered in baseball, football and basketball.[1]He was signed out of the University of Michigan by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945. Although drafted in the 1st round of theNFL draft in 1945by theChicago Bearsas arunning back,Lund felt baseball would be the better career choice. Used mainly as a reserve, he played part of three seasons with the Dodgers and St. Louis Browns between 1945 and 1948. His most productive season came in1953as the regularright fielderfor the Detroit Tigers, when he posted career-highs inbatting average(.257),home runs(nine),runs batted in(47),hits(108),at-bats(421),doubles(21),triples(four), andgames played(131). On June 18, 1953, Lund made the final put-out in right field when Boston scored an MLB record 17 runs against the Tigers in one inning. He played his last season in 1954 as a backup for teenagerrookieAl Kaline.
In a seven-season career, Lund was a.240 hitter with 15 home runs and 86 RBI in 281 games.[2]
Following his major league career, Lund served ashead baseball coachat the University of Michigan. Under his leadership, theWolverineswon theCollege World Seriesin1962.[3]He also coached for the Tigers and was director of theirfarm systemfrom 1963 through 1970.[4]
Lund was inducted into the Michigan Hall of Honor in 1984 for his significant contributions as afootball,baseball, and basketball player and baseball coach as well.[5]Lund was inducted into theMichigan Sports Hall of Famein 1987.[6]
In 2009, James Robert Irwin wrote a book about the life of Don Lund, "Playing Ball with Legends: The Story and the Stories of Don Lund."
He died on December 10, 2013, at the age of 90 at his home inAnn Arbor, Michigan.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Donald Lund Obituary (2013) Ann Arbor News".
- ^Baseball Reference Entry for Don Lund
- ^Blue diamonds are forever: A history of a Michigan traditionArchivedSeptember 4, 2007, at theWayback Machine
- ^Baseball America Executive Database
- ^University of Michigan Hall of HonorArchivedOctober 27, 2007, at theWayback Machine
- ^Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
- ^Michigan, Detroit Tigers legend Don Lund dies in Ann Arbor home at age 90
External links
edit- Career statistics fromBaseball Reference,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet,orBaseball Biography - Don Lund
- SABR BioProject page
- Vintage Card Traders 1954 Series Don Lund CardArchivedFebruary 4, 2012, at theWayback Machine
