Jump to content

Jim Lonborg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jim Lonborg
Lonborg in 1969
Pitcher
Born:(1942-04-16)April 16, 1942(age 82)
Santa Maria, California,U.S.
Batted:Right
Threw:Right
MLB debut
April 23, 1965, for the Boston Red Sox
Last MLB appearance
June 10, 1979, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Win–loss record157–137
Earned run average3.86
Strikeouts1,475
Teams
Career highlights and awards

James Reynold Lonborg(born April 16, 1942) is an American formerprofessional baseballright-handedstarting pitcher,who played inMajor League Baseball(MLB) with theBoston Red Sox,Milwaukee Brewers,andPhiladelphia Phillies.Though nicknamed "Gentleman Jim",he was known for fearlessly pitching on the inside of the plate throughout his fifteen-year career.

Baseball career

[edit]

Born inSanta Maria, California,Lonborg attendedSan Luis Obispo High SchoolinSan Luis Obispo, California,and graduated fromStanford University.On August 14, 1963, he signed as an amateur free agent with theBoston Red Sox.

In the 1967 Red Sox'"Impossible Dream" season,Lonborg ledAmerican League(AL) pitchers inwins(22),games started(39), andstrikeouts(246). That year, the Red Sox were involved in a four-way race for the AL pennant with theDetroit Tigers,Minnesota Twins,andChicago White Sox;the race was reduced to three teams after the White Sox lost adoubleheaderto theKansas City Athletics,on September 27. The Red Sox and Twins faced each other in the season's final series and entered the final day (October 1) tied for first place; the Tigers were half a game out of first and needed to sweep a doubleheader from theCalifornia Angelsto force a playoff between the winner of the Red Sox–Twins game. Lonborg outdueled Twins aceDean Chancein that finale, while the Tigers defeated the Angels in the first game but lost the second, putting the Red Sox in theWorld Seriesfor the first time since1946.

In that World Series against theSt. Louis Cardinals,Lonborg pitched in Game 2 on October 5, tossing what was only the fourth one-hitter in Series history and followed that up with another victory in Game 5 four days later by limiting the Cards to three hits. Called upon to pitch the seventh and deciding game with only two days rest, he lasted six innings, but allowed six earned runs in a 7–2 loss. TeammateDan Osinskiremembered, "Lonborg couldn't break a pane of glass in the bullpen when he was warming up. We all knew that, and [Dick Williams] still started him. You know he could have pitched the bullpen an inning apiece, or something. It just gave Gibson too big a lead against us that we couldn't come back from."[1]Shortly after being fired by the Red Sox, pitching coachSal Magliealso criticized Williams's handling of Lonborg. "It was obvious Lonborg didn't have it. Williams should have gotten him out sooner, and I told him so. It was a crime that he let a man who'd done such a great job for him all season take a pounding like that. It was degrading."[2]Lonborg received the1967Cy Young Award(becoming the first Red Sox pitcher so honored), played in theAll-Star Game,and finished prominently in voting for theMLB Most Valuable Player(MVP) award (placing 6th in the voting, with teammate Yastrzemski winning the award).

Lonborg in 1971

In December of 1967, Lonborg tore the ligaments in his left knee while skiing, and his pitching career thereafter was marked by many injuries.[3][4]He won only 27 games from1968through 1971, and was traded along withGeorge Scott,Ken Brett,Billy Conigliaro,Joe LahoudandDon Pavletichto theMilwaukee Brewersin a ten-player trade that also sentTommy Harper,Marty Pattin,Lew Krausseand minor-league outfielder Pat Skrable to the Red Sox on October 10, 1971.[5]With thePhiladelphia Philliesneeding to improve its pitching staff beyondSteve Carlton,both Lonborg and Brett were acquired along withKen SandersandEarl Stephensonfrom the Brewers forDon Money,John VukovichandBill Championon October 31, 1972.[6]He spent the next six and a half seasons with Philadelphia before his release, midway through the 1979 season.

Lonborg's MLB career statistical totals include a 157–137 record with 1,475 strikeouts, a 3.86earned run average(ERA), 90complete games,15shutouts,and2464+1⁄3innings pitchedin 425 games. Lonborg was selected to theBoston Red Sox Hall of Famein 2002.

Post-baseball career

[edit]

After retiring, Lonborg attended theTufts University School of Dental Medicine,and graduated in 1983. He worked as a generaldentistinHanover, Massachusetts,until he retired in 2017. He is active in manynonprofit organizations,includingCatholic Charities,Little League Baseball,andThe Jimmy Fund.Lonborg lives inScituate, Massachusetts.

On the Boston-basedsitcomCheers,the photo ofSam Malonepitching is actually that of Lonborg. At times, Sam also wore Lonborg's number 16 Red Sox jersey.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^Anderson, Ron."Dan Osinski".SABR.RetrievedMay 2,2020.
  2. ^"Maglie Raps Williams On Judgement, Courage".The Reading Eagle.November 2, 1967. p. 22.RetrievedAugust 6,2020.
  3. ^"Jim Lonborg hurt skiing".news.google.RetrievedNovember 1,2023.
  4. ^Hurford, Daphne (May 31, 1976)."A Gentler Style for a Gentleman".Sports Illustrated.Archived fromthe originalon November 4, 2012.RetrievedJuly 16,2011.
  5. ^"Red Sox, Brewers in 10‐Player Deal,"United Press International(UPI), Sunday, October 10, 1971.Retrieved April 13, 2020
  6. ^"Phillies Obtain Jim Lonborg In 7‐Man Deal With Brewers,"United Press International(UPI), Tuesday, October 31, 1972.Retrieved April 13, 2020
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jim_Lonborg&oldid=1244582894"