Eddie Lopat

Eddie Lopat
Lopat in 1963 as manager of the Kansas City Athletics.
Pitcher / Manager
Born: (1918-06-21)June 21, 1918 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died: June 15, 1992(1992-06-15) (aged 73) Darien, Connecticut, U.S.
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 30, 1944, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 23, 1955, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	166–112
Earned run average	3.21
Strikeouts	859
Managerial record	90–124
Winning %	.421
Teams
As player Chicago White Sox (1944–1947) New York Yankees (1948–1955) Baltimore Orioles (1955) As manager Kansas City Athletics (1963–1964 )
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (1951) 5× World Series champion (1949–1953) AL ERA leader (1953)

Edmund Walter Lopat (originally Lopatynski) (June 21, 1918 – June 15, 1992) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, coach, manager, front office executive, and scout. He was sometimes known as "the Junk Man", but better known as "Steady Eddie", a nickname later given to Eddie Murray. He was born in New York City.

Playing career

A 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), 185 lb (84 kg)

On July 30, 1955, Lopat was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Jim McDonald and cash, finishing out the season and retiring. Over his 12-year AL career, Lopat won 166 games, losing 112 (.597) with an ERA of 3.21. He was also adept with the bat, compiling a .211 batting average with 5 home runs and 77 runs batted in during his career.

Ned Garver described Lopat's pitching style, writing that he "changed speeds a lot and never really threw an exceptional fastball."^[1]

Coaching career

Lopat managed the

In 1963 Lopat was tapped to manage the Athletics and continued in this role until June 11, 1964.^[2] His 1963 squad finished in eighth place, registering one more victory than it had in 1962. But his 1964 A's were playing only .327 baseball at 17–35 on June 10, when he was replaced by Mel McGaha. His final major league managerial record was 90–124 (.421).

Lopat remained with the Athletics as a senior front office aide to team owner Charlie Finley until the club moved to Oakland after the 1967 season. He then scouted for the Montreal Expos during their early years in Major League Baseball.

Managerial record

Later life

In 1978, Eddie Lopat was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame ^[3] He died at his son's home in Darien, Connecticut, on June 15, 1992.^[4] Lopat pitched for five victorious Yankees teams in the World Series, in 1949–53.

References