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Talk About a Dilemma! Who Would Lou Boudreau Cheer For in the 2016 World Series??
“He was the consummate gentleman, never wanting to offend anyone, and if he were here he’d probably do the politically correct thing and remain neutral.”
So spoke Jimmy Boudreau, son of the great Hall-of-Fame shortstop, Lou Boudreau, whose heart and loyalty was split between Cleveland and Chicago. Talk about mixed emotions! If he were alive today, what would he do? Would he be cheering for the Indians in the 2016 World Series, the team he led to its last World Series victory in 1948 as player-manager? Or would he be cheering for his hometown Cubs, the team he once managed and worked for as a radio broadcaster for many years?
This much is clear: Boudreau was beloved in both cities…and with good reason. In 1948, he led the Indians to a pennant and World Series championship, the team’s first since 1920. He batted .355 that year, with 116 runs, 106 RBIs, and was the American League MVP. So grateful was the city of Cleveland that they named “Lou Boudreau Way” in his honor. His #5 has been retired by the Indians, and next year, a statue is scheduled to be unveiled in his honor.
When his playing days were over, he returned home to Chicago and in 1958 fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming a radio broadcaster for the Cubs in 1958. He took a one year hiatus in 1960 to go back on to the field as the Cubs’ manager, switching jobs with Charlie Grimm, and then returned to the radio booth where he remained a fixture until 1987.
Boudreau, known as the “Boy Manager,” played 15 seasons in the major leagues for the Indians (1938-’50), and the Red Sox ((1951-’52). He also managed for 10 seasons. Over his career, Lou hit .295 with 68 home runs and 789 RBIs. In addition to his World Series championship and MVP award in 1948, Boudreau was the American League batting champion in 1944 (.327), was an seven-time All-Star, led the American League in doubles three times, and led American League shortstops in fielding eight times.
Boudreau helped make history in 1941 as a key figure in stopping Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak. After two earlier brilliant defensive plays by Ken Keltner at third, Boudreau made a sensational barehanded snag of DiMaggio’s bad-hop grounder to start a double play and retire DiMaggio. The streak was over! Boudreau is also credited with inventing the infield shift – later known as “the Boudreau shift” – to counter the offensive prowess of the dead-pull hitting superstar, Ted Williams.
We’re also happy to report that one of our readers, Chicago-native Mark Schroeder, was a sportscaster and sports anchor at WJW-TV Fox-Cleveland for 23 years. He also worked for Fox NFL. Over the years, Mark had the opportunity to interview Lou Boudreau and many other former Indians and baseball personalities, including Bill Wambsganss, Ken Keltner, Bill Veeck, Bob Feller, Larry Doby, Sam McDowell, and Gaylord Perry.
Mark held a special fondness for Lou Boudreau, who he got to know on a personal basis. Mark actually interviewed Lou at his home in Dalton, Illinois. Mark says it was more like an “intimate talk,” with Lou reflecting nostalgically on his days with the Indians and Cubs. At one point, Lou actually broke down and started crying, as he knew his long association with baseball, the game he loved and to which he had devoted his life, was about to come to an end. Mark says Lou’s basement was filled with baseball memorabilia, including his MVP award, and his Indians’ jersey was hanging from the ceiling. It was definitely a very emotional moment for the Hall-of-Fame baseball star.
Mark also related a story Lou told him about how he tricked the media in the 1948 tie-breaking playoff game against the Red Sox in Fenway Park: “In those days Lou would put a baseball in the locker of the starting pitcher and then everyone would know who the starting pitcher would be. But Boudreau put a ball in every pitcher’s locker that day and the media didn’t know who was going to pitch! Of course everyone just assumed it would be Feller, but he was no longer the ace of the staff by 1948. Boudreau fooled everyone by selecting Gene Bearden, a rookie! He was an average lefty but somehow Ted Williams had a hard time hitting him. Bearden threw a complete game on one-day rest and Lou Boudreau was proven right!” The Indians won the pennant that day, and went on to defeat the Boston Braves in the 1948 World Series.
So which team would Lou Boudreau be cheering for in the 2016 World Series? Lou’s son Jimmy said his father loved the Cubs, but certainly would never slight Cleveland. “He spent more time with the Cubs but everything he accomplished was with the Indians…he loved them as well.”
Jimmy revealed who he thought his dad would be cheering for…but I’ll respect “privacy” of the “consummate gentleman” and leave that one alone! If you’re a Cub fan, Lou would be on your side. If you are an Indians fan, well, rest assured Lou’s with you too!
Lou Boudreau was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970.
-Gary Livacari
Photo Credits: All from Google search
Information: Excerpts edited from article in today’s Chicago Sun-Times; and from the Lou Boudreau Wikipedia page.
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