Lou Boudreau: Legendary Cleveland Shortstop and Managerial Icon
The page from the 1950 Big Time Baseball publication highlights Lou Boudreau, focusing on his career as a player and manager. When Roger Peckinpaugh retired as manager of the Cleveland Indians in 1941, Boudreau, then a 24-year-old infielder with limited major league experience, approached President Alva Bradley for the managerial position and secured the role. Known as the "Boy Manager," Boudreau’s capabilities as a manager remain debated outside Cleveland, but he was revered by local fans for his contributions to the city’s baseball success. Boudreau is recognized as one of the finest infielders, leading the American League in fielding percentages for eight years. Notably, in 1942 he set a new major league fielding record with a .978 percentage, which he surpassed in 1945 with .982. In 1944, he participated in 134 double plays, another major league record. Boudreau played a pivotal role in Cleveland’s success, especially during the 1948 pennant race against Boston where he achieved a perfect day at bat, contributing significantly to Cleveland's first pennant since 1920.