Boudreau was a high achiever early in life. He graduated from the University of Illinois where he captained the baseball and basketball teams. The Big Ten suspended Boudreau from intercollegiate play in his last two years when it was learned Cy Slapnicka (what a name) the Indians GM of the time had made payments to Boudreau while a student to insure he would become an Indian after graduation. Nevertheless Boudreau finished his schooling while playing professional basketball on the side. Slapnicka's money was well invested though when Boudreau reported in 1938 to Cedar Rapids , an Indians farm team.
Boudreau was a great team leader and shortstop. He was finished in the top 10 or better in MVP voting eight times between 1940 and 1950. He had a lifetime .295 batting average but his greatest season was in 1948 when he batted .355, hit 18 homers and batted in 106 rbis . He led the Indians in batting average, on base %, slugging average, doubles, runs and base on balls! And he did all that while managing the team through a 154 game season, a one game playoff win and a six game World Series championship. As a manager he is credited with inventing the Ted Williams shift in which he positioned himself to the right of second base and challenged Williams to hit through the hole. He was also credited with changing Bob Lemon from a third baseman to an all star Hall of Fame pitcher.
Boudreau had limited range as a shortstop and only an average arm but he knew hitters and positioned himself well to make the plays. His chronic ankle problems resulted in a 4F deferment from service in WWII so some of his career statistics were likely aided by the watered down level of play in those years. This may have slowed his entry into the Hall of Fame. He slipped over the 75% ballot approval required only after his 10th year on the ballot in 1970.
Boudreau's performance declined rather quickly after 1948. By 1950 he was fired as manager and released as a player by Bill Veeck. He signed with the Red Sox for two seasons and became their manager in '52-'54. He managed the Kansas City Royals from '55 to '57. In 1958 he became the Chicago Cubs announcer and filled that role for 29 years retiring in 1989.
Lou's son Jim Boudreau pitched in the minor leagues for five years reaching the AA level. His daughter Sharyn married pitcher Denny McLain who won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers in 1968 but has since served two prison terms for financial missteps.
Lou Boudreau died in 2001 at age 83 of cardiac arrest. Perhaps Bob Feller who always calls it like he sees it summed up Lou Boudreau best: "He was the greatest shortstop I ever saw. He was afraid of nobody. He was a great manager, teammate and friend. Just a great man. There is not a more gracious man than Lou Boudreau."-Bob Feller
Sources: Wikipedia, baseball-reference.com, NY Times, Bob Feller Museum, et. al.
The Hall of Famers:
- Louis Boudreau
- Born: July 17, 1917, Harvey, IL
- Died: August 10, 2001, Olympia Fields, IL
- Bats: R Throws: R
- Played for: Cleveland Indians (1938-1950), Boston Red Sox (1951-1952)
- Elected to Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers: 1970
- 232 votes of 300 ballots cast (77.33%)
| AVG | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | SB | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .295 | 1646 | 6029 | 861 | 1779 | 68 | 789 | 51 | .415 |
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