Red Lucas

Red Lucas
Pitcher / Pinch hitter
Born: (1902-05-23)May 23, 1902
Columbia, Tennessee
Died: July 9, 1986(1986-07-09) (aged 84)
Nashville, Tennessee
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 19, 1923, for the New York Giants
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1938, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 157–135
Earned run average 3.72
Strikeouts 602
Batting average .281
Home runs 3
Runs batted in 190
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Charles Fred "Red" Lucas (April 28, 1902 – July 9, 1986) was an American professional baseball pitcher and pinch hitter. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1923 to 1938 for the New York Giants, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates.

He was a solid pitcher who contributed to his teams over the years. Lucas also was one of the last of the two-way ballplayers, appearing occasionally as a fielder early in his career, and serving as a prolific pinch hitter throughout his career. Some of his career highlights were as follows:

  • He helped the Giants win the 1923 National League Pennant.
  • He finished 11th in voting for the 1927 National League MVP. That year, he had a won-loss record of 18–11, with 19 complete games, 4 shutouts, 2 saves, 239 ⅔ Innings Pitched, and a 3.38 ERA.
  • He also finished 6th in voting for the 1929 NL MVP for leading the league in WHIP (1.204), hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (8.90), and complete games (28).
  • In addition, he also had a 19–12 won–loss record, with 2 shutouts and a 3.60 ERA. Lucas finished 14th in voting for the 1931 NL MVP.
  • Lucas also led the National League in shutouts (4) in 1928, complete games (28) in 1932, walks/9IP (1.33) in 1936.
  • He appeared in 19 games as a fielder, mostly at second base, but occasionally at third base, shortstop, or the outfield.
  • Lucas also pinch hit 505 times over his 16 seasons. His 114 base hits as a pinch hitter rank him among the most prolific pinch hitters in Major League Baseball history. And his total was, by far, the most ever for a player whose primary position was pitcher.

As a pitcher, Lucas batted seventh in the lineup for the Reds on September 7, 1933, and was the last Reds pitcher to bat higher than ninth until Jason Marquis batted eighth in May 2015.[1]

After his major league career, Lucas spent several seasons managing and occasional pitching in the minor leagues. He served as a minor league manager in 1941 with Grand Rapids (Michigan State League) and in 1942 Newport (Tenn.) of the Appalachian League. Lucas was a player/coach for the Nashville Vols in 1944 and 1945. He managed the Class D Lumberton Cubs of the Tobacco State League in 1947.[2] In 1948, Lucas was the manager of the Decatur Ill. club in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League.

His nickname, "The Nashville Narcissus," was coined by Colonel Bob Newhall, a reporter for the old Cincinnati Tribune, who may have thought the young pitcher was a blooming star. He died in Nashville, Tennessee on July 9, 1986.

References

  1. ↑ "Jason Marquis bats 8th for Reds". Cincinnati.com. May 25, 2015.
  2. ↑ Holaday, Chris (2016). "The Tobacco State League; A North Carolina Baseball History, 1946–1950". . Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-6670-9.
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