He was a pitcher who contributed to his teams in several positions over the years. Red Lucas was one of the most recent two-way players, serving as a prolific pinch hitter throughout his career.[1] He helped the Giants win the 1923 National League Pennant. Lucas 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, 2392⁄3 innings pitched, and a 3.38 ERA.
Lucas was 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 28 completed games. He 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. While Lucas led the National League in shutouts with 4 in 1928, completing 28 games in 1932 and 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 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. His total was, by far, the most ever for a player whose primary position was pitcher.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5] He died in Nashville, Tennessee on July 9, 1986.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abVotano, Paul (July 27, 2010). Stand and Deliver: A History of Pinch-Hitting. McFarland. ISBN978-0-7864-8451-5.
^Rosecrans, C. Trent (May 25, 2015). "Jason Marquis bats 8th for Reds". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
^Holaday, Chris (2016). The Tobacco State League; A North Carolina Baseball History, 1946–1950. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN978-1-4766-6670-9.
^Melley, Ken (July 19, 2018). The Anatomy of Baseball Nicknames. Page Publishing Inc. ISBN978-1-6421-4378-2.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
December 14, 2023
lucas, charles, fred, lucas, april, 1902, july, 1986, american, professional, baseball, pitcher, pinch, hitter, played, major, league, baseball, from, 1923, 1938, york, giants, boston, braves, cincinnati, reds, pittsburgh, pirates, pitcher, pinch, hitterborn, . 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 Red LucasPitcher Pinch hitterBorn 1902 04 28 April 28 1902Columbia Tennessee U S Died July 9 1986 1986 07 09 aged 84 Nashville Tennessee U S Batted LeftThrew RightMLB debutApril 19 1923 for the New York GiantsLast MLB appearanceOctober 1 1938 for the Pittsburgh PiratesMLB statisticsWin loss record157 135Earned run average3 72Strikeouts602Batting average 281Home runs3Runs batted in190TeamsNew York Giants 1923 Boston Braves 1924 Cincinnati Reds 1926 1933 Pittsburgh Pirates 1934 1938 Career highlights and awardsCincinnati Reds Hall of FameHe was a pitcher who contributed to his teams in several positions over the years Red Lucas was one of the most recent two way players serving as a prolific pinch hitter throughout his career 1 He helped the Giants win the 1923 National League Pennant Lucas 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 2392 3 innings pitched and a 3 38 ERA Lucas was 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 28 completed games He 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 While Lucas led the National League in shutouts with 4 in 1928 completing 28 games in 1932 and 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 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 His total was by far the most ever for a player whose primary position was pitcher 2 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 3 Lucas posted a 281 batting average with 155 runs 3 home runs 190 RBI and 124 bases on balls in his major league career Defensively he was better than average recording a 981 fielding percentage as a pitcher and a 977 fielding percentage overall 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 4 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 5 He died in Nashville Tennessee on July 9 1986 1 References edit a b Votano Paul July 27 2010 Stand and Deliver A History of Pinch Hitting McFarland ISBN 978 0 7864 8451 5 Quimby Al Red Lucas sabr org Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved December 26 2018 Rosecrans C Trent May 25 2015 Jason Marquis bats 8th for Reds Cincinnati com Retrieved April 24 2020 Holaday Chris 2016 The Tobacco State League A North Carolina Baseball History 1946 1950 Jefferson North Carolina McFarland ISBN 978 1 4766 6670 9 Melley Ken July 19 2018 The Anatomy of Baseball Nicknames Page Publishing Inc ISBN 978 1 6421 4378 2 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Red Lucas amp oldid 1163701276, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
