Russ Lyon

Russell Mayo Lyon (June 26, 1913 – December 24, 1975) was a professional baseball catcher who played seven games for the 1944 Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 230 pounds (100 kg), he batted and threw right-handed.

Russ Lyon
Lyon with the Cleveland Indians, c. 1944
Catcher
Born: (1913-06-26)June 26, 1913
Ball Ground, Georgia
Died: December 24, 1975(1975-12-24) (aged 62)
Calhoun Falls, South Carolina
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 21, 1944, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
May 27, 1944, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Batting average.182 (2-for-11)
RBI0
Home runs0
Teams

Biography

Lyon attended the Georgia School of Technology (Georgia Tech) where he played on the freshman college football and freshman college baseball teams.[1][2] He played in minor league baseball during 1937–1939 and 1944–1945.[3] In five minor league seasons, he appeared in over 300 games.[3] During his first professional season, 1937 with the Leesburg Gondoliers, he played as a first baseman; thereafter, he played as a catcher.[3]

Near the start of the 1944 season, Lyon was described as "a former semi-pro."[4] He was one of many players who made their only major league appearances during World War II. In April and May of 1944, Lyon played in seven games for the Cleveland Indians.[5] Offensively, he was 2-for-11 at the plate for a .182 batting average. His hits came during his first two games with Cleveland; a single on April 21 off of Stubby Overmire of the Detroit Tigers,[6] and a single on April 23 off of Rufe Gentry, also of the Tigers.[7] Defensively, Lyon appeared at catcher in three games for a total of 20 innings; he committed one error in 11 total chances for a .909 fielding average.[8] On June 9, Cleveland sent Lyon and cash to the minor league Indianapolis Indians in exchange for catcher Norm Schlueter, who had prior major league experience with the Chicago White Sox.[9]

Born in 1913 in Ball Ground, Georgia, Lyon died in 1975 in Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, and was interred in Abbeville, South Carolina.[8] At the time of his death, he worked as a master mechanic; he was married and had three sons.[2]

References
  1. The Blue Print. Atlanta: Georgia School of Technology. 1933. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via gatech.edu. Russell Mayo Lyons
  2. "Russ Lyon Dies At 62". The Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina. December 27, 1975. p. 9. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  3. "Russ Lyon Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  4. Meyer, Bob (April 4, 1944). "Indians Don't Look Like Best In League, But May Surprise Dopesters With Strong Finish". Santa Cruz Sentinel. UP. p. 4. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  5. "The 1944 CLE A Regular Season Batting Log for Russ Lyon". Retrosheet. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  6. "Cleveland Indians 7, Detroit Tigers 4". Retrosheet. April 21, 1944. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  7. "Detroit Tigers 4, Cleveland Indians 3 (2)". Retrosheet. April 23, 1944. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  8. "Russ Lyon". Retrosheet. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  9. "Catcher is Purchased". The Cincinnati Enquirer. AP. June 10, 1944. p. 10. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
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