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dennis_keith · 02-27-2017, 05:48 PM

Al Lakeman was a catcher who made several trips between the majors and the high minors and vice versa. His problem was that he just didn't hit enough (lifetime batting average of .203) to keep a job in the majors.(much like Bob Uecker about 20 years later).. He managed to complete four entire MLB seasons as a #2 or #3 catcher without returning to the bush leagues from 1945 to 1948. But he was what you'd refer to today as a 4A or AAAA player for the rest of his career, frequently shuttling back in forth from the majors to the minors.
His major claim to fame is probably that on June 18, 1948 while with the Phillies he caught the first major league game pitched by future Hall Of Famer, Robin Roberts. He also appeared in a game on the losing side in 1954 in he first-ever win for the Baltimore Orioles (newly converted from the St.Louis Browns).The team he spent the most time in the major leagues, however, was his first MLB team, the Cincinnati Reds.
What's quite unusual is that he was able to get back to the majors for the Detroit Tigers in 1954 after a five year absence from the big leagues. This five game stint ended on May 23 of that year and it proved to be his last hurrah in the big leagues.
Can anyone post photos of Lakeman from his end of career cup of coffee with the 1954 Tigers?

02-27-2017, 05:48 PM	#30388
dennis_keith Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 261	Al Lakeman - 1954 Detroit Tigers Al Lakeman was a catcher who made several trips between the majors and the high minors and vice versa. His problem was that he just didn't hit enough (lifetime batting average of .203) to keep a job in the majors.(much like Bob Uecker about 20 years later).. He managed to complete four entire MLB seasons as a #2 or #3 catcher without returning to the bush leagues from 1945 to 1948. But he was what you'd refer to today as a 4A or AAAA player for the rest of his career, frequently shuttling back in forth from the majors to the minors. His major claim to fame is probably that on June 18, 1948 while with the Phillies he caught the first major league game pitched by future Hall Of Famer, Robin Roberts. He also appeared in a game on the losing side in 1954 in he first-ever win for the Baltimore Orioles (newly converted from the St.Louis Browns).The team he spent the most time in the major leagues, however, was his first MLB team, the Cincinnati Reds. What's quite unusual is that he was able to get back to the majors for the Detroit Tigers in 1954 after a five year absence from the big leagues. This five game stint ended on May 23 of that year and it proved to be his last hurrah in the big leagues. Can anyone post photos of Lakeman from his end of career cup of coffee with the 1954 Tigers?