Mem Lovett
{{Short description|American baseball player (1912–1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Mem Lovett
|position=Pinch hitter
|image=Merritt_Marwood_Lovett.jpg
|caption=
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1912|6|15}}
|birth_place=Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
|death_date={{death date and age|1995|9|19|1912|6|15}}
|death_place=Downers Grove, Illinois, U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 4
|debutyear=1933
|debutteam=Chicago White Sox
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 4
|finalyear=1933
|finalteam=Chicago White Sox
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=Batting average
|stat1value=.000 (0-for-1)
|stat2label=Games played
|stat2value=1
|teams=
- Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|1933}})
}}
Merritt Marwood "Mem" Lovett (June 15, 1912 – September 19, 1995) was an American professional baseball player who appeared as a pinch-hitter in one Major League Baseball (MLB) game, for the 1933 Chicago White Sox. Listed at {{convert|5|ft|9.5|in|m}} and {{convert|165|lb|kg}}, he batted and threw right-handed.
Biography
Lovett played on three freshman sports teams at the University of Chicago: football, basketball, and baseball.{{cite book |url=http://campub.lib.uchicago.edu/view/?docId=mvol-0001-0037-0000#page/155/mode/1up/ |title=The Cap & Gown |publisher=University of Chicago |volume=37 |pages=150–151 |date=1932 |via=uchicago.edu |access-date=August 13, 2020}} He was one of several players that the Chicago White Sox added as September call-ups in 1933;{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57204226/chicago-white-sox-acquire-six-players/ |title=Chicago White Sox Acquire Six Players |agency=AP |newspaper=Billings Gazette |location=Billings, Montana |page=7 |date=September 5, 1933 |access-date=August 12, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} fellow call-up Milt Bocek went on to play a total of 30 games for the White Sox during 1933 and 1934.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B/Pbocem101.htm |title=Milt Bocek |website=Retrosheet |access-date=August 12, 2020}}
Lovett's only major league appearance came on September 4, 1933.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1933/Ilovem1010011933.htm |title=The 1933 CHI A Regular Season Batting Log for Mem Lovett |website=Retrosheet |access-date=August 12, 2020}} Facing the Detroit Tigers in a road doubleheader at Navin Field, Lovett entered the first game as a pinch hitter in the top of the ninth inning, with the Tigers leading, 8–0.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1933/B09041DET1933.htm |title=Detroit Tigers 8, Chicago White Sox 0 (1) |date=September 4, 1933 |website=Retrosheet |access-date=August 12, 2020}} Batting for center fielder Mule Haas, Lovett came to the plate with two outs and catcher Frank Grube on base. The available play-by-play for the game simply says that Lovett made an out, ending the game; years later, Lovett recounted that he swung at the first pitch thrown to him by Detroit pitcher Vic Sorrell, resulting in an infield pop-up, likely caught by first baseman Hank Greenberg.{{cite book |title=Once Around the Bases: Bittersweet Memories of Only One Game in the Majors |first=Richard |last=Tellis |pages=8–11 |isbn=1572432772 |publisher=Triumph Books |date=1998 }}
Baseball records do not include statistics for Lovett in minor league baseball.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lovett001mer |title=Mem Lovett Career Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 12, 2020}} Lovett stated that he was released by the White Sox prior to the 1934 season, after he declined their request to play for a farm team in Longview, Texas. He described then being signed by the Cincinnati Reds, at first to play in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and then in Lincoln, Nebraska, before leaving in June to return to his hometown of Chicago, as he did not like the minor league playing conditions. Newspaper reports did mention Lovett playing for the Lincoln Links of the Nebraska State League during May 1934.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57247848/sioux-city-defeats-lincoln-team-10-9/ |title=Sioux City Defeats Lincoln Team 10-9 |first=Walter E. |last=Dobbins |newspaper=Nebraska State Journal |location=Lincoln, Nebraska |page=5 |date=May 7, 1934 |access-date=August 13, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}
After his brief professional baseball career, Lovett worked in a bank while also playing semi-professional baseball. He also was a member of a touring basketball team called the Chicago Circus Clowns,{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57236440/chicago-circus-clowns-play-eagles-at/ |title=Chicago Circus Clowns Play Eagles at Armory |newspaper=Kokomo Tribune |location=Kokomo, Indiana |page=6 |date=December 8, 1934 |access-date=August 12, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} somewhat like the Harlem Globetrotters. He later worked for the Glidden paint company for 40 years, until his retirement in 1977.{{cite web |url=https://www.fold3.com/image/653545724 |title=Draft Registration Card |publisher=Selective Service System |date=October 1940 |via=fold3.com |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 12, 2020}} Lovett died in 1995 in Downers Grove, Illinois.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/L/Plovem101.htm |title=Mem Lovett |website=Retrosheet |access-date=August 12, 2020}} He had been married twice, and had four children and four step-children.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/57244391/obituary-for-merritt-m-lovett-aged-83/ |title=Lovett |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |page=2-10 |date=September 20, 1995 |access-date=August 12, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{baseballstats |br=l/lovetme01 |brm=lovett001mer |retro=L/Plovem101}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lovett, Mem}}
Category:Chicago White Sox players
Category:Lincoln Links players
Category:Baseball players from Chicago
Category:Basketball players from Chicago
Category:Players of American football from Chicago
Category:Chicago Maroons baseball players
Category:Chicago Maroons men's basketball players