Russ Lyon
{{Short description|American baseball player (1913–1975)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Russ Lyon
|image=Russell_Mayo_Lyon.jpg
|caption=Lyon with the Cleveland Indians, c. 1944
|position=Catcher
|birth_date={{Birth date|1913|6|26}}
|birth_place=Ball Ground, Georgia
|death_date={{death date and age|1975|12|24|1913|6|26}}
|death_place=Calhoun Falls, South Carolina
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 21
|debutyear=1944
|debutteam=Cleveland Indians
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 27
|finalyear=1944
|finalteam=Cleveland Indians
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=Batting average
|stat1value=.182 (2-for-11)
|stat2label=RBI
|stat2value=0
|stat3label=Home runs
|stat3value=0
|teams=
- Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|1944}})
}}
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 {{convert|6|ft|1|in|m}} and {{convert|230|lb|kg}}, he batted and threw right-handed.
Biography
Lyon attended the Georgia School of Technology (Georgia Tech) where he played on the freshman college football and freshman college baseball teams.{{cite book |url=https://smartech.gatech.edu/handle/1853/15536 |title=The Blue Print |date=1933 |publisher=Georgia School of Technology |location=Atlanta |via=gatech.edu |access-date=August 4, 2020 |quote=Russell Mayo Lyons}} He played in minor league baseball during 1937–1939 and 1944–1945. In five minor league seasons, he appeared in over 300 games. During his first professional season, 1937 with the Leesburg Gondoliers, he played as a first baseman; thereafter, he played as a catcher.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lyon--001rus |title=Russ Lyon Minor Leagues Statistics & History |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=August 4, 2020}}
Near the start of the 1944 season, Lyon was described as "a former semi-pro."{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56678418/indians-dont-look-like-best-in-league/ |title=Indians Don't Look Like Best In League, But May Surprise Dopesters With Strong Finish |first=Bob |last=Meyer |agency=UP |newspaper=Santa Cruz Sentinel |page=4 |date=April 4, 1944 |access-date=August 4, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/Ilyonr1010011944.htm |title=The 1944 CLE A Regular Season Batting Log for Russ Lyon |website=Retrosheet |access-date=August 4, 2020}} 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,{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/B04210CLE1944.htm |title=Cleveland Indians 7, Detroit Tigers 4 |date=April 21, 1944 |website=Retrosheet |access-date=August 4, 2020}} and a single on April 23 off of Rufe Gentry, also of the Tigers.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/B04232CLE1944.htm |title=Detroit Tigers 4, Cleveland Indians 3 (2) |date=April 23, 1944 |website=Retrosheet |access-date=August 4, 2020}} 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. 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56678737/catcher-is-purchased/ |title=Catcher is Purchased |agency=AP |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |page=10 |date=June 10, 1944 |access-date=August 4, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}
Born in 1913 in Ball Ground, Georgia, Lyon died in 1975 in Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, and was interred in Abbeville, South Carolina.{{cite web |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/L/Plyonr101.htm |title=Russ Lyon |website=Retrosheet |access-date=August 4, 2020}} At the time of his death, he worked as a master mechanic; he was married and had three sons.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56677059/russ-lyon-dies-at-62/ |title=Russ Lyon Dies At 62 |newspaper=The Greenville News |location=Greenville, South Carolina |page=9 |date=December 27, 1975 |access-date=August 4, 2020 |via=newspapers.com}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Baseballstats |br=l/lyonru01 |brm=lyon--001rus |retro=L/Plyonr101}}
- {{findagrave|41905587}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyon, Russ}}
Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football players
Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball players
Category:Baseball players from Cherokee County, Georgia
Category:Players of American football from Cherokee County, Georgia
Category:Major League Baseball catchers
Category:Cleveland Indians players
Category:Leesburg Gondoliers players
Category:Jacksonville Tars players
Category:Bassett Furnituremakers players
Category:Indianapolis Indians players