(1917–2001). When the Cleveland Indians won the World Series in 1948, player-manager Lou Boudreau became the only person in baseball history to manage a World Series champion in the same year as being named his league’s most valuable player (MVP). Boudreau later had a long career as a radio and television broadcaster in Chicago, becoming one of the first former athletes to make such a transition.
Louis Boudreau was born on July 17, 1917, in Harvey, Ill. A star high school athlete, he led the basketball team to the state title in 1933. He played both baseball and basketball at the University of Illinois and briefly played professional basketball after graduation.
Boudreau began playing minor-league baseball in 1938, for the Cleveland Indians’ organization. He advanced to the Indians’ major-league team in 1940 and became their regular shortstop. In 1942 the 24-year-old also took on the role of manager, becoming the youngest person ever to manage a major-league team from the outset of the season.
Boudreau won the American League batting title in 1944 with a .327 average. The best year of his career, however, was 1948, when he batted .355, belted 18 home runs, had 106 runs batted in (RBIs), and scored 116 runs. In 560 times at bat that year, the right-hander struck out only nine times.
As the manager of the Indians, Boudreau posted a record of 728 wins and 649 losses. Boudreau remained with the Indians through 1950. He then played briefly for the Boston Red Sox and managed the team from 1952 to 1954. He also managed the Kansas City Athletics (1955–57) and the Chicago Cubs (1960).
Boudreau was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970, and the Indians retired his number 5 jersey. He played in several All-Star Games (1940–44, 1947–48). During his career, Boudreau batted an average of .295 with 68 home runs, 1,779 hits, and 789 RBIs. As a manager, he had a lifetime record of 1,162 wins and 1,224 losses.
Boudreau’s broadcasting career began in the radio booth for the Chicago Cubs in 1958. His lack of experience behind the microphone was offset by his great knowledge of the game. He later did television broadcasts for the Cubs. Fans of other sports came to know Good Kid—as he was often called—through his various broadcasting assignments for the Chicago Bulls basketball team, the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team, and college football teams. Boudreau retired in 1987. He died on Aug. 10, 2001, in Frankfort, Ill.