James Luther "Luke" Sewell was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager.
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27 Facts About Luke Sewell
2.
Luke Sewell played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox and the St Louis Browns.
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3.
Luke Sewell was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
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4.
Luke Sewell attended Wetumpka High School and graduated from the University of Alabama where, he played for the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team as an infielder.
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5.
Luke Sewell was linked to the Cleveland Indians because his brother Joe Sewell became their starting shortstop in 1920.
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6.
Luke Sewell began the 1921 season with the Columbus Senators in the American Association but, after only 17 minor league games, Sewell made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians on June 30,1921.
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7.
Luke Sewell served as a reserve catcher, working behind Steve O'Neill until the 1923 season when O'Neill was injured in an auto accident.
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8.
Luke Sewell then played in a platoon role alongside Glenn Myatt, in which the left-hand hitting Myatt played the team's home games at League Park due to its 290-foot distance to the right field fence, while Luke Sewell played the team's road games.
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9.
Luke Sewell eventually took over as the Indians number one catcher in the 1926 season, due to his superior defensive skills.
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10.
Luke Sewell questioned Babe Ruth's integrity in a game on June 11,1927.
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11.
Luke Sewell demanded that umpires check Ruth's bat after he clouted two straight home runs off Garland Buckeye.
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12.
In 1933, Luke Sewell was traded to the Washington Senators for catcher Roy Spencer.
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13.
Luke Sewell posted career-highs with 125 hits including 30 doubles along with 61 runs batted in as, the Senators under first-year player-manager Joe Cronin, won 99 games to clinch the American League pennant by nine games over the New York Yankees.
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14.
Luke Sewell received the throw from the outfield and tagged both runners out with one sweeping motion.
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15.
Luke Sewell began the 1934 season with a hand injury and didn't play his first game until June 13.
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16.
In January 1935, Luke Sewell was traded to the St Louis Browns, ironically for Bump Hadley.
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17.
In 1936, Luke Sewell produced career-highs with 5 home runs and 73 runs batted in and, led American League catchers in assists and in baserunners caught stealing.
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18.
Luke Sewell finished the season ranked fifth in voting for the 1937 American League Most Valuable Player Award.
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19.
Luke Sewell spent the 1940 season as a pitching coach but, when the Indians decided to hire Roger Peckinpaugh as their manager for the 1941 season, Sewell accepted the manager's position with the St Louis Browns, replacing Fred Haney.
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20.
Luke Sewell played his final game as a player on August 1,1942 at the age of 41.
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21.
Luke Sewell never struck out more than 27 times in a season, and his career best was just 16 strikeouts in 451 at-bats in 1936.
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22.
Luke Sewell held the American League record of 20 seasons as an active catcher until Carlton Fisk surpassed the record with 24 seasons as an active catcher with the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox.
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23.
Luke Sewell caught three no-hitters in his career; Wes Ferrell in 1931, Vern Kennedy in 1935, and Bill Dietrich in 1938.
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24.
In January 1949 Luke Sewell was hired as a pitching coach by the Cincinnati Reds and, in October of that year, he took over as the Reds' manager from Bucky Walters.
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25.
In December 1953, Luke Sewell was hired as manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League.
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26.
Luke Sewell led the team to the league championship in his first season and won the International League Manager of the Year Award.
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