Freddie Lindstrom
Freddie Lindstrom is one of those "Who's that?" Hall of Famers, who earned election solely due to the fact that Frankie Frisch ruled over the veterans committee in the 1970s. He was a decent infielder but never great. He was a solid hitter who led the league in hits once and never led in any other category. At the young age of 18 years old (the youngest player ever to play in the Fall Classic), he was also at the center of one of the most bizarre events in World Series history. In Game Seven of the 1924 World Series, with Lindstrom's Giants and the Senators deadlocked 3-3 in the bottom of the 12th inning, Washington threatened with men on first and second and one out. Earl McNeely, the Senators' center fielder, bounced a routine grounder to third, but just as Lindstrom glided in to gather it in, it hit a hard spot on the ground (contemporary reports called it a "pebble") and careened over his head into left field. The runner on scampered home, and the Senators won the World Series title. Earlier in the game a similar "bad hop" had allowed the Senators to tie the game. Lindstrom maintained to his dying day that the ball had hit something on the field.
Played For
New York Giants (1924-1932)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1933-1934)
Chicago Cubs (1935)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1936)
All-Time Rankings
Freddy Lindstrom ranks #45 among the Top 50 all-time at 3B. Rankings ⇒
Factoids
In the late 1940s, Fred Lindstrom served as Deputy Assesor for Cook County in Illinois.
Lindstrom and McGraw
Once, in his late thirties, Lindstrom was asked how his trademark blonde hair had acquired a streak of silver. "Playing for McGraw," Lindstrom replied. Lindstrom and McGraw had a relationship that teetered on the edge of argument almost all the time. Once, when Lindstrom was in the hospital with a fractured leg, McGraw chastised the young ballplayer for the carelessness of the injury. "I hope you break your damned leg," Lindstrom hollered, "just so you can see what it's like!" ironically, the Giants' skipper left the hospital, stepped in front of a cab, and suffered a broken leg himself. Even when Lindstrom was young (he debuted at the age of 18), he had little patience with McGraw's constant barking. Where veterans advised Freddie to get used to the barking, strong-headed Lindstrom ignored them and fiored back at the manager. After a while, McGraw gained respect for the fiesty infielder and let Lindstrom get away with more than he would have let another play get away with.
The Card Game that Cost the Cubs
While he was a high school player in Chicago, Lindstrom had a special tryout for the Cubs at Wrigley Field. After about an hour of running, fielding, hitting and throwing, Lindstrom left the park thinking he had done a fine job and hoping he impressed the Cub brass. Later he found out that Chicago manager Bill Killefer hasd been in the clubhouse playing cards the entire time. "I've often wondered what might have happened," Freddie said later. "Just suppose he'd seen me, I might have become a Cub instead of a Giant." A month later, Lindstrom was signed by scout Dick Kinsella of the Giants.
Born
Frederick Charles Lindstrom was born on November 21, 1905, in Chicago, IL.
Died
October 4, 1981, Chicago, IL
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 3B
Primary Team: NY1
Major League Debut
April 15, 1924
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1924
Charlie Gehringer
Al Simmons
Earle Combs
Freddy Lindstrom
Chick Hafey
Red Ruffing
Hughie Critz
Max Bishop
Glenn Wright
Nicknames
Boy Wonder
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1949 |
BBWAA |
1 |
.7% |
1956 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.6% |
1958 |
BBWAA |
5 |
1.9% |
1960 |
BBWAA |
6 |
2.2% |
1962 |
BBWAA |
7 |
4.4% |
1976 |
Veterans |
|
% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1924 World Series
1935 World Series
Batting Feats
Notes
In his later years, Lindstrom served as postmaster general in Evanston, Illinois.
Hitting Streaks
25 games (1933)
24 games (1930)
Learn More about Freddie Lindstrom
Search Amazon.com for Books about Freddie Lindstrom ⇒
Search for Freddie Lindstrom at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
