Sewell replaced Steve O'Neill as catcher with the Indians, joining his brother Joe in the Cleveland lineup for several years. Many observers considered his arm to be the strongest of any catcher in the game, but base runners seemed to ignore that advice, as he led the league in assists four times. After his playing career, which included nearly 1,400 hits and a .259 average in more than 1,600 games, Sewell became a coach and then a successful manager. In 1944 he guided the St. Louis Browns to their only pennant, and posted a very respectable .513 record with the Browns, compared to their dismal .424 mark under other managers in their 50-year history.
Teams Luke Sewell Played For
Cleveland Indians (1921-1932) Washington Senators (1933-1934) Chicago White Sox (1935-1938) Cleveland Indians (1939) St. Louis Browns (1942)
Teams Luke Sewell Managed
St. Louis Browns (1941-1946) Cincinnati Reds (1949-1952)
Luke Sewell in Minor League Baseball
"Sewell is one of those rare birds," the Sporting News reported in 1935, "who flew from the college campus directly to the majors."
Where does Luke Sewell rank among baseball greats?
Luke Sewell ranks #50 among the Top 50 all-time at C. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1931 Sewell was a very mediocre offensive player, and he never posted an OPS above league normal levels. But for a catcher in that era, he did what his teams needed him to do with the glove. In '31 he batted .275 with 30 doubles and a .341 OBP, and played his typical stellar defense behind the dish.
Most Career Hits, Brothers 1. Paul and Lloyd Waner 5611
2. Felipe, Matty and Jesus Alou 5094
3. Joe, Dom and Vince DiMaggio 4853
4. Ed, Jim, Frank, Joe and Tom Delahanty 4211
5. Hank and Tommy Aaron 3987
6. Cal Jr. and Billy Ripken 3858
7. Roberto and Sandy Jr. Alomar 3627
8. Joe and Luke Sewell 3619
9. Ken, Clete and Cloyd Boyer 3559
10. Honus and Butts Wagner 3489
11. Bob and Roy Johnson 3343
12. Eddie and Rich Murray 3299
Description Sewell had a habit of asking umpires to check the bats of opposing batters for illegal substances, and later as a manager, he extended that to being suspicious of opposing pitchers he felt may be throwing a spitter. During his playing days he tipped the scale at 170 pounds and stood five-feet, ten-inches.
Born James Luther Sewell was born on January 5, 1901, in Titus, AL.
