Lou Louden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lou Louden |
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| Born: August 19, 1919 West Point, Virginia |
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| Died: August 31, 1989 (aged 70) Newark, New Jersey |
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| debut | |||
| 1942, for the New York Cubans | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1957, for the El Paso Texans | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Louis Oliver Louden (born August 19, 1919 – died August 31, 1989) was an American Negro league baseball player. He was a talented catcher who played for several teams. These included the New York Cubans, Birmingham Black Barons, and El Paso Texans. His career spanned from 1942 to 1957.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Start
Lou Louden grew up playing baseball in the playgrounds of New York. He was a natural talent on the sandlots, which are informal baseball fields. A scout named Alex Pompez noticed his skills. This led Louden to join the New York Cubans directly.
Playing Style and Skills
Louden was known as a strong-armed catcher. He was also a powerful hitter who could hit the ball consistently. He was a "pull hitter," meaning he usually hit the ball to the side of the field where he was batting. For example, a right-handed batter would pull the ball to left field.
He batted .290 for the New York Cubans in 1947. That year, the Cubans won the Negro National Club championship. Louden was a superb catcher who always played with great energy. His hustle and lively spirit kept his teammates focused and entertained the fans.
Career Highlights and All-Star Games
Louden played in many important games during his career. He was part of the New York Cubans team that won the Negro League World Series in 1947. This was a major achievement for him and his team.
He also played in several East-West All-Star games. These games featured the best players from the Negro Leagues. Louden appeared in these All-Star games in 1947, 1948, and 1950.
Playing with Baseball Legends
Louden had the chance to play with some of baseball's biggest stars. He joined Willie Mays's All-Star team in 1948-49. He was the only player on that team who was not yet playing in the major leagues. He also played with Jackie Robinson's All-Stars in 1946-47. Later, in the early 1950s, he played with Roy Campanella's All-Stars.
Manager Role and Later Seasons
In 1948, Louden briefly took on the role of manager for the New York Cubans. Even while managing, he continued to play well. He hit .315, .245, and .311 in his last three seasons in the Negro Leagues.
Winter Baseball and Final Years
Like many baseball players, Louden played "winter ball" in warmer countries during the off-season. He played in Puerto Rico in 1947-48, where he batted .304 with the Ponce team. He also played in Cuba in 1950-51 with Cienfuegos.
After leaving the Cubans, he played for the Winnipeg team in the Mandak League for two years (1952-53). His last time playing organized baseball was in 1957. He played for the El Paso Texans in the Southwest League. Before he was discovered by Alex Pompez, he also played for smaller teams like the Tidewater Giants.
Images for kids
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A picture of Lou Louden, a talented baseball player.
