Lou Stringer’s baseball career gives us a real look at the ups and downs players faced during the World War II era. Born in Michigan, Stringer played six seasons in Major League Baseball between 1941 and 1950, splitting his time with the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox.
Military service during World War II interrupted his career, just like it did for so many players back then. That detour changed his trajectory in ways nobody could’ve predicted.
Stringer’s biggest achievement came in his 1941 rookie season, when he led all major league second basemen in assists, playing 145 games for the Chicago Cubs. He started off rough, making four errors in his first major league game, but he bounced back and showed the resilience and skill that would really define his career.
He worked his way up from the minors, served in the military, and then returned to baseball. That journey mirrored what countless other players went through during those war years.
From his early days in the Cubs’ farm system to his last games with the Red Sox, Stringer’s story touches on themes like perseverance, duty, and adaptation—basically, what baseball was all about in the 1940s.
After his playing days, he managed in the minors and even had a quirky Hollywood connection, working as a film extra during his career. Not exactly your average baseball path.
Early Life and Background
Louis Bernard Stringer was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 13, 1917. When he was just three, his family picked up and moved to California.
Growing up in East Los Angeles shaped his early baseball development. His family faced real economic challenges, and that definitely influenced his work ethic.
Birthplace and Family
Lou started life as Louis Bernard Stringer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His dad, Robert Stringer, worked as a wood mechanic running buzz saws and band saws.
Robert’s job really wore him down. He developed respiratory problems and a nasty cough from all the sawdust and hard labor, which forced him to retire early.
When Lou turned three, the family made a big move to East Los Angeles. The Stringer house was always busy, with seven boys and one girl running around.
His mom, Josephine, managed the home and never worked outside. When Robert couldn’t work anymore, the rest of the family chipped in to keep things afloat.
Most of Lou’s brothers became mechanics. One even started his own upholstery business. Lou’s younger brother Al, five years younger, also got into baseball and worked out with the Cubs organization as early as 1941.
Growing Up in California
Moving to East Los Angeles turned out to be a good thing for the Stringers. The California climate helped Robert’s health, at least a bit, and the family settled into their new life.
Lou’s brothers found their footing in different trades and businesses. Their hard work kept the family going during tough times.
Everyone had to pitch in financially. Lou learned early on that hard work and persistence weren’t optional—they were just how you survived. Those lessons paid off in his baseball career.
Early Interest in Baseball
Lou’s baseball adventure began at St. Bridget’s grade school in Los Angeles. He played in the local C.Y.O. league, showing off his athletic skills from a young age.
He kept at it at Washington High School, playing shortstop. That high school team was loaded—six players from there made it to the majors.
His teammates included Jerry Priddy, Cliff Dapper, Al Lyons, Roy Partee, and Eddie Morris. That group really speaks to the kind of baseball talent coming out of L.A. in the 1930s.
After high school, Lou played semipro ball on city sandlots. Mike Catron, a local coach, helped him sharpen his skills.
Those games against tougher competition caught the eye of pro scouts. Jigger Statz and Pants Rowland signed him to the Cubs organization, though Lou later said Rowland was more of a manager than a scout.
Minor League Development
Lou Stringer’s pro baseball journey kicked off in 1937 when the Chicago Cubs signed him as an amateur free agent. He moved through several minor league levels, showing steady improvement that eventually landed him a major league shot.
Ponca City Angels and Western Association
Stringer started out with the class C Ponca City Angels in 1937. At twenty, he hit .263 with 5 home runs, playing second base and fielding at a .960 clip.
His second season with Ponca City went even better. In 1938, he helped the team win both the Western Association League Championship and the playoff title. He batted .286 with 7 home runs and tied for the league lead with 126 runs scored.
That offensive performance earned him a spot on the Western Association All-Star team. Getting on base and scoring runs became his calling card during his time in the minors.
Pacific Coast League Experience
The Cubs moved Stringer up to the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League in 1939. That was a big leap—he now faced more experienced competition.
In his first PCL season, he stayed solid with a .272 batting average and 16 home runs. His fielding improved too, with a .976 percentage that showed he was getting steadier on defense.
He played another year for Los Angeles in 1940, hitting .263 with 14 home runs. That convinced the Cubs he was ready for a shot at the majors.
After his World War II military service, Stringer returned to the PCL with Los Angeles in 1947. He put up a .293 average and 13 home runs. Most impressively, he set PCL records by handling 353 chances in 64 games without making a single error.
Hollywood Stars and Managerial Role
The Chicago White Sox grabbed Stringer in 1948, sending him to their PCL team, the Hollywood Stars. He was batting .333 when things took an unexpected turn.
When manager Jimmy Dykes left, Stringer stepped in as player-manager for the Hollywood Stars. He held that job from August 28 until September 20, when Mule Haas took over.
The Boston Red Sox bought his contract after their regular second baseman, Bobby Doerr, got hurt. That move brought Stringer back to the majors after his short time managing.
He wrapped up his minor league career with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Seals in the early 1950s. All told, Stringer finished with a .288 minor league batting average and 136 home runs over 13 active seasons.
Major League Baseball Career
Lou Stringer spent nine seasons in Major League Baseball from 1941 to 1950, making a name for himself as a reliable middle infielder for the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox.
He finished with a .242 batting average, 19 home runs, and 122 RBIs across 409 games. He mainly played second base, but also filled in at shortstop and third base whenever the team needed him.
Chicago Cubs Years
Stringer debuted in the majors on April 15, 1941, with the Chicago Cubs at age 23. He started at shortstop and went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs against Pittsburgh.
His rookie year was a hit. Cubs manager Jimmy Wilson called him “the best rookie I ever saw in spring training.” Stringer played 145 games and hit .246, which was pretty impressive for a shortstop back then.
The Cubs originally planned to use him as a backup to veteran second baseman Billy Herman. But when Herman got traded to Brooklyn on May 6, 1941, Stringer suddenly found himself in the starting lineup.
He played out the 1942 season with 121 games and a .236 average. After that, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as a physical training instructor at Williams Field in Arizona during World War II.
When he returned in 1946, manager Charlie Grimm gave him less playing time. He had just 209 at-bats, hit .244, and split time between second base, shortstop, and third base.
Boston Red Sox Tenure
The Boston Red Sox bought Stringer’s contract in September 1948 while he was managing the Hollywood Stars. He flew from California to Detroit overnight and played the next evening, showing just how quickly he could jump in and help during a pennant race.
Stringer served as a utility infielder behind stars Bobby Doerr at second base, Vern Stephens at shortstop, and Johnny Pesky at third. He mostly played defense, appearing in only four games in 1948 with one hit in 11 at-bats.
In 1949, he got into 35 games and had 41 at-bats, hitting .268. His last season in 1950 saw even less action—just 17 at-bats in 24 games, but he managed a .294 average.
Even with a smaller role, Stringer liked the Red Sox organization. He especially appreciated his friendship with Johnny Pesky, saying their shared Catholic faith brought them closer.
Key Moments and Achievements
Stringer’s biggest individual highlight with Boston came in 1948. His only hit in 11 at-bats was a home run, making his Red Sox debut pretty memorable.
His 1941 rookie season with the Chicago Cubs marked the high point of his career. Playing 145 games as a regular starter, he anchored the Cubs’ infield and showed off the defensive skills scouts liked in the first place.
Stringer’s versatility was a big asset. He capably played second base, shortstop, and third base, making him a handy utility player for both teams.
He also joined a notable 1951 exhibition tour of Japan with Joe DiMaggio. That trip drew over a million fans and gave international audiences a taste of American baseball.
His career batting average of .242 may not jump off the page, but for a defense-first middle infielder in the 1940s, it was solid.
Performance and Playing Style
Lou Stringer put together a .242 career batting average over nine major league seasons with the Cubs and Red Sox. His defensive flexibility allowed him to play all over the infield, but he made his biggest mark at second base after Billy Herman left Chicago.
Batting and Offensive Contribution
Stringer’s .242 batting average landed him right in the typical range for middle infielders of his time. He drove in 122 runs over 409 games, staying consistent at the plate even when playing time got scarce later in his career.
His best offensive year was his rookie season in 1941. Playing 145 games, he hit .246 while moving from shortstop to second base. That year, people saw him as one of the Cubs’ most promising young players.
After he came back from the military in 1946, his offensive numbers dropped. He had only 209 at-bats that year and hit .244. With the Red Sox, he got even fewer chances, though he still managed a .294 average in 1950 in just 17 at-bats.
Home Runs and Stolen Bases
Stringer wasn’t much of a power hitter, ending up with 19 home runs over nine seasons. His first big-league homer came during his short time with Boston in 1948—it was his only hit in 11 at-bats after joining the team mid-season.
Moving from the minors to the majors really cut into his power numbers. In the Pacific Coast League, he’d doubled his home run totals from earlier years, but big league pitching proved tougher to crack.
Stolen bases just weren’t his thing. Records show he hardly attempted them, which fits with his contact-hitter style and the way managers played the game back then.
Fielding Skills at Second Base
Cubs management really admired Stringer’s defensive work at second base. Edward Burns of the Chicago Tribune once wrote, “it’s Stringer’s defensive skill that has the Cub management a-twitter with excitement” during those early years.
He brought a lot of value to both Chicago and Boston by playing shortstop, second base, and third base. Still, second base always felt like his strongest position.
That flexibility kept him on the roster even when his offense dipped. It probably saved his job more than once.
Manager Jimmy Wilson called him “the best rookie I ever saw in spring training” in 1941, mostly because of his defensive fundamentals. Stringer stayed steady in the field, and that consistency kept him in the majors even as younger, flashier hitters showed up.
Military Service and Impact on Career
World War II put Lou Stringer’s baseball career on hold when he enlisted in the Army Air Force in October 1942. He spent three full seasons serving his country and kept playing baseball at Williams Field in Arizona.
Service in the Army Air Force
Stringer joined the Army Air Force on October 29, 1942, right after finishing his second season with the Chicago Cubs. The Army stationed him at Williams Field in Arizona for his entire service.
Williams Field sat about 25 miles southeast of Phoenix. The base was wedged between the Salt River Indian Reservation to the north and the Gila River Reservation to the south.
During the war, the airfield trained twin-engine bomber crews and bombardiers until late 1943. After that, the focus shifted to training single-engine pilots and later four-engine bomber crews.
Stringer completed Air Force Mechanics School at Williams Field in January 1943. He held the rank of Private the whole time.
He received his discharge on December 11, 1945. So, his military service lasted just over three years, covering the 1943, 1944, and 1945 baseball seasons.
Baseball During World War II
While serving, Stringer became a key player for the Williams Field Flyers baseball team. The team played in organized leagues and really found success with Stringer at second base.
The 1943 Flyers won the Arizona Servicemen’s League championship. They also took the state semi-pro title, finishing with 41 wins in 50 games.
Notable teammates included:
- Stan Goletz (Chicago White Sox)
- Paul Soderburg (Spokane)
- Ed Flynn (Superior)
- Lee Peterson (Decatur)
One of the highlights? The Flyers beat Joe DiMaggio’s Santa Ana Army Airbase team on May 18, 1943. Stringer doubled in the ninth inning and scored the winning run on a squeeze bunt, sealing a 3-2 win.
The Army Times recognized Stringer for his military baseball performance and named him to their all-Army team.
The Williams Field Flyers kept their momentum in 1944 and 1945. In 1945, they won five straight games and grabbed another state semi-pro title.
Life After Retirement and Legacy
Lou Stringer left baseball behind and jumped into a successful career in automobile sales. For a while, he even worked as a Hollywood actor.
He lived quietly with his family until his death in 2008 at age 91. His legacy as a versatile major league infielder might not be flashy, but it’s definitely memorable.
Post-Baseball Career
After his playing days ended in 1957, Lou Stringer built a solid career in the Los Angeles car business. He worked for Harry Mann Chevrolet, which eventually became the world’s largest Corvette dealer.
He actually made more money selling cars than he ever did playing baseball. The most famous sale? He delivered a Corvette to Elvis Presley in Hollywood.
“He called and ordered it over the phone,” Stringer said. “He wanted me to drive it out to this place he was staying at in Hollywood and drop it off.”
The whole thing went fast. Elvis bought the car for a woman, paid by check, and barely said a word.
Before he got serious about car sales, Stringer tried his hand at acting in Hollywood films. He landed parts in a few baseball-themed movies including The Jackie Robinson Story and The Stratton Story.
But all the waiting around on movie sets wore him out. The long downtime between scenes just frustrated him, so he headed back to car sales and stuck with it for years.
Personal Life and Death
Louis Bernard Stringer married twice. His first wife, Helen, gave birth to two children, Linda and Tom.
Helen passed away in 1993 after many years together. Stringer later married Wilma, who stayed by his side in his final years.
His son Tom didn’t play pro baseball, but he graduated college. Tom eventually became a business owner and helped run the retirement community where his dad lived.
Stringer moved to a retirement community near San Diego that Tom and four business partners owned. They called the place Freedom Village, and it was in Lake Forest, California.
On October 19, 2008, Lou Stringer died at Freedom Village at age 91. He left behind his wife Wilma, daughter Linda, son Tom, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Impact on Baseball History
Lou Stringer played baseball during a really interesting time. He served in World War II, then came back and jumped right into the post-war seasons.
He could handle different infield spots, which made him a great fit for several teams.
Stringer spent time with notable teammates like Ted Williams. He remembered Williams as a bit of a loner who “mostly kept to himself.”
There was this one exchange Stringer had with Williams about being the best hitter in baseball. That stuck with him.
At Washington High School in Los Angeles, his team somehow produced six major league players. Jerry Priddy and Roy Partee were two of them, and four more guys from that team made it to the big leagues too.
Stringer managed in the minors for five years, finishing up in 1957. He worked as a player-manager in Yakima, Boise, Pocatello, and Des Moines.
His stats? In the majors, he hit .242, and in the minors, he batted .288 with 136 home runs. Not exactly legendary numbers, but honestly, pretty solid for a utility infielder back then.
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