Tim Lollar – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Tim Lollar wrapped up his seven-year Major League Baseball career in 1986, closing out a wild ride that took him from the Missouri Ozarks all the way to the World Series. This left-handed pitcher suited up for teams like the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox. He tasted both the highs and lows that come with professional baseball. Honestly, his story says a lot about the challenges players face when they try to go from being a hot prospect to a legit big leaguer.

Lollar ended his MLB run with a 47-52 record over seven seasons. He had moments to remember, like his 16-win year in 1982 and playoff appearances with teams chasing a championship. Born William Timothy Lollar on March 17, 1956, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, he pushed through early tragedy and a lack of high school baseball to eventually shine as an All-American at the University of Arkansas. You don’t see many guys who pitched and hit at his level back then.

From his Yankees debut in 1980 to his last game in 1986, Lollar’s career was a mix of personal triumphs, team wins, and, yeah, some tough stretches with injuries and rough outings. He stuck it out, moving through trades and team changes, and built relationships that really lasted in the sport.

Early Life and Education

Tim Lollar was born on March 17, 1956, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to Homer and Betty Jean Lollar. His athletic journey kicked off in the little mining town of Farmington, Missouri, after his family moved there.

He didn’t have a high school baseball team, but that didn’t stop him. Lollar’s talent eventually got him to the University of Arkansas, where he became an All-American player.

Birthplace and Family Background

William Timothy Lollar arrived on March 17, 1956, in Poplar Bluff, a southeastern Missouri town of about 15,000 people. Homer Fredrick and Betty Jo (McHenry) Lollar, both Missouri natives, had married back in 1948.

After Tim finished second grade, the family moved to Farmington, Missouri. This small Ozarks mining town sat almost halfway between Poplar Bluff and St. Louis.

Homer Lollar ran a wholesale meat business there. When Tim was about 13, tragedy hit—their dad died in a hunting accident.

Betty stepped up, raising Tim and his sister Janis on her own. She worked as a teacher’s aide to keep things afloat.

Even with all that, Tim grew into a pretty athletic kid. He loved the St. Louis Cardinals and started playing baseball on sandlots and in local leagues.

He kept moving up, playing Babe Ruth League and American Legion ball by the time he hit 16.

High School Experience

Tim went to Farmington High School and really stood out in multiple sports. He played both baseball and football, showing off the kind of athletic versatility that would help him later.

But Farmington High didn’t have a baseball team. So, even though he loved the game, he had to rely on sandlot games, youth leagues, and American Legion ball to stay sharp.

That could’ve ended his baseball dreams, honestly. But American Legion baseball gave him the exposure and experience he needed.

After graduating in 1974, he landed an athletic scholarship to Mineral Area College in Flat River, Missouri. Not bad, considering the hurdles.

Attending University of Arkansas

Lollar finished two years at Mineral Area College by 1976. At first, it looked like his baseball days were over.

Then, longtime St. Louis Cardinals scout Fred Hawn recommended him to the University of Arkansas. That changed everything.

Arkansas coach Norm DeBriyn took Hawn’s advice and brought Lollar on board. “Lollar has a lively arm, and his fastball has good velocity,” DeBriyn said. “He played very little baseball until he was a freshman but has developed rapidly.”

At Arkansas, Lollar majored in forestry and thought he’d become a game warden. Those plans took a back seat once his baseball talents really took off.

He played two seasons for the Razorbacks and spent his summers in leagues like the Texas College League in 1976 and with the Alaska Goldpanners in 1977.

In his last season at Arkansas, Lollar was a force on the mound and at the plate. He went 7-1 with an ERA under 2.00 as a pitcher.

Even more impressive, he led the Southwest Conference with a .423 batting average, mostly as a designated hitter.

He snagged Southwest Conference Player of the Year and national All-American honors at designated hitter. That made him the first Arkansas player ever to be named an All-American, and he eventually landed in the school’s Hall of Honor in 2005.

Path to Major League Baseball

Lollar’s path to the majors really started after his standout college career at Arkansas, where he earned All-American honors as a DH. The New York Yankees picked him in the fourth round of the 1978 draft, and just like that, he was a pro.

Draft by New York Yankees

The Yankees grabbed Lollar in the fourth round of the 1978 draft after he’d wrapped up a stellar year at Arkansas. The Cleveland Indians had drafted him in the fifth round in 1977, but he went back to school instead.

That decision paid off. Lollar crushed it in the Southwest Conference, hitting .423 and going 7-1 with a sub-2.00 ERA.

He became Arkansas’s first All-American. His ability to pitch and hit made him a hot commodity for MLB teams.

The Yankees liked what they saw in the 6-foot-3, 195-pound kid from Missouri. His versatility gave them plenty of options.

Minor League Development

Lollar spent his first two pro seasons with West Haven in the Double-A Eastern League. The Yankees weren’t sure whether to make him a pitcher, first baseman, or DH.

In 1978, he swung a decent bat at .255, but his pitching was shaky—a 5.81 ERA in 31 innings.

The next year, things started to click. He posted a 3.18 ERA over 119 innings, though his batting average dipped to .230.

Teammate Chris Welsh put it plainly: “It was obvious to me that he was a pitcher even if he didn’t know it.”

After spring training in 1980, Lollar landed with the Columbus Clippers in Triple-A. The Yankees moved him to the bullpen, and he took off.

He dominated the International League, putting up a 1.09 ERA in his first 33 innings. That got him a spot on the Yankees’ 40-man roster.

Major League Debut

Lollar’s hot start in Triple-A earned him a call-up to the Yankees on June 24, 1980. They needed a lefty to help out closer Goose Gossage.

He made his MLB debut on June 28, 1980, at Yankee Stadium. Lollar gave up two hits and a run in two innings of relief.

He looked promising, finishing his first stint with a 3.86 ERA in 25⅔ innings. The Yankees sent him back to Columbus in mid-August for more work.

He came back to New York on September 13 as the team geared up for the playoffs. With the AL East title locked up, manager Dick Howser let Lollar start the season’s final game.

Lollar delivered—six innings, two hits, and his first MLB win. The crowd set a new Yankee Stadium attendance record that day.

Professional Career Highlights

Tim Lollar hit his stride with the San Diego Padres, where he grew into one of the National League’s most promising young arms. His biggest moment? Helping the Padres reach the 1984 World Series, the franchise’s first championship appearance.

San Diego Padres Years

Lollar joined the Padres in 1981 after a trade from the Yankees. That first season was rough—he struggled with control, finishing 2-8 with a 6.10 ERA.

But 1982 changed everything. Lollar became a reliable starter, winning 16 games with a 3.13 ERA over 34 starts.

He threw 232⅔ innings and notched four complete-game shutouts. People started noticing.

He even got some All-Star buzz. Manager Tommy Lasorda didn’t pick him, but League President Chub Feeney actually apologized for the snub.

Key 1982 Stats:

• 16-12 record
• 3.13 ERA
• 232⅔ innings pitched
• 4 shutouts

Lollar became just the fourth Padres pitcher to win at least 15 games in a season. He helped himself at the plate too, batting .247 with three homers and 11 RBIs.

1984 World Series Appearance

The 1984 season was the high point of Lollar’s career. He helped the Padres win their first NL West title.

The rotation featured five young pitchers under 30. Lollar played a big role in clinching the division against the Giants on September 20.

He pitched 5⅓ innings and even blasted a three-run homer off Mike Krukow in a 5-3 win.

In the NLCS against the Cubs, Lollar had a tough outing in Game Four. He lasted just 4⅓ innings, giving up three runs and four walks with the Padres facing elimination.

The World Series against Detroit was rough for all the Padres pitchers. Lollar lasted just five outs in Game Three, surrendering four runs on four hits and four walks.

Even though the postseason didn’t go as planned, Lollar’s regular season was crucial to the Padres’ historic run.

Boston Red Sox Seasons

In 1985, Lollar joined the Boston Red Sox after a trade from the White Sox. Boston gave him another shot at a championship.

The 1986 season stood out as the Red Sox made it to the World Series against the Mets. Lollar pitched as both a starter and reliever, helping the team win the AL pennant.

Boston lost that World Series in seven games, but Lollar’s experience steadied the pitching staff. His 1984 World Series run with San Diego proved valuable for Boston’s younger arms.

That 1986 season turned out to be his last in the majors. Lollar finished with a 47-52 record over seven MLB seasons and played in two World Series with two different teams.

Pitching Style and Role

Tim Lollar made his mark as a left-handed starter with a powerful fastball that touched 90 mph. He flashed elite stuff at times but also battled to stay consistent at the big league level.

Transition as a Starting Pitcher

Lollar became a starting pitcher with the Padres. His breakout season came in 1982, when he went 16-9.

He threw a 90-mph fastball that gave left-handed hitters fits. For that era, his velocity was a real weapon.

That 1982 campaign put him on the map as a top young lefty in the NL. He handled a starter’s workload and showed he could compete with the best.

But elbow problems in 1983 really set him back. His record slipped to 7-12 as injuries started to take a toll.

Performance Analysis

Lollar’s career path really shows how fragile pitching success can be in pro baseball. After his impressive 1982 season, he just couldn’t keep up the same level of performance.

His 1984 World Series outing put both his talent and his struggles on display. He started Game Two against the Detroit Tigers, but didn’t even make it out of the second inning, giving up four runs on four hits and four walks.

He always handled left-handed batters well, and that remained his biggest strength. His fastball and delivery made it tough for lefties to face him.

But elbow problems kept messing with his game in the following seasons. These injuries took away some of the velocity and command that had made him effective.

Batting Abilities

Lollar set himself apart as one of baseball’s best-hitting pitchers during his time in the majors. A .234 batting average doesn’t sound flashy, but for a pitcher back then, it was actually really good.

He even hit three home runs in both 1982 and 1984. Pitchers rarely showed that kind of power, so it definitely added something extra to his game.

Before he made it to the big leagues, Lollar played both first base and pitcher during his first two years in the minors. That experience definitely helped him hit better than most pitchers.

The Boston Red Sox even used him as a pinch-hitter in 1986, and he came through. His ability to help out with the bat made him valuable beyond just pitching.

He hit well because he had natural talent and the background of being a position player. That mix of pitching and hitting skills just wasn’t common for pitchers in the majors.

Final MLB Seasons and Retirement

In his last years in Major League Baseball, Tim Lollar bounced between the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox during the 1985 and 1986 seasons. He wrapped up his career with the Red Sox in 1986, ending a seven-season run that started with promise but didn’t quite live up to the early hype.

1986 Season Overview

The 1986 season was Lollar’s last in pro baseball. He spent it with the Boston Red Sox, who ended up winning the American League pennant.

He didn’t play much during his final season. His role had changed a lot since his days as a starter for the Padres.

The Red Sox made a serious playoff push in 1986, taking the AL East and heading to the World Series against the Mets.

Lollar’s performance showed the same struggles that had bothered him in his later years. Control and consistency just weren’t there.

His final MLB numbers came out to a 47-52 record with a 4.25 ERA over seven seasons. It’s tough not to compare that to the potential he flashed in 1982 with San Diego.

Chicago White Sox Tenure

Before Boston, Lollar played for the Chicago White Sox in 1985. That was his first time back in the American League since his rookie year with the Yankees.

The White Sox picked him up for pitching depth. He couldn’t find the consistency that made him successful before.

His stint in Chicago was short and, honestly, not great. The control problems that had haunted him stuck around.

For Lollar, the White Sox were just another stop in a winding final stretch. Teams hoped he’d find his old form again, but those moments got harder to come by.

Retirement Decision in 1986

After the 1986 season, Lollar decided to retire from pro baseball at age 30. He’d played seven seasons across five different organizations.

He made the call after years of trying to get back to his 1982 level. Injuries and control issues just kept holding him back.

Once he stepped away from baseball, Lollar shifted gears. He went to the San Diego Golf Academy and put real effort into improving his golf game.

Walking away from baseball closed the door on a career that had both bright spots and frustrations. That 16-win season in 1982 stayed his biggest highlight.

Post-Baseball Life and Legacy

When Tim Lollar retired from Major League Baseball in 1986, he found a new passion in golf. He left the baseball diamond behind and took to the golf course, eventually becoming a respected club director but still keeping a connection to the sport that started it all for him.

Golf Career and Interests

Lollar actually started getting into golf during his baseball days, playing in the off-seasons and on rest days. He really got hooked during Spring Training in 1986, living right on a golf course.

After he officially retired, Lollar dove into golf full-time. He attended the San Diego Golf Academy to sharpen his skills and learn more about the business side of the game.

In 1992, the Breckenridge Golf Club gave Lollar his first job in professional golf. That kicked off his second career in sports management.

Since 1996, he’s worked as director at the Lakewood Country Club in Lakewood, Colorado. He runs the golf shop and organizes tournaments.

“I don’t see myself retiring and sitting in a La-Z Boy recliner, my mindset is not geared to that,” Lollar said when talking about staying active after baseball.

Contributions Beyond Baseball

Lollar’s work after baseball has focused on golf course management and community leadership. At Lakewood Country Club, he handles daily operations and helps create memorable experiences for members and guests.

But he does more than just run things behind the scenes. Lollar puts together tournaments and events that bring the local golf community together.

His background as a professional athlete gives him a unique perspective in the golf world. That experience with competition and teamwork helps him connect with both club members and staff.

Impact on the Sport

Tim Lollar left his mark on baseball with two World Series appearances. He played with the 1984 San Diego Padres and later, the 1986 Boston Red Sox.

He hit .234 over his career and managed eight home runs, which is honestly pretty impressive for a pitcher. Not many pitchers could swing the bat like that.

On July 29, 1984, Lollar delivered probably his best pitching performance. He threw a two-hitter against the Houston Astros, and you could feel the tension in the air.

He walked five and struck out seven that day. Only singles from Alan Ashby and Enos Cabell stood in the way of a no-hitter.

Lollar’s career shows how tough it can be for players to switch teams and roles. He went from starter to reliever, bouncing between organizations, and honestly, that’s just part of the business side of pro baseball.