Sherm Lollar
Catcher · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1946-1963)
Sherm Lollar was a catcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1946 to 1963 for 4 teams, including the Cleveland Guardians, a span of 18 seasons. In 1,752 career games, he hit .264 with 1,415 hits, 155 home runs, and 808 RBI. Sherm Lollar was a 7-time All-Star and a 3-time Gold Glove. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 7,787.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Catcher
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'1" / 185 lb
- Died
- 9/24/1977 in Springfield, MO, USA
- MLB Debut
- 1946-04-20
- Last Game
- 1963-09-07
- Awards
- 7× All-Star · 3× Gold Glove
Full name: John Sherman Lollar
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,752 | 5,351 | 623 | 1,415 | 244 | 14 | 155 | 808 | 20 | 671 | 453 | .264 | .357 | .402 | .759 | 7,787 |
Career AVG .264 vs. league average .259 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OBP .357 vs. league average .330 across their career seasons — +8.0% above league average.
Career SLG .402 vs. league average .386 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OPS .759 vs. league average .717 across their career seasons — +5.9% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | CLE | AL | 28 | 62 | 7 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 9 | .242 | .256 (-6%) | .328 (-9%) | .358 (+8%) | .687 (avg) | -22.3 |
| 1947 | NYA | AL | 11 | 32 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .219 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1948 | NYA | AL | 22 | 38 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .211 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1949 | SLA | AL | 109 | 284 | 28 | 74 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 49 | 0 | 32 | 22 | .261 | .262 (-1%) | .343 (-1%) | .384 (avg) | .727 (-1%) | -17.8 |
| 1950 | SLA | AL | 126 | 396 | 55 | 111 | 22 | 3 | 13 | 65 | 2 | 64 | 25 | .280 | .265 (+5%) | .346 (+13%) | .401 (+12%) | .747 (+12%) | 1172.5 |
| 1951 | SLA | AL | 98 | 310 | 44 | 78 | 21 | 0 | 8 | 44 | 1 | 43 | 26 | .252 | .260 (-4%) | .336 (+4%) | .385 (+3%) | .721 (+3%) | 262.9 |
| 1952 | CHA | AL | 132 | 375 | 35 | 90 | 15 | 0 | 13 | 50 | 1 | 54 | 34 | .240 | .252 (-5%) | .326 (+8%) | .369 (+4%) | .696 (+6%) | 627.9 |
| 1953 | CHA | AL | 113 | 334 | 46 | 96 | 19 | 0 | 8 | 54 | 1 | 47 | 29 | .287 | .264 (+9%) | .335 (+16%) | .397 (+5%) | .733 (+10%) | 826.2 |
| 1954 | CHA | AL | 107 | 316 | 31 | 77 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 34 | 0 | 37 | 28 | .244 | .261 (-7%) | .333 (avg) | .390 (-10%) | .723 (-5%) | -180.8 |
| 1955 | CHA | AL | 138 | 426 | 67 | 111 | 13 | 1 | 16 | 61 | 2 | 68 | 34 | .261 | .258 (+1%) | .332 (+12%) | .393 (+4%) | .726 (+8%) | 947.4 |
| 1956 | CHA | AL | 136 | 450 | 55 | 132 | 28 | 2 | 11 | 75 | 2 | 53 | 34 | .293 | .258 (+14%) | .331 (+16%) | .397 (+10%) | .728 (+13%) | 1327.0 |
| 1957 | CHA | AL | 101 | 351 | 33 | 90 | 11 | 2 | 11 | 70 | 2 | 35 | 24 | .256 | .257 (avg) | .323 (+6%) | .391 (+1%) | .715 (+3%) | 289.4 |
| 1958 | CHA | AL | 127 | 421 | 53 | 115 | 16 | 0 | 20 | 84 | 2 | 57 | 37 | .273 | .257 (+6%) | .324 (+13%) | .394 (+15%) | .719 (+14%) | 1346.1 |
| 1959 | CHA | AL | 140 | 505 | 63 | 134 | 22 | 3 | 22 | 84 | 4 | 55 | 49 | .265 | .256 (+3%) | .323 (+6%) | .392 (+15%) | .715 (+11%) | 1171.5 |
| 1960 | CHA | AL | 129 | 421 | 43 | 106 | 23 | 0 | 7 | 46 | 2 | 42 | 39 | .252 | .255 (-1%) | .323 (+1%) | .387 (-8%) | .711 (-4%) | -248.2 |
| 1961 | CHA | AL | 116 | 337 | 38 | 95 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 41 | 0 | 37 | 22 | .282 | .258 (+9%) | .328 (+10%) | .399 (-5%) | .727 (+2%) | 243.7 |
| 1962 | CHA | AL | 84 | 220 | 17 | 59 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 32 | 23 | .268 | .257 (+4%) | .326 (+13%) | .393 (-11%) | .719 (avg) | 137.2 |
| 1963 | CHA | AL | 35 | 73 | 4 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 7 | .233 | .246 (-5%) | .308 (+3%) | .371 (-23%) | .680 (-11%) | -95.3 |
| Career · 18 seasons | 1,752 | 5,351 | 623 | 1,415 | 244 | 14 | 155 | 808 | 20 | 671 | 453 | .264 | — | — | — | — | 7,787 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1752 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 892 | 2674 | 313 | 719 | 82 | 412 | .269 |
| Away | 860 | 2677 | 310 | 696 | 73 | 396 | .260 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963-09-07 | CHW | MIN | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963-09-06 | CHW | MIN | L | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963-08-18 | CHW | NYY | L | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963-08-11 | CHW | DET | W | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963-08-11 | CHW | DET | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963-07-27 | CHW | BAL | W | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1963-07-24 | CHW | DET | W | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963-07-23 | CHW | DET | L | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963-07-16 | CHW | TEX | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963-07-14 | CHW | BAL | W | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 27 | 23 | 184 | 17 | 1 | 19 |
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 1571 | 926 | 7059 | 688 | 62 | 101 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | CLE | C | 24 | 0 | 89 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| 1947 | NYA | C | 9 | 0 | 44 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1948 | NYA | C | 10 | 0 | 36 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1949 | SLA | C | 93 | 0 | 279 | 39 | 4 | 3 |
| 1950 | SLA | C | 109 | 0 | 367 | 48 | 8 | 9 |
| 1951 | SLA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1951 | SLA | C | 85 | 0 | 361 | 48 | 2 | 8 |
| 1952 | CHA | C | 120 | 0 | 590 | 53 | 7 | 4 |
| 1953 | CHA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953 | CHA | C | 107 | 0 | 470 | 51 | 3 | 2 |
| 1954 | CHA | C | 93 | 84 | 395 | 38 | 3 | 8 |
| 1955 | CHA | C | 136 | 130 | 664 | 62 | 4 | 12 |
| 1956 | CHA | C | 132 | 123 | 679 | 40 | 5 | 6 |
| 1957 | CHA | C | 96 | 90 | 454 | 45 | 1 | 5 |
| 1958 | CHA | C | 116 | 112 | 597 | 63 | 9 | 8 |
| 1959 | CHA | 1B | 24 | 23 | 177 | 17 | 1 | 19 |
| 1959 | CHA | C | 122 | 106 | 623 | 51 | 5 | 14 |
| 1960 | CHA | C | 123 | 111 | 555 | 54 | 3 | 12 |
| 1961 | CHA | C | 107 | 93 | 464 | 48 | 1 | 6 |
| 1962 | CHA | C | 66 | 59 | 298 | 23 | 3 | 0 |
| 1963 | CHA | 1B | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | CHA | C | 23 | 18 | 94 | 9 | 2 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1573 |
| First Base | 28 |
| Third Base | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Gold Glove | C |
| 1959 | TSN All-Star | C |
| 1958 | Gold Glove | C |
| 1957 | Gold Glove | C |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 9th | 44.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1958 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 9th | 57.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1957 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 22th | 2.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1956 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 16th | 27.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1955 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 11th | 37.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1950 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 27th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Sherm Lollar (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Sherm Lollar
Sherm Lollar: the record in brief
Sherm Lollar played a first major league game on April 20, 1946 and a last one on September 7, 1963. The team column moves through the Cleveland Indians (1946), the New York Yankees (1947 to 1948), the St. Louis Browns (1949 to 1951), and the Chicago White Sox (1952 to 1963). Lollar is listed as a catcher at 6 feet, 1 inch and 185 pounds. The bio says Lollar threw and hit right-handed. The recorded birth is August 23, 1924, in Durham, AR, USA. The bio records the death on September 24, 1977, in Springfield, MO, USA. On the record, Sherm Lollar was born John Sherman Lollar.
In 1,752 games and 5,351 at bats, Lollar batted .264 with 1,415 hits, adding 155 home runs, 808 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. The on-base percentage is .357 and the slugging percentage .402, for an OPS of .759. Against a .259 league average for those years, Lollar's .264 average was near the norm.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sherm Lollar
- What years did Sherm Lollar play?
- Sherm Lollar played in Major League Baseball from 1946 to 1963.
- Was Sherm Lollar a pitcher?
- No. Sherm Lollar was a position player (Catcher).
- How many home runs did Sherm Lollar hit?
- Sherm Lollar hit 155 career home runs with 1,415 hits.
- What teams did Sherm Lollar play for?
- Sherm Lollar played for 4 teams: the Cleveland Indians (1946), the New York Yankees (1947–1948), the St. Louis Browns (1949–1951), and the Chicago White Sox (1952–1963).
- Did Sherm Lollar win an MVP award?
- No. Sherm Lollar did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Sherm Lollar win?
- Sherm Lollar won 3 Gold Gloves (1957, 1958, and 1959). He was selected to 7 All-Star Games.
- What were Sherm Lollar's career stats?
- In 1,752 games, Sherm Lollar had 1,415 hits, 155 home runs, 808 RBI, 623 runs, and 20 stolen bases, with a .264 batting average.
- What position did Sherm Lollar play?
- Sherm Lollar played primarily as a catcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Sherm Lollar and how much did he weigh?
- Sherm Lollar was listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 185 pounds.
- How many home runs did Sherm Lollar hit each season?
- Sherm Lollar's home runs by season: 1 in 1946, 1 in 1947, 0 in 1948, 8 in 1949, 13 in 1950, 8 in 1951, 13 in 1952, 8 in 1953, 7 in 1954, 16 in 1955, 11 in 1956, 11 in 1957, 20 in 1958, 22 in 1959, 7 in 1960, 7 in 1961, 2 in 1962, and 0 in 1963. His most in one season was 22, in 1959.
- What was Sherm Lollar's career batting average?
- Sherm Lollar batted .264 over his career, with 1,415 hits in 5,351 at bats.
- How many RBI did Sherm Lollar have?
- Sherm Lollar drove in 808 runs in his career.
- Is Sherm Lollar in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Sherm Lollar has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
- How many All-Star Games did Sherm Lollar make?
- Sherm Lollar was selected to 7 All-Star Games.