Although he became a lefthander only because he broke his right arm twice as a child, Lanier was the top-winning southpaw for three consecutive Cardinal pennant winners, 1942-44. He was 6-0 in 1946, then jumped to the Mexican League, causing his suspension from organized baseball. He was reinstated in 1949 and won 11 games for the Cardinals in both 1950 and ’51. Lanier’s son Hal became a major league player, coach, and manager.
