Fred Luderus

Luderus was Grover Cleveland Alexander’s first baseman in the Phillies’ few strong years before 1920. By the standards of the time, he was a power hitter, batting fifth behind NL HR leader Gavvy Cravath to give the Phillies their middle-of-the-order punch. A left-handed batter who threw righthanded, he was the first to hit two over-the-fence homers at Baker Bowl in a single game, long clouts even in that stadium’s modest confines.

He came up with the Cubs, filled in for the ailing Frank Chance for a few games, and was traded for Bill Foxen, an undistinguished pitcher. He captained the pennant-winning 1915 Phillies and was their only strong hitter in the losing WS with the Red Sox, batting in six of his team’s meager total of ten runs. An iron man, he played 533 consecutive games and was proud of never having been lifted for a pinch hitter