Feb 3, 1938: Two-sport star Lou Boudreau in some hot water at University of Illinois
Submitted by BTGrimes on Wed, 02/03/2010 - 6:00am |
| Not So Fast CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - Future Baseball Hall of Famer, manager and broadcaster Lou Boudreau was a two-sport star at the University of Illinois. But on this day in 1938 he got suspended from the basketball and baseball teams for the rest of the year. The 20-year old forward and captain of the basketball team was disciplined for taking money from a professional baseball team. The Cleveland Indians was sending his mother monthly checks in exchange for the Harvey, Illinois native's word that he would give the Indians the right of first refusal when he graduated. Boudreau missed six basketball games that season. The team won two and lost four and finished with an uninspired 9-9 record in the Big Ten. Boudreau ended up not returning to the University of Illinois in the fall because he signed a contract with Cleveland and started his professional baseball career. He played 13 seasons for the Indians, mostly at shortstop, including nine as player-manager. He guided the team to a World Championship in 1948, winning the American League's Most Valuable Player award. Boudreau also played two years for the Boston Red Sox. Louis Boudreau was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1970. Contributing sources:
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