| Joe Lonnett | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: February 7, 1927 Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| Died: December 5, 2011(2011-12-05) (aged 84) Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 22, 1956, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 26, 1959, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .166 |
| Home runs | 6 |
| Runs batted in | 27 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Joseph Paul Lonnett (February 7, 1927 – December 5, 2011) was anAmerican professionalbaseballcatcher, andcoach, who played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for thePhiladelphia Phillies.[1] During his playing days, Lonnett stood 5 feet10+1⁄2 inches (1.791 m) tall, weighing 185 pounds (84 kg). He threw and battedright-handed.
Lonnett graduated fromBeaver Falls High School and signed with the Phillies in 1948, and spent much of his career with the Phillies as aMinor League Baseball (MiLB) catcher andmanager, and MLB catcher andscout. He missed two seasons while serving in theUnited States Navy inWorld War II and theKorean War. Lonnett spent four MLB seasons a second-string receiver, appearing in 143 games, whilebatting .166, with sixhome runs (HR) and 27runs batted in (RBI) — never once cracking the .200 level for a season.
FellowWestern Pennsylvania nativeChuck Tanner had promised Lonnett that he would be one of his coaches if he ever became an MLBmanager. Tanner honored his word when he named Lonnett andAl Monchak third- and first-basecoaches respectively with theChicago White Sox on October 2, 1970.[2] All three would serve in similar capacities together with the White Sox (1971–75),Oakland Athletics (1976) andPittsburgh Pirates (1977–84).
When Tanner was traded to the Pirates forManny Sanguillén — only the second trade in MLB history to involve a manager — Lonnett followed him to Pittsburgh. He wore Sanguillén's No. 35 jersey until the Pirates re-acquired Sanguillén a year later; after which, he wore No. 32. Eventually, Lonnett served asthird-base coach on the Pirates'1979 world championship team.
In1987, he was named the manager of theSt. Catharines Blue Jays of the Short-Season 'A' affiliate of theToronto Blue Jays in theNew York–Penn League, which finished at 41–36, 4th in the NY–P Western Division.
In the final years of his life, Lonnett battledAlzheimer's disease and was cared for by his wife of 56 years, Alvida. In 2004, he attended the 25th anniversary celebration of the1979 World's Champs, atPNC Park.
Lonnett succumbed to his long-standing illness, in his home town ofBeaver Falls, Pennsylvania, on December 5, 2011. He was 84.[1]
| Preceded by | Chicago White Soxthird base coach 1971–1975 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Oakland Athleticsthird base coach 1976 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Pittsburgh Piratesthird base coach 1977–1984 | Succeeded by |