{{Short description|American baseball player (1925–2013)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Stan Lopata |image=Stan Lopata.jpg |position=Catcher |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{birth date|1925|09|12}} |birth_place=Delray, Michigan, U.S. |death_date={{Death date and age|2013|06|15|1925|09|12}} |death_place=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=September 19 |debutyear=1948 |debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=June 12 |finalyear=1960 |finalteam=Milwaukee Braves |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.254 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=116 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=397 |teams= *Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1948}}–{{mlby|1958}}) *Milwaukee Braves ({{mlby|1959}}–{{mlby|1960}}) |highlights= *2× All-Star (1955, 1956) }} '''Stanley Edward Lopata''' (September 12, 1925 – June 15, 2013) was an American professional baseball player. A catcher, Lopata played in Major League Baseball for 13 seasons in the National League with the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Braves. In 853 career games, Lopata recorded a batting average of .254 and accumulated 661 hits, 116 home runs, and 379 runs batted in (RBI).
A two-time all-star, he was the first National League catcher to wear glasses.<ref name=glasses>{{cite book |title=The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract |last=James |first=Bill |year=2003 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=0-7432-2722-0 |page=425 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mUzTJ4-8N0EC&pg=RA2-PT297 |accessdate=4 July 2010}}</ref>
==Early life== Born in Delray, a neighborhood of Detroit, to foundry worker Anthony Lopata and Agnes Lopata, both born in Poland and came to the United States in 1911.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Stan Lopata |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/stan-lopata/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=Society for American Baseball Research |language=en-US}}</ref> Stanley was the youngest of five children having two sisters, Wanda and Bertha, and two brothers, Casimir and Chester.<ref name=":0" /> Lopata was a graduate of Southwestern High School.<ref name=Data>Batting Splits, Pitcher Matchups, Daily batting logs at [https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/L/Plopas101.htm Retrosheet] and daily batting gamelogs at [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lopatst01.shtml Baseball-Reference.com].</ref> He was a classmate of Harold Schultz.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ivory|first=Bill|date=2021-02-23|title=My Journey to Discover the Lost Flag-Raiser of Iwo Jima|url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/opinions/2021/02/23/my-journey-discover-lost-flag-raiser-of-iwo-jima.html|access-date=2021-08-28|website=Military.com|language=en}}</ref> Stan went into the Army in December 1943 and served with the 14th Armored Division in Europe, he saw heavy action and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart before his discharge in late 1945.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=Digest>{{cite journal |last1=Williams |first1=Edgar |year=1956 |title=Sit-Down Hitter |journal=Baseball Digest |publisher=Lakeside Publishing Company |volume=15 |issue=10 |pages=74–82 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISwDAAAAMBAJ&q=stan-lopata&pg=PA75}}</ref>
Lopata began his professional baseball career in the minor leagues with the Terre Haute Phillies of the Class B Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League in {{Baseball year|1946}} after the big-league Philadelphia club signed him to a $20,000 bonus.<ref name="Eagle">{{cite news |title=Stan Lopata proved to be a good catch for Phillies |last= Miorelli |first=Mike |work=Reading Eagle |page=4.36, 42 |date=29 January 1986 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DAMiAAAAIBAJ&pg=2461,5998712&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref> The Phillies discovered Lopata when he emerged as a star in the sandlots of Detroit, Michigan,<ref name="Lewiston">{{cite news |title=Phillies Loom As Contender for 1949 Pennant |agency=Associated Press |work=Lewiston Evening Journal |page=17 |date=1 April 1949}}</ref> as well as the tough American Legion Baseball league.<ref name="polhof">{{cite web |url=https://polishsportshof.com/inductees/baseball/stan-lopata/ |title=Stan Lopata – Polish National Sports Hall of Fame and Museum |author=Dave Pietrusza |date=12 June 1997 |work=Oldtyme Baseball News |accessdate=4 July 2010}}</ref> He did well in his first season for Terre Haute, posting up a .292 batting average with a .540 slugging percentage, 9 home runs, and 11 triples in just 67 games played.<ref name="Data" />
Lopata was very successful in 1947. He was still a few years of seasoning away from the majors, but in March Phillies manager Ben Chapman made it clear that he wanted Lopata to be their second-string catcher behind current starter Andy Seminick.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pirates Bid For Brooklyn Hurler |agency=Associated Press |work=Ellensburg Daily Record |page=4 |date=3 March 1947 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=73YKAAAAIBAJ&pg=6756,2680978&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref> Lopata was promoted to the Utica Blue Sox of the Class A Eastern League, and made the most of it by hitting .325 with 9 home runs, 13 triples, and 196 total bases in 115 games<ref name=Data/> en route to earning the league's Most Valuable Player award.<ref name=Lewiston/> Lopata played a key role in leading the Blue Sox to their first ever league title, tying the championship series with the Albany Senators after hitting a home run in the 13th inning to give his team the 3–2 victory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lopata's Homer Wins For Utica |agency=Associated Press |work=The Hartford Courant |page=15 |date=25 September 1947}}</ref>
Lopata continued his rise through the minor league ranks in 1948 for the baseball Toronto Maple Leafs of the Class AAA International League. He once again put up consistent and powerful numbers: a .279 batting average, 15 home runs, and 67 RBI in 110 games.<ref name=Data/> Lopata had a league record shattering day on May 20 when he drove in eight runs off two home runs, breaking the old Roosevelt Stadium record of runs batted in for a single game of 7 set by Albie Glosop in 1939.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leafs Trim Jersey City |agency=Associated Press |work=Ottawa Citizen |page=21 |date=21 May 1948}}</ref> Around this time, major league scouts labeled Lopata as a "can't miss" prospect.<ref name=polhof/>
==Philadelphia Phillies== On September 13, {{Baseball year|1948}}, Lopata finally received his call to the majors along with four of his teammates (Lou Possehl, Jocko Thompson, Jim Konstanty, and Willie "Puddin' Head" Jones) from the AAA Toronto Maple Leafs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phils Take Five Leafs |agency=United Press International |work=Montreal Gazette |page=21 |date=21 May 1948 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K4ItAAAAIBAJ&pg=2756,2668933&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref> He got his first start in the second game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 19, playing catcher and batting 8th in the order. He went 0 for 4 in the game. On the next day, Lopata was called upon again to start the second game of a doubleheader, this time getting his first hit, a double. He would be used as a pinch hitter in three more games and have another uneventful start on September 28 at the New York Giants before his season came to a close. In 15 at-bats, Lopata had 2 hits, driving in 2 runs.<ref name=Data/> thumb|200px|left|Stan Lopata with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1949. On February 6, 1949, Lopata signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, joining five other catchers on the squad going into spring training.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pirates Sign First Bonus Ball Player |work=Los Angeles Times |page=19 |date=14 September 1948}}</ref> The rookie impressed manager Eddie Sawyer so much in spring training that he initially won the role of starting catcher from six-year veteran Andy Seminick, citing that he was "the most improved player on the club."<ref>{{cite news |title=Rookie First String |work=Eugene Register-Guard |page=10 |date=5 April 1949 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Lhw1AAAAIBAJ&pg=2757,1024736&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref> He was said to be a product of club President Bob Carpenter's "youth movement."<ref>{{cite news |title=Stan Lopata Earns His Spurs |work=St Petersburg Times |page=3.19 |date=6 April 1949 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IcwKAAAAIBAJ&pg=1685,775620&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref> The Phillies had the youngest team in the majors that year, calling themselves the "Fighting Phillies of '49,"<ref>{{cite news |title=Phillies Have Youngest Club, Also, The Most Interesting |work=St Petersburg Times |agency=United Press International |page=32 |date=3 April 1949 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ybMKAAAAIBAJ&pg=2157,7084349&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref> determined to improve upon their dreadful record of 66–88 from the 1948 season.<ref name=Data/> Despite having the starting job, Lopata split time with Seminick, eventually playing in less games than Seminick and also providing much less offensive support. Despite putting up relatively average numbers of a .271 batting average, 8 home runs, and 27 RBI in 83 games, the 23-year-old's first full season was generally regarded as a success. One reporter recalled that Lopata "hit one of the longest homers Sunday at Shibe Park since the days of (Jimmie) Foxx."<ref>{{cite news |title=Rookie Crop Better Than Ever, And Groth Is The Cream Of All |work=The Milwaukee Journal |agency=Associated Press |page=2 |date=26 April 1949 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AfUZAAAAIBAJ&pg=4333,3908110&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref>
Before the start of the 1950 season, Lopata's status as starter or backup was not established until mid-March as Seminick was holding out for a sufficient contract. He was reportedly the "last of the club's holdouts", and "appeared eager to sign after (Bob) Carpenter informed him his substitute, Stan Lopata" had hit three towering home runs over the deep left field wall at the Phillies' training park in Clearwater, Florida.<ref>{{cite news |title=Andy Seminick Agrees To Terms With Phils |work=St Petersburg Times |agency=Associated Press |page=24 |date=15 March 1950 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zLEKAAAAIBAJ&pg=6194,4808472&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref> Seminick got the starting role, with Lopata coming in as the backup. The season saw less playing time for Stan, hitting just .209 with 1 home run and 11 RBI in 58 games.<ref name=Data/> The Phillies, dubbed the Whiz Kids due to their youthful roster age, won the National League pennant, before being swept in four straight games in the 1950 World Series by the New York Yankees. Lopata was used very sparingly in the World Series, but earned the dubious honor of recording the final out of the series, striking out to a cutter from Yankees pitcher Allie Reynolds.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yanks Wrap Up Series; Take Phillies, 5–2 In Final |work=Times Daily |last=Talbot |first=Gayle |page=10 |date=8 October 1950 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mAUsAAAAIBAJ&pg=810,641368&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref>
1951 was full of downs for Lopata. On April 27, he was optioned to the Class AAA International League Baltimore Orioles.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phillies Option Out Catcher Stan Lopata |work=Hartford Courant |agency=Associated Press |page=C8 |date=29 April 1951}}</ref> He struggled with injuries throughout the season,<ref>{{cite news |title=Notes From Here And There |work=St Petersburg Times |last=Hall |first=Dan |page=12 |date=7 July 1951}}</ref> which led to a lackluster season of a .196 average in just 38 games.<ref name=Data/>
In September 1951, The Phillies announced that Lopata would be taken to their spring training squad for the 1952 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phils Recalling Goliat, Hollmig |work=The Miami News |agency=Associated Press |page=2-B |date=8 September 1951 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lpIzAAAAIBAJ&pg=2031,3358470&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref> On January 31, 1952, he signed a new contract with Philadelphia, taking what was regarded as a "slight" pay cut from his 1951 salary.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lopata, Hollmig Sign |work=New York Times |page=25 |date=1 February 1952}}</ref> He successfully earned a spot on the roster, but again was used sparingly, mostly towards the tail end of the season. Lopata finished the season with a fair .274 average to go with 4 home runs and 27 RBI in 57 games.<ref name=Data/>
On January 31, 1953, Lopata signed another contract to continue playing with the Phillies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Miller, Lopata Sign |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=Associated Press |page=10 |date=1 February 1953 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q98bAAAAIBAJ&pg=2930,86648&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref> Lopata split time with all-star Smoky Burgess, posting a .239 average and 31 RBI in 86 games.<ref name=Data/>
1954 would prove to be Lopata's most interesting year yet.<ref name=Digest/> On February 11, 1954, he signed his new contract with the Phillies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lopata Signs |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=Associated Press |page=10 |date=1 February 1953 |accessdate=4 July 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q98bAAAAIBAJ&pg=2930,86648&dq=stan-lopata&hl=en}}</ref> Midway through the 1954 season, Lopata started to assume a new, very low batting stance. Dizzy Dean remarked that, "He looks like a man hittin' from an easy chair."<ref name=Digest/> Stan met with Rogers Hornsby in Chicago, where Hornsby helped inspire Lopata to assume his new batting stance.<ref name=sabrbio>{{sabrbio|f53e70e3|Ralph Berger|6 November 2010}}</ref> He tried various stances in batting practice before settling with a semi-squat. The first time it was seen by opposing players and the fans, he was considered a laughingstock. However, the laughs quickly subsided, as Lopata had 10 hits in his first 22 at-bats.<ref name=Digest/> The stance has since been related to that of Jeff Bagwell.<ref name=glasses/> In June the once quiet bat of Lopata erupted with a flurry of offensive output, hitting .396 with 2 home runs and 10 RBI in 53 at-bats.<ref name=Data/> It got to the point where pitchers and managers tried to argue that his stance was illegal, but to no avail.<ref name=glasses/> Around this time, Stan also began to wear tinted glasses because he had trouble picking up the ball due to the glare from the lights of the Connie Mack Stadium scoreboard thus, becoming the first catcher in National League history to wear glasses.<ref name=glasses/> The St. Louis Cardinals were his favorite victim to try his new batting stance on, hitting .353 with 5 home runs and 11 RBI in the 12 games played that season.<ref name=Data/> On July 30, Lopata slugged two home runs off the Cardinals' hurler Harvey Haddix in a 12–3 losing effort.<ref>{{cite news |title=Harvey Haddix Defeats Phils For 15th Victory |work=Hartford Courant |agency=United Press International |page=12 |date=31 July 1954}}</ref> The 1954 season as a whole was far and away his most successful season yet, raising his average to .290 while hitting 14 home runs and driving in 42 runs in 86 games.<ref name=Data/> One odd footnote from the 1954 season was a game on July 18 against the St. Louis Cardinals in which, both Lopata and Cardinals catcher Bill Sarni played the game without wearing chest protectors because of the intense heat.<ref>{{cite news |title=After Fisticuffs, It's Missouri Waltz for Phillies – Win Forfeit Over Red Birds |agency=NSI |work=The Deseret News |page=2 |date=19 July 1954 |accessdate=12 February 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gI1aAAAAIBAJ&pg=6877,2936124&dq=bill+sarni&hl=en}}</ref>
thumb|300px|right|Lopata poses in his Phillies catcher's gear in 1955. Before the 1955 season, some teams expressed interest in acquiring the newly rejuvenated Lopata from the Phillies, including the upstart Milwaukee Braves. Phillies General Manager Roy Hamey recalled Lopata's performance from the 1954 season, saying that he thought Lopata was one of the better catchers in the league for the last three months of the season. The Phillies intended to keep Lopata on their squad.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hint Phils Dicker for Dittmer |work=The Milwaukee Sentinel |last=Thisted |first=Red |page=2.4 |date=30 November 1954}}</ref> Initially, Lopata split time with Burgess, but on April 30, Burgess was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for former Phillies starting catcher Andy Seminick.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phillies, Redlegs Make Even, 3 Player Trade |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=Associated Press |page=12 |date=1 May 1955}}</ref> Nonetheless, Lopata continued his stellar play, raising enough eyebrows that he joined the National League all-stars as a replacement for the injured Brooklyn Dodger all-time great Roy Campanella.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stan Lopata Picked To Replace Campy On All-Star Team |work=Montreal Gazette |agency=Associated Press |page=8 |date=8 July 1955}}</ref> In the 1955 All-Star Game, Lopata pinch hit for former teammate Smoky Burgess with the National League losing 5–0. He reached first base on an error, allowing Hank Aaron to score their first run of the game. The National League would go on to win 6–5 in 12 innings, with Lopata staying in to finish the game.<ref>{{cite news |title=Play by Play Story of All-Star Game |work=Chicago Tribune |page=B2 |date=13 July 1955}}</ref>
Phillies First baseman Marv Blaylock struggled against left-handed pitchers, so the decision was made to start Lopata at first base whenever the Phillies were up against a southpaw pitcher.<ref name=Digest/> He played 25 games at first base in 1955, hitting .316 with 8 home runs and 18 RBI.<ref name=Data/> However, Stan felt more comfortable playing from the catcher position.<ref name=Digest/> His season was more successful than the last, hitting .272 with 22 home runs and 58 RBI in 99 games. In bases loaded situations, he hit .571 with a homer and 11 RBI.<ref name=Data/> Lopata was an honorable mention for the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award, which eventually went to Roy Campanella.<ref>{{cite news |title='55 Comeback Award Goes to Roy Campanella |work=Chicago Tribune |page=E6 |date=17 November 1955}}</ref>
Lopata survived a scare on September 4, 1955, after collapsing twice in a game against the New York Giants. First he collapsed on the field, then he collapsed again in the dressing room following a three-run home run. He was taken to the Temple University Hospital and was believed to be suffering from a "delayed reaction from being hit on the head by a pitched ball." A doctor at the hospital eventually said that Lopata was in satisfactory condition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Catcher Lopata is Hospitalized After Collapse |work=Montreal Gazette |agency=Associated Press |page=18 |date=5 September 1955}}</ref> He was released from the hospital on September 6<ref>{{cite news |title=Lopata Due To Make Phillies' Western Trip |work=Chicago Tribune |page=C2 |date=6 September 1955}}</ref> and returned to active duty at the Cincinnati Reds on September 8, drawing two walks and scoring a run en route to a 6–4 victory.<ref name=Data/>
Lopata's rise to stardom continued in 1956. Before the season even started, Lopata wowed fans against the Cincinnati Reds in an exhibition game by hitting a towering home run for 510 feet.<ref name=Digest/> On February 15, Lopata signed a new deal with the Phillies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lopata Accepts Phils' Pact |work=New York Times |page=37 |date=16 February 1956}}</ref> There was talk of moving Lopata from catcher to first base on a full-time basis during spring training,<ref>{{cite news |title=Now It's Catcher Lopata Who's Making Big Switch |work=The Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |page=2.5 |date=10 March 1956}}</ref> but he spent most of his time at catcher for the season, sitting behind home plate in 100 games while playing at first in 38.<ref name=Data/>
Lopata started the 1956 season by splitting time with Seminick, but after a slow start by Seminick, Lopata finally emerged as an everyday player, making the most of it by slamming 32 home runs while driving in 95 runs in 146 games.<ref name=Data/> Stan had many highlights that year. He had a walk-off home run against the Milwaukee Braves on June 27 in the bottom of the 11th inning to win the game 4–3.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stan Lopata's Homer Beats Braves in 11th |work=Los Angeles Times |page=C3 |date=28 June 1956}}</ref> Lopata finished fourth in the fan voting for catchers on the National League all-star roster, tallying 16,197 votes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Election Returns--Vote Totals Of All-Stars With 10,000 Plus |work=The Sporting News |page=7 |date=4 July 1956}}</ref> He received his second all-star nomination when a roster spot opened up after Braves catcher Del Crandall was injured and unable to play.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stan Lopata Will Replace Crandall |work=The Daytona Beach News-Journal |page=19 |date=7 July 1956}}</ref> On August 11, Lopata ended Brooklyn Dodgers hurler Don Newcombe's 39{{frac|2|3}} scoreless innings streak with a two-run home run in a 5–2 losing effort.<ref>{{cite news |title=Newcombe Wins 18th As Bums Beat Phils |work=Miami News |page=B1 |date=12 August 1956}}</ref> Lopata led all major league catchers in slugging percentage by posting up a .535 mark.<ref name=Slug>{{cite news |title=Stan Lopata Signs Phillies Contract |work=Gettysburg Times |page=B1 |date=25 January 1957}}</ref> His 32 home runs set a since-broken Phillies' team record for right-handed batters.<ref name=sabrbio/> The Phillies had a lackluster season overall with a 71–83 record, but management did not fault Lopata. They had so much faith in him that after the season was over, they stated that every player on the roster was subject to possible trade except for Lopata.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phillies Trade Ennis for Repulski, Morgan |work=Chicago Tribune |page=5 |date=21 November 1956}}</ref>
1957 started to show some decline in Lopata's performance. On January 25, he signed a new contract with the Phillies that reportedly had a "substantial increase."<ref name=Slug/> Lopata started being plagued with nagging injuries in July, injuring his shoulder in one game<ref>{{cite news |title=Phillies Sell Rogovin To Miami Farm Club |work=Hartford Courant |page=18A |date=2 July 1957}}</ref> and pulled a muscle only a few days later.<ref>{{cite news |title=Phils Defeat Giants Twice |work=Lewiston Daily Sun |page=18A |date=2 July 1957}}</ref> It would take more than two weeks for him to recover enough to start again as catcher. On July 21, he made the most of his return by hitting two solo home runs in a 6–4 defeat against Cincinnati.<ref>{{cite news |title=Redlegs Subdue Phillies, 4–2, 6–4, As Bell Connects in Each Game; Roberts Drops 7th Straight Verdict in Opener—Lopata Hits Two Home Runs |work=New York Times |agency=Associated Press |page=22 |date=22 July 1957}}</ref> Lopata finished the month by homering in two consecutive games on July 30<ref>{{cite news |title=Phillies Trounce Redlegs, 8 To 5 |work=The Baltimore Sun |agency=Associated Press |page=S18 |date=31 July 1957}}</ref> and 31,<ref>{{cite news |title=Takes Reds 21 Players, 11 Innings For Victory |work=Toledo Blade |last=Loomis |first=Tom |page=32 |date=1 August 1957}}</ref> and continued his streak into August by hitting a homer on August 1<ref>{{cite news |title=Musial's Bat Booms Cards Into Lead |work=Toledo Blade |last=Loomis |first=Tom |page=27 |date=2 August 1957}}</ref> and 2.<ref>{{cite news |title=Redlegs Put On Surge Again |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |page=9 |date=3 August 1957}}</ref> Despite the surge of power, Lopata's numbers were diminished from his previous all-star year, putting up a .237 batting average to go with 18 home runs and 67 RBI in 116 games.<ref name=Data/> Despite the lowered numbers, he still had the best offensive output out of all catchers in the National League.<ref name=mlb>Historical hitting stats from [https://www.mlb.com MLB.com]</ref> He never did quite get over the knee injury he sustained earlier in the season.<ref name=sabrbio/> In October he was given orders by his doctor to exercise to strengthen his ligaments in his right knee, and began training at Connie Mack Stadium to get back in shape for the upcoming 1958 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baseball Gone, But Lopata Lingers On |work=St. Petersburg Times |agency=Associated Press |page=4-C |date=19 October 1957}}</ref>
After the 1957 season, Phillies management made it clear that they were looking for a new backup catcher for Lopata.<ref>{{cite news |title=Had .316 Average |work=The Milwaukee Journal |agency=Associated Press |page=2.16 |date=4 December 1957}}</ref> He signed his new contract in January 1958, marking his 11th season with the Phillies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Post Signs Pact |work=Reading Eagle |agency=United Press International |page=21 |date=20 January 1958}}</ref> Throughout spring training, Lopata did daily exercises for his injured knee, trying to get it strong enough to hold up for the 1958 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Baseball and Boxing Gloves |work=The Milwaukee Journal |agency=United Press International |page=4.3 |date=2 February 1958}}</ref> He got off to a slow start in the season, and by the end of May the fans had turned on their once local favorite.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dodger Game Rained Out; Erskine, Roberts to Duel |work=Los Angeles Times |last=Finch |first=Frank |page=C1 |date=26 May 1958}}</ref> His woes continued on June 8 when Larry Jackson out of St. Louis hit Lopata in the head with a pitch.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stan Lopata Beaned, Phillips Breaks Foot |work=The Montreal Gazette |agency=Associated Press |page=25 |date=9 June 1958}}</ref> It was reported to not be serious, but he would not be released from the hospital until three days later on June 11.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stan Lopata Gets Hospital Release |work=The Baltimore Sun |agency=Associated Press |page=S20 |date=12 June 1958}}</ref> Lopata suffered yet another injury in July,<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayo Smith Fired; Eddie Sawyer Rehired By Phillies |work=Palm Beach Post |last=Balfe |first=Bob |page=6 |date=23 July 1958}}</ref> playing in only seven games that month. He finished the season with a .248 average to go with 9 home runs and 33 RBI in 86 games.<ref name=Data/> After the season ended, Lopata was asked to join Willie Mays' National League "All-Star" Team for an exhibition game against an American League All-Star team put together by Mickey Mantle in New York City.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mays-Mantle clubs to open tour in NYC |work=Washington Afro-American |page=13 |date=7 October 1958}}</ref>
==Milwaukee Braves and retirement== In January 1959, Lopata signed a new contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, taking a pay cut.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lopata Signed By Phillies |work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal |agency=Associated Press |page=6 |date=29 January 1959}}</ref> He played through spring training with the Phils, but ended up being traded to the Milwaukee Braves on March 31, 1959 along with Ted Kazanski and Johnny O'Brien for Gene Conley, Harry Hanebrink, and Joe Koppe.<ref>{{cite news |title=Conley Traded By Braves To Phils For Kazanski, O'Brien And Stan Lopata In Big Swap |work=Gettysburg Times |page=5 |date=1 April 1959}}</ref> Lopata was initially very optimistic about the move. He said his knee was strong again, and was looking forward to playing in front of the "friendly crowds in Milwaukee."<ref>{{cite news |title=Shot With Champs Best Thing—Lopata |work=The Milwaukee Sentinel |last=Thisted |first=Red |page=2.4 |date=2 April 1959}}</ref> However, it failed to pan out. Lopata was used sparingly throughout much of the season, failing to get a single hit until July 16. He finished the season with a .104 average in just 48 at-bats.<ref name=Data/> On October 26, Lopata was officially released by the Braves.<ref>{{cite news |title=Braves Cut Andy Pafko, Stan Lopata |work=Ottawa Citizen |agency=Associated Press |page=9 |date=17 October 1959}}</ref>
The Braves agreed to bring back Lopata for the 1960 season by having him sign a contract on February 9.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aaron To Outfield Again |work=Toledo Blade |agency=Associated Press |page=41 |date=10 February 1960}}</ref> Manager Charlie Dressen immediately designated him as the second string catcher behind starter Del Crandall. Dressen had faith that Lopata's 1959 season was an aberration and not a trend, adding that he would try to get Stan into more games that season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dressen Designates Lopata As Second String To Crandall |work=The Milwaukee Journal |last=Wolf |first=Bob |page=2.13 |date=11 February 1960}}</ref> He hit well in spring training, including a walk-off home run against the Reds in the bottom of the 12th inning on April 6 in Jacksonville, Florida.<ref>{{cite news |title=Braves Win On Lopata Homer |work=Victoria Advocate |agency=Associated Press |page=2.13 |date=11 February 1960}}</ref> In the regular season, however, Lopata only appeared in 7 games for the Braves before being optioned to the minor league Class AAA Louisville Colonels of the American Association.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lopata to Minors |work=The Milwaukee Journal |last=Wolf |first=Bob |page=12 |date=25 June 1960}}</ref> He hit .246 with 12 home runs and 28 RBI in 55 games for the Colonels.<ref name=Data/> Lopata received one more call up to the majors on September 12, but he did not play in any games and was soon sent back to Louisville.<ref>{{cite news |title=Braves Recall Torre, Lopata |work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal |agency=Associated Press |page=6 |date=13 September 1960}}</ref> Lopata's final professional game ended on a high note, as he helped Louisville win the "Little World Series" 5–1 against Toronto of the International League.<ref>{{cite news |title=Louisville Wins, 5–1, Takes Little Series |work=The Milwaukee Journal |page=2.17 |date=3 October 1960}}</ref> Lopata received his unconditional release from the Braves on October 14, bringing his professional career to a close at the age of 34.<ref>{{cite news |title=Lopata is Cut Again |work=The Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=United Press International |page=2.2 |date=13 October 1960}}</ref>
==Playing style== Lopata had an "extreme crouch" at the plate, according to New York Giants star pitcher Sal Maglie. This made his strike zone "awfully small," in Maglie's words.<ref>{{cite web|last=Terrell|first=Roy|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1958/03/17/part-1-sal-maglie-on-the-art-of-pitching|title=Part 1: Sal Maglie on the Art of Pitching|work=Sports Illustrated|date=March 17, 1958|accessdate=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
==After baseball== On June 3, 1969, the 1950 National League Pennant Winning Philadelphia Philliles, nicknamed the "Whiz Kids", had an exhibition game against a local team. Lopata batted cleanup, hitting a home run in the first inning. The Whiz Kids were victorious 10–1.<ref>{{cite news |title=Whiz Kids Still Young At Heart |work=Reading Eagle |agency=Associated Press |page=50 |date=4 June 1969}}</ref>
After his professional baseball career was over, Lopata made a living by working at a steel plant in Dearborn, Michigan, later moving back to Philadelphia to work as a salesman for IBM.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Ace Makes It Tee For Two |work=St. Petersburg Times |last=Mizell |first=Hubert |page=C1 |date=20 May 1977}}</ref> He later worked for a concrete company in Philadelphia, retiring as vice president of sales.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=polhof/> In 1988, Lopata was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and nine years later, on June 12, 1997, he was also inducted into the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame.<ref name=polhof/>
==Personal life== Lopata married Betty Kulczyk, who lived in the next block in Detroit, on October 25, 1947.<ref name=":0" /> Stanley and Betty had seven children, 16 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren<ref name=":0" /> In July 1949, Stan went on a brief bereavement from the ballclub when the front office notified him that he had become a father.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cigars On Lopata; Baby Boy Arrives |work=The Milwaukee Journal |agency=Associated Press |page=11 |date=7 April 1960}}</ref> Lopata died of heart complications on June 15, 2013, at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.<ref name="i178">{{cite web | title=Detroit native, former All-Star catcher Stan Lopata dies at 87 | website=USA TODAY High School Sports | date=2013-06-17 | url=https://www.usatodayhss.com/2013/detroit-native-former-all-star-catcher-stan-lopata-dies-at-87 | access-date=2025-01-25}}</ref>
==Notes== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=117910|espn=24367|br=l/lopatst01|fangraphs=1007749|brm=lopata001sta|retro=L/Plopas101}} *[https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/f53e70e3 Stan Lopata] at SABR (Baseball BioProject)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopata, Stan}} Category:1925 births Category:2013 deaths Category:Major League Baseball catchers Category:Baseball players from Detroit Category:Philadelphia Phillies players Category:Milwaukee Braves players Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:National League All-Stars Category:Terre Haute Phillies players Category:Utica Blue Sox players Category:Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) players Category:Baltimore Orioles (International League) players Category:Louisville Colonels (minor league) players Category:Military personnel from Detroit Category:United States Army personnel of World War II Category:Southwestern High School (Michigan) alumni Category:American people of Polish descent Category:United States Army soldiers