Gene Lippold

Eugene Joseph Lippold

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 220 lb.
• High School St. Marys High School
• Born December 29, 1934 in Des Moines, IA USA
• Died March 11, 2023 in Osceola, IA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Eugene Lippold pitched eight years in the minor leagues, with a composite record of 52-60. He had two big years in the Southwestern League.

Lippold broke into pro baseball in 1953 with the Janesville Cubs. It was an inauspicious debut as he went 3-12 with a 6.42 ERA and allowed over a run per inning. The big problem was control as he walked 92 in 101 innings and uncorked 15 wild pitches. He hit .278, doing better at the plate than on the mound. He finished third in the Wisconsin State League in wild pitches.

Eugene spent most of 1954 with the Gainesville Owls, posting a 7-7, 5.33 record. He also played for the 1954 Mount Vernon Kings, getting no decisions. In 1955, Lippold had another rocky year, going 3-12 with a 5.46 ERA for the Paris Lakers.

Gene's career took a turn for the better in 1956. He was 0-1 for the Port Arthur Seahawks then starred for the Ballinger Westerners, going 17-11 with a 3.92 ERA. 1957 was even better. On May 8, he whiffed 16 in a game. He three-hit the Carlsbad Potashers on June 11. On September 2 (the last game of the season), he one-hit the Lamesa Indians in a 2-0 shutout victory. Overall, Gene was 19-12 with a 3.72 ERA. He completed 29 of 31 starts and led the Southwestern League in both starts and complete games. He tied teammate Bob Leach for the win lead and paced the circuit in both strikeouts (179) and hits allowed (275). His control had vastly improved since his rookie year as he walked 78 in 264 IP.

Lippold did not pitch in either 1958 or 1959, though. In 1960, Gene played for three clubs - the Charleston White Sox (3-3, 3.04), Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers (0-0) and Sioux City Soos (1-1). The next year, Lippold was 0-1 for Charleston to conclude his career.

Sources: 1954 and 1958 Baseball Guides, old The Sporting News editions located at Paper of Record, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database