Larry Lamphere

Lawrence David Lamphere

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.
• School Central Michigan University
• High School Durand (MI) High School

• Born July 2, 1966 in Durand, MI USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Infielder Larry Lamphere played three season in the minor leagues for the Houston Astros organization. However, the biggest moment of his career came in the 1987 Pan American Games.

He was at Central Michigan University when he was selected to be a member of the USA College National Team that represented the United States at the Pan-Am Games, held that year in Indianapolis, IN. In the round-robin phase on August 15th, the U.S. handed Cuba its first loss in the games since 1967 with a dramatic 6-4 win. He was on base after being hit by pitch with the game tied 4-4 with two outs in the 9th when Ty Griffin homered off Pablo Abreu for the win. However, Cuba still went on to win gold, defeating the U.S. in the gold medal game. That summer, he was also part of the first American team to travel to Cuba since 1964 in preparation for the games, playing an exhibition game in front of 50,000 spectators including President Fidel Castro. For the summer, he hit .308/.379/.538 for the US, with a team-high four triples.

He was drafted by the Astros in the 14th round of the 1988 amateur draft and was signd by Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser. He began his pro career that summer with the Auburn Astros of the New York-Penn League, hitting .212 with no homers and 15 RBIs in 54 games, while going 17 for 18 in stolen bases. He was a roomate of Luis Gonzalez that first season. In 1989, he was the regular second baseman for the Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League, batting .223/.322/.280 in 134 games, hitting his only professional homer that season. He also stole 67 bases, leading the circuit and leading to a spot on its All-Star team. He returned in 1990 with the Osceola Astros of the Florida State League but failed to break the Mendoza Line, finishing at .186 in 74 games. He was pretty much a utility player by that point, being used as a back-up at second base, third base and in the outfield. Part of his problems hitting in the minors was that the Astros decided to turn him into a switch-hitter, when batting right-handed was his natural side, and he never quite could adapt. He was let go the following spring.

He was inducted in the Central Michigan University Hall of Fame. He was a four-year starter there as a canter fielder, set a school and conference record for stolen bases with 143, the single-season record with 50, and the school record for runs scored with 188. The school won a conference championship in all four years he played there. Following baseball, he worked in education, becoming athletic director of the Brandon School District in Michigan.

Further Reading

• Jeff Patrus: "Lamphere left his mark on CMU baseball program", The Oxford Leader, March 3, 2016. [1]

Related Sites

• CMU Hall of Fame profile