Lyle Luttrell

Lyle Kenneth Luttrell

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.
• School Illinois Wesleyan University
• Debut May 15, 1956
• Final Game May 27, 1957
• Born February 22, 1930 in Bloomington, IL USA
• Died July 11, 1984 in Chattanooga, TN USA

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Biographical Information

"Lyle Luttrell and Jose Valdivielso . . . have both played long stretches at short with Washington. Both have looked brilliant at times, awful at other times." - Sports Illustrated, April 15, 1957

Lyle Luttrell was in the majors with the Washington Senators in 1956 and 1957.

He was at Illinois Wesleyan University at the same time as Cal Neeman. After signing with the Senators in 1951 and spending that year with the Orlando Senators of the Florida State League, he was assigned for two years at the Jacksonville, FL Naval Air Station during the Korean War. He was touted as possibly being able to jump all the way to the majors in the spring of 1954, but instead ended up with the Charlotte Hornets of the South Atlantic League.

Luttrell played in the tough Southern Association in 1955. He had already had his jaw broken earlier in the year and had been on the disabled list. In a game in August against Nashville, the pitcher apparently threw at Luttrell, who launched his bat against the pitcher and a brawl between Nashville and Chattanooga broke out which, according to Earl Averill, Jr. [1], lasted a full 30 minutes.

According to Luttrell's obituary, Averill hit him on the back of the head, and Luttrell fell to the ground, re-breaking his jaw where it had previously been broken. Luttrell had a concussion also and was hospitalized, while Averill was thrown in jail. Luttrell sued him and the Nashville team.

He died in 1984, of a heart attack.

Related Sites

• Lyle Luttrell at the SABR Bio Project
• Lyle Luttrell obituary