Major League Baseball Player. Considered by many as being one of the most dependable substitute hitters of his era. For thirteen seasons (1954 to 1966), he played at the outfielder position with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. Born Gerald Thomas Lynch, he played for Greenville of the Cotton States League in 1950 and following two years of military service (1951 to 1952), he was drafted by the New York Yankees and played a season with Norfolk of the Piedmont League (1952). Lynch would be acquired by the Pirates as a Rule 5 player prior to the 1954 season. He most productive period was while with the Reds (1957 to 1963), as he yielded a career-high 131 hits with a .312 batting average and belting 16 home runs in 122 games during 1958. He established himself as a prolific pinch-hitter, while contributing to the Reds run at the National League Pennant in 1961, as he hit 13 home runs with a .315 batting average in 96 games. In addition, he exceeded a .400 batting average with his 19 hits in 47 at bats as a pinch-hitter for that season. He appeared in 4 games during the 1961 World Series. He returned to the Pirates with whom he concluded his career following the 1966 season. In 1,184 regular season games, he compiled 798 hits with a .277 lifetime batting average. After retiring from baseball, he co-owned a golf course with his former teammate Dick Groat. When Lynch retired he held a then-record of 18 career pinch-home runs and at the time of his death, he ranked as tenth all-time on the pinch-hit list with 116. He was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1988.
Major League Baseball Player. Considered by many as being one of the most dependable substitute hitters of his era. For thirteen seasons (1954 to 1966), he played at the outfielder position with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. Born Gerald Thomas Lynch, he played for Greenville of the Cotton States League in 1950 and following two years of military service (1951 to 1952), he was drafted by the New York Yankees and played a season with Norfolk of the Piedmont League (1952). Lynch would be acquired by the Pirates as a Rule 5 player prior to the 1954 season. He most productive period was while with the Reds (1957 to 1963), as he yielded a career-high 131 hits with a .312 batting average and belting 16 home runs in 122 games during 1958. He established himself as a prolific pinch-hitter, while contributing to the Reds run at the National League Pennant in 1961, as he hit 13 home runs with a .315 batting average in 96 games. In addition, he exceeded a .400 batting average with his 19 hits in 47 at bats as a pinch-hitter for that season. He appeared in 4 games during the 1961 World Series. He returned to the Pirates with whom he concluded his career following the 1966 season. In 1,184 regular season games, he compiled 798 hits with a .277 lifetime batting average. After retiring from baseball, he co-owned a golf course with his former teammate Dick Groat. When Lynch retired he held a then-record of 18 career pinch-home runs and at the time of his death, he ranked as tenth all-time on the pinch-hit list with 116. He was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1988.
Bio by: C.S.
Family Members
Advertisement
