Cleveland Indians legend Bob Lemon passes away in California after a heart attack and stroke. He was 79 years old.

The Hall of Fame pitcher debuted with the Indians in 1941 – as a third baseman. He played five games for the club in each of his first two seasons before missing the 1943-1945 seasons due to military commitments in the United States Navy. He returned to the club for the 1946 season and began to work as a pitcher, going 4-5 with a 2.49 ERA in his first 32 games pitched, while still playing outfield on occasion.

He improved to 11-5 the next season and, in 1948, began the first of seven straight American League All-Star seasons. He won 20 games or more in six of the seven years while leading the Indians to the 1948 and 1954 World Series. He led the league in wins with 23 in 1950, 23 again in 1954, and 18 in 1955. He also led the league in starts three times, complete games five times, innings pitched four times, and strikeouts and shutouts once.

After his 15 year career ended in 1958, he became a scout, a coach, and a manager at the minor and Major League levels, managing the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees, winning a title in the Big Apple in 1978.

He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976 by the writers of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. His number 21 was retired by the Indians in 1998. He was named to the Top 100 Greatest Indians roster, as part of the team’s 100th anniversary celebration, in 2001.