University of Illinois Athletics

Baseball / Basketball • 1937-1938

Lou Boudreau is the only Illini in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He concluded his 15-year Major League Baseball career, including 10 seasons as a player-manager, as a seven-time All-Star and the 1948 American League MVP. Boudreau managed the Cleveland Indians to their last World Series title in 1948, and led AL shortstops in fielding eight times. The "Good Kid" won the American League batting title in 1944 and still holds MLB record for hitting the most consecutive doubles in a game (4) on July 14, 1946. As an Illini, Boudreau served as captain of Illini baseball and basketball teams. He led the Illini to both basketball and baseball Big Ten titles during the 1936-37 season before earning All-America honors in basketball in 1938. Boudreau is one of just three athletes (along with Grange and Butkus) to have their Illini number (#5) retired. He died in 2001 at the age of 84.