The Pacific Coast League announced that George “Duffy” Lewis, Mike Marshall and Kid Mohler will be inducted into the PCL Hall of Fame as the three members of the Class of 2012.
George Edward “Duffy” Lewis, born on April 18, 1888, in San Francisco, Cal., sandwiched seven years in the Pacific Coast League around a successful eleven-year Major League career, which included three World Series championships with the Boston Red Sox. After playing for the New York Yankees and Washington Senators as well, Lewis returned to the PCL and hit 105 home runs in five seasons, batting .403 in 1921 and not hitting below .358 until his final season when he hit .294 in 1925 at the age of 37. He’s also part of a piece of Fenway Park trivia: before 1933, there was a 10-foot incline leading up to the Green Monster in lieu of a warning track. Lewis became so good at playing the incline that it became known as Duffy’s Cliff.
Lewis died in Salem, New Hampshire, at 91 years of age. He was selected to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2002.
Michael Allen Marshall, born January 12th, 1960, in Libertyville, Illinois, only played two years in the PCL but made an immediate impression by delivering one of the best years the league has ever seen. With an MVP season in 1981, the righty from Illinois led the Albuquerque Dukes to an amazing 94-38 record and a PCL championship, capturing the league’s most recent Triple Crown award with 34 home runs, 137 RBIs, and a .373 average. Marshall went on to play for four Major League teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he won a World Series championship in 1988. After 11 seasons and over 1,000 games, Mike Marshall finished his Major League career with a .270 average and 148 home runs.
Marshall is currently serving as manager of the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League). Marshall and his wife, Mary, reside in Northern California and have two children.
Ernest Follette “Kid” Mohler, born December 13th, 1870, in Oneida, Illinois, was a left-handed second baseman who played over ten years in the Pacific Coast League including eight seasons with San Francisco. After playing three games for the Washington Senators in the National League in 1894, Mohler’s long PCL career included over 1,600 games and over 1,400 hits. Most impressively, Mohler played from the ages of 32 to 43, including 334 games while in his forties.
Kid Mohler died in San Francisco, California, in 1961.
Photo of Duffy Lewis courtesy of Library of Congress, LC-DIG-ggbain-11757.
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