Baseball nicknames are a part of the game.
In some cases, many fans may not know a player’s real name.
Some of the players are even listed on the baseballreference.com site with their nicknames like Cap Anson, Home Run Baker, Choo-Choo Coleman, Pee Wee Reese, Smokey Joe Williams and perhaps the most famous, Babe Ruth.
Although Jack Lohrke‘s Baseball Reference page doesn’t use his nickname, his 1951 Bowman card has “Lucky” on the front with an explanation on the back of how he acquired the moniker.
According to his 2009 obituary, Lohrke was in battles during World War II where the men next to him were killed.
If that wasn’t enough, “Lucky” was also taken off a military plane that would later crash.
In the world of baseball, Lohrke’s good fortune continued.
After beginning his career in 1942, Lohrke resumed playing in 1946. He had played 57 games for the Spokane Indians when he was recalled to the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League.
Lohrke was with the Indians on a road trip when, according to several sources, he was tracked down by law enforcement and told that he was to report to the Padres.
Once Lohrke had left the team, the bus carrying the squad crashed and nine people lost their lives due to the crash.
Call to the Big Leagues
Lohrke’s 1946 season proved to be successful enough that he would join the New York Giants in 1947.
With the Indians and Padres, Lohrke batted .320 with 185 hits in 149 contests.
The California native spent seven years in the major leagues from 1947 to 1953.
After five years with the Giants, Lohrke finished his major league career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1952 and 1953.
Primarily a third baseman, Lohrke had his best season in 1947 with 11 homers and 35 RBI.
In his career, he had 22 homers, 96 RBI and a .242 batting average. All of his long balls with with the Giants. National Baseball Hall-of-Fame member Warren Spahn was among his victims.
Lohrke has his best game during the 1948 season against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 2.
That day, Lohrke had four hits with a homer and a double as the Giants won 5-4. The homer was off Bob Chesnes.
Also for the Giants, Whitey Lockman added three hits and Walker Cooper hit a two-run homer and knocked in another run. Larry Jansen held the Pirates to six hits to earn the victory.