Napoléon Lajoie (/ ˈlæʒəweɪ /; September 5, 1874 – February 7, 1959), also known as Larry Lajoie, was an American professional baseball second baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Born: September 5, 1874 in Woonsocket, RI. Inducted as Player in 1937. (Voted by BBWAA on 168/201 ballots) Induction ceremony in Cooperstown held in 1939. View Nap Lajoie's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free.

Jan 4, 2012 · The first superstar in American League history, Napoleon Lajoie combined graceful, effortless fielding with powerful, fearsome hitting to become one of the greatest all-around players of the Deadball Era, and one of the best second basemen of all time.

Lajoie was a player-manager for the Naps from 1905-’09, but resigned to concentrate on playing – and hit .383 to lead the AL in batting in 1910. He returned to the Athletics at the end of his career for two seasons. For his career, Lajoie batted .338 and led the league in hitting five times.

Nap Lajoie, the Major League Baseball player, was born on Saturday, September 5, 1874, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Lajoie was 21 years old when he broke into the major leagues on August 12, 1896, with the Philadelphia Phillies.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Feb. 7 (AP) – Napoleon Lajoie, a charter member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, died at a hospital here today. His age was 83. Mr. Lajoie was stricken with pneumonia in January. He was believed to have recovered and was due to be discharged from the hospital this week but suffered a relapse yesterday.

Feb 3, 2025 · Nap Lajoie (born September 5, 1874, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, U.S.—died February 7, 1959, Daytona Beach, Florida) was an American professional baseball player who was one of the game’s best hitters and an outstanding fielder.

Jan 25, 2025 · Napoleon “Nap” Lajoie was born on September 5, 1874, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, to French-Canadian parents. He grew up in a working-class neighborhood and developed a love for baseball at a young age.

Feb 26, 2021 · The first second baseman inducted into the Hall of Fame, Nap Lajoie played for 21 years, and helped bring the American League from infancy to respectability. His score on the Black Ink test of appraising ballplayers puts him at # 8 on the all-time list.

Lajoie was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on August 12, 1896, but he also served as a Major League Baseball manager. His biographical data appears below, followed by managerial data, including all of his career wins while managing, losses, as well as every Major League Baseball team he managed.