Long time player and baseball executive Al Rosen died on Friday:

Rosen was a member on the Indians’ 1948 title team, the last Cleveland squad to win the World Series.

“We lost a cherished member of the Indians family,” said former Indians owner Larry Dolan. “Watching Al play was a true joy and something Indians fans of our generation still cherish.”

Rosen played his entire career with Cleveland from 1947-56. Although he was a member of the `48 team, he played only five games that season and got one at-bat in the win over the Boston Braves.

In 1953, Rosen batted .336 with 43 homers and 145 RBIs. He nearly won the Triple Crown, but was beaten out in for the batting title by Washington’s Mickey Vernon, who hit .337. Rosen was unanimously picked the AL’s top player.

Rosen went on to work as a general manager for several teams. My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Rosen was a huge offensive threat, bot getting on base and hitting for power. He twice led the league in home runs and RBI. In 1953, he led the league in runs as well. It was a short, career, however, as his batting average fell at age 31, and while he kept up a good OBP, he was out of baseball in 1957. His back and leg injuries forced him out of the game. The big money wasn’t in the game in the late 1950s, so it wasn’t often lucrative to keep playing.