Lyons was used mostly in the bullpen in his first two seasons (1923 & 1924), and he was affixed as a starter in 1925. Initially a fastball pitcher, Lyons would lead the American League twice (1925 & 1927) and had a third season in 1930 where he would win 20 Games (22). Injuries would pile up, and he would not be able to throw as hard, but he reinvented himself with an assortment of curves and knuckleballs, and he remained a viable starter until his early 40's. In 1936, he would lead the AL in BB/9 and would do so again three more straight times from 1939 to 1941. His control became so good that he also led the AL in SO/BB twice (1939 & 1941) despite barely striking out more than 60 batters those years. In fact, in 1942, at age 41, he would win his only ERA title with a career-high 2.10.
The Pitcher spent the next three years serving in the U.S. Military during World War II, and he came back for one season at age 45. Lyons would win 260 Games for the White Sox, a franchise high.
Lyons would enter the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955, and his number 16 was retired by the team in 1987.
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