John Sherman Lollar Jr. (August 23, 1924 – September 24, 1977) was an American professional baseball player and coach.

[2][3] Lollar began his career playing for the Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and the St. Louis Browns where he earned his first All-Star berth however, he blossomed as a player while with the White Sox.

In 1957, Lollar received the first Rawlings Gold Glove Award for the catcher position in Major League Baseball.

[6] Both Lollar and Berra were considered excellent hitting prospects but defensive liabilities, although both eventually would become outstanding receivers.

During the 1948 season, Lollar suffered a hand injury due to a foul tip, resulting in limited action for the rest of the year.

Lollar was traded to the St. Louis Browns and replaced Les Moss as their starting catcher for the 1949 season.

[12] Lollar, whom Richards called "a manager on the field", was a quiet workhorse who led by example and was an excellent handler of pitchers.

Described as a dangerous hitter with power in Who's Who in Baseball History,[14] Lollar played most of his career in cavernous Comiskey Park, whose dimensions were 352'-415'-352' LF-CF-RF.

[24] Lollar helped guide the White Sox pitching staff to the lowest earned run average in the American League.

Seven of the book's players have since been enshrined in the Hall of Fame: Richie Ashburn, Orlando Cepeda, Larry Doby, Nellie Fox, Bill Mazeroski, Hal Newhouser, and Ron Santo.

[1] A seven-time All-Star, Lollar led American League catchers in fielding percentage four times over his career.

[1] At the time of his retirement in 1963, Lollar's .992 career fielding percentage was the highest for a catcher in major league history.

[38] Lollar eventually owned a bowling alley in Springfield, Missouri, where he died of cancer at age 53 on September 24, 1977.