R.I.P. Don Lund

Submitted by TrppWlbrnID on

i will be honest, i did not know who Don Lund was until today when I read a Det News article about his passing.

Don earned 3 letters each in football, basketball and baseball during his time at Michigan in the 1940s. He was drafted in 1945 in the first round of the nfl draft by Chicago as a running back but decided to play baseball, which he played 7 seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers, St Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers. After that, he coached Michigan baseball from 1959-62, winning a Big Ten championship in '62. He then went on to be the head of the Tigers' farm system until 1970, when he returned to the University of Michigan to work in the athletic department until 1992. He passed of natural causes at the age of 90.

Michigan is lucky to have had figures like this making up its rich history. We should take a second to send off a final thanks of HAIL to Don Lund, Wolverine.

for more Don Lund:

http://www.amazon.com/Playing-Ball-Legends-Story-Stories/dp/1587265680

 

LSAClassOf2000

December 10th, 2013 at 1:43 PM ^

I believe his is also an inductee in the Michigan Sports Hall Of Fame as well as an inductee in the University's Hall Of Honor. The Ann Arbor News did a spread on him about four years ago and there were quite a few of his former players talking about how they still get together every years and they did so because they were united in their love of their former coach, who would also attend. One of them even said that every member of the 1962 baseball team graduated, and they credit Don Lund for setting them down that path. 

Very sad news indeed. 

True Blue Grit

December 10th, 2013 at 1:49 PM ^

in the last year at the senior community he was living at here in Ann Arbor.  Despite his being mostly confined to a wheelchair, he was as sharp as ever, and still possessing an iron handshake.  He seemed like a great person to me, even though we only spoke for a few minutes.  He has a long history serving U-M athletics and was truely a great Michigan Man.  RIP Don.  

Section 1

December 10th, 2013 at 2:42 PM ^

who bridged the Pre-Canham and Canham eras at Michigan.

Very much like the grace and generosity of Bump Elliott, who similarly bridged the pre-Bo and Bo eras; Bo said that Elliott was a great help.  If Don Canham were still with us, he'd be saying that same thing I am sure.

There was almost nobody in Michigan sports, form the 50's to the 80's whose life wasn't touched by Don Lund.  This really is one of the men who built what we now all enjoy.  Thanks for posting this.

Don't the old M ball caps look great?  As long as I live, I'll think that that is what they should look like.

Alton

December 10th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^

"...he coached Michigan baseball from 1959-62, winning a Big Ten championship in '62"

Michigan (with Don Lund as their coach) won the NCAA championship in 1962, not the Big Ten championship.  Lund did win a Big Ten championship in 1961.

mgofritz

December 10th, 2013 at 4:13 PM ^

My first meal at Knight's took place while I was in school over a decade ago.  This was before smoking was banned in restaurants and bars.  The smoke hung thick from the ceiling.  The place was packed and noisy and the four of us made our way to our booth towards the back,  The trip from the door to the table probably took half an hour.  The people I was with knew just about everyone in the place.  I slid into the booth across from my father.  Next to me was his best friend from Medical School Gary and next to my dad was Don Lund.  My dad played baseball at Michigan from 53-56.  Don took over the program in 59.  Both had played for Ray Fisher.   

I probably didn't say more than a few words the entire evening.  I listened to these three Michigan Men reminisce about everything from the baseball field to the state of the Michigan football team at the time.  I heard stories about old coaches and teammates.  How these guys could remember the specifics of a game that took place 40 years earlier amazed me.  They sent the server away several times, having not had a chance to look at the menu, and two hours later finally ordered without picking their menus up. 

I can't walk into Knights anymore without expecting to see that cloud of smoke and hear the clamor and as the smoke clears away I can still see these three men sitting in the booth chatting it up like they were still in the dorm cafeteria. 

Don Lund was the epitome of what the University of Michigan stood for.  I knew him only briefly but he made a great impact on my life.  My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends and I am sure that he and my father are sitting at a table somewhere together debating the pros and cons of playing baseball for Ray Fisher.

tybert

December 10th, 2013 at 4:41 PM ^

In the 70s and 80s as an Electrical Sales Engineer for a supplier to a number of UM's venues, including Chrysler. Remember him talking about Don and his past and present with UM. Lund was one of the guys my dad would meet during his visits, if nothing else than to talk UM football, hockey, and hoops. Remember how much my dad liked chatting with folks like Don.

AlwaysBlue

December 10th, 2013 at 5:12 PM ^

man from the elders in my family. Seeing the number of posts though it strikes me as slightly sad how little is known of many of the men who contributed so richly to Michigan.

May he rest in peace, in Maize and Blue.

KUHLWOLVERINE

December 10th, 2013 at 11:17 PM ^

My parents went to high school in Detroit with Don Lund and always said he was one of the nicest men you could have ever known. Total class all the way.



Ironically the mentioned posts of Ufer also remind me that my grandmother and Ufers mother were sorority mothers together at Michigan (will have to ask my dad which one). But of more interest Bob Ufer was a track star at Michigan, I believe the 440. But he was the official starter at the NCAA Indoor Championships every March at Cobo Hall in late 60's or so. Those track meets were so memorable and filled with many Olympians.

Examinebaseball

December 15th, 2013 at 3:58 PM ^

I met Don a few years ago, and interviewed him a few times. Upon learning of his passing, I wrote a few articles which include interviews with Lund, Mike Joyce and Dave Campbell. I hope the readers here will enjoy them.

Don Lund memorial article - (Features interview with Lund and Joyce)

http://www.examiner.com/article/don-lund-legendary-university-of-michigan-baseball-coach-passes-away-at-90

Dave Campbell interview regarding Lund's influence -

http://www.examiner.com/article/dave-campbell-greatly-impacted-by-michigan-baseball-coach-lund

My personal experience meeting Don Lund -

http://www.baseballhappenings.net/2013/12/the-tremendous-character-of-don-lund.html