Arab Americans
Joe Lahoud
Joseph Michael Lahoud (born April 14, 1947) is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or part of eleven seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily as an outfielder and designated hitter, for the Boston Red Sox (1968–71), Milwaukee Brewers (1972–73), California Angels (1974–76), Texas Rangers (1976) and Kansas City Royals (1977–78).[1]
Early life
Lahoud is from Danbury, Connecticut. His Christian parents emigrated to the United States from Lebanon before he was born.[2]
Career
Lahoud attended the University of New Haven, where he played college baseball for the New Haven Chargers.[3]
Lahoud played for the Winston-Salem Red Sox of the Class A Carolina League in 1966 and 1967. Though optioned to the minor leagues during spring training in 1968, the Red Sox recalled Lahoud from the Louisville Colonels of the Class AAA International League at the start of the 1968 season as Tony Conigliaro struggled with his recovery from an eye injury.[4] He was soon sent to Louisville to continue his development.[5] The Red Sox optioned Lahoud to Louisville at the end of spring training in 1970.[6]
On October 10, 1971, the Red Sox traded Lahoud to the Milwaukee Brewers with Ken Brett, Billy Conigliaro, Jim Lonborg, Don Pavletich, and George Scott for Tommy Harper, Lew Krausse, Marty Pattin, and minor leaguer Pat Skrable.[7][8] On October 22, 1973, the Brewers traded Lahoud to the California Angels with Ollie Brown, Skip Lockwood, Ellie Rodriguez, and Gary Ryerson for Steve Barber, Ken Berry, Art Kusnyer, Clyde Wright, and cash. On June 14, 1976, the Texas Rangers acquired Lahoud from the Angels for “slightly more than the waiver price”.[9]
In his career, Lahoud played in 791 games and had a .223 batting average with 65 home runs, 218 runs batted in, 429 hits, 239 runs scored, and a .372 slugging percentage.[1] He once hit 3 home runs in one game for the Red Sox. After his baseball career ended he became a successful executive in the facilities management industry. Joe resides in Litchfield County Connecticut. Married to a successful real estate agent Patrica Kennedy Lahoud. He also has two boys Joe Jr and Nick, both of whom were great college baseball players.