Born and raised in Oakland and one of the most popular players baseball has known, Ernie Lombardi won the 1938 batting title with a .342 average and most valuable player honors while with Cincinnati. He repeated batting title honors in 1942 with a .330 mark with the Boston Braves. In 17 National League seasons, Lombardi compiled a lifetime batting average of .306. He hit over .300 ten different seasons. Infielders, knowing how hard he hit the ball and how slowly he ran, played him as much as 30 feet behind the infield. He is also remembered for being behind the plate when Johnny Vander Meer tossed his two successive no-hitters.

Inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.

Plaque location: Oakland Coliseum