Lindblad was born in Chanute, Kansas. A member of three World Series championship teams, he was a solid left-handed specialist in the American League for 14 seasons. A very fine fielder as well, he set a major league record by playing from 1966 to 1974 without making an error in 385 games.
Lindblad was signed by the Kansas City Athletics in 1962, who moved to Oakland in 1968. His most productive season came in 1969, when he posted career highs with nine wins and nine saves. A year later he followed with an 8–2 mark, and in the 1971 midseason he was traded to the Washington Senators, who became the Texas Rangers a year later. With Texas, he led American League pitchers with 66 appearances in 1972. After the 1972 season, the Rangers traded Lindblad to the Athletics for Bill McNulty and a player to be named later.[1] The Athletics sent Brant Alyea to the Rangers to complete the trade.[2]
Lindblad came back to Texas for part of two seasons and made his final majors appearance with the New York Yankees in Game One of the 1978 World Series. He finished his career with a 68–63 record and 64 saves in 665 games. He posted a 3.29 ERA and struck out 671 batters in 1,2132⁄3innings pitched.
Following his playing career, Lindblad joined the minor league baseball system as a pitching coach, and also worked as a custom home builder for several years.
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