Chet Lemon
Encyclopedia
Chester Earl Lemon is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
. A three time All-Star
, he was a member of the World Series
champion 1984 Detroit Tigers
.
by the Oakland Athletics
out of John C. Fremont High School
in Los Angeles, California
. Midway through his fourth season in Oakland's farm system, Lemon was dealt to the Chicago White Sox
with Dave Hamilton
for Stan Bahnsen
and Skip Pitlock
. He batted .307 with eight home runs and 49 runs batted in for the triple A Denver Bears to earn a call up to the White Sox that September.
in the minor leagues, Lemon played third base during his brief stint with the Chisox in . He entered Spring training
1976 as the leading candidate for the third base job, but after failing to impress manager Paul Richards
with his glove, was moved to the outfield
. He made the transition seamlessly, as he made only three errors
all season while logging a .992 fielding percentage
in centerfield
. He batted .246 with four home runs, 38 RBIs and 46 runs scored to earn Topps All-Star Rookie Teams honors.
He came into his own as both a hitter and centerfielder in 1977. He scored a career high 99 runs
, while showing a dramatic increase in power, hitting fifteen more home runs than he had his rookie season. He also set an American League
record with 524 total chances
and 512 putout
s in the outfield.
With the White Sox in sixth place in the American League West
, ahead only of the expansion Seattle Mariners
, Lemon was selected as his team's lone representative at the 1978 All-Star Game
. Though he did not receive an at-bat, he entered the game in left field in the eighth inning, and committed an error in the National League
's four run eighth. The White Sox finished the season in fifth, eventually passing the Oakland A's in the standings. Lemon went 2-for-5 on the second to last day of the season to bring his season batting average
to .300. He sat out his team's final game.
In 1979, Lemon was again the sole White Sox player on the American League All-Star team
. He entered the game in the second inning, and scored in the third after being hit by a Joaquin Andujar
pitch. He ended the season with a .318 batting average and 86 RBIs, both career highs. He also hit 44 doubles
, tying the Milwaukee Brewers
' Cecil Cooper
for the American League season best total.
The White Sox finished near the bottom of the division standings during most of Lemon's tenure with the club. With the addition of free agent catcher
Carlton Fisk
and designated hitter
Greg Luzinski, the team improved to 31-22 and finished in third in the first half of the strike shortened 1981 season. For his part, Lemon batted .299 with three home runs and 22 RBIs in the first half. Though his team finished in sixth place in the second half, Lemon's stats improved, as he batted .305 with six home runs and drove in 28. Following the season, Lemon was traded to the Detroit Tigers
for outfielder Steve Kemp
.
, Lou Whitaker, Jack Morris
, Kirk Gibson
and Lance Parrish
. The team got off to a 35–5 start in 1984, and went on to take the American League East
by fifteen games over the Toronto Blue Jays
. Lemon arguably had his best season in 1984, as he hit .287 with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs, and collected a .990 fielding percentage while handling 421 total chances. He was also the starting center fielder for the American League at the 1984 All-Star game
.
Reaching the post-season for the first time in his career, Lemon went hitless in thirteen at-bats in the Tigers' three game sweep of the Kansas City Royals
in the 1984 American League Championship Series
. He improved in the World Series, batting .294 with a run scored and a run batted in.
In 1988, Lemon moved from center field to right field to make room for speedy new acquisition Gary Pettis
. On September 20, he hit his 200th career home run off the Cleveland Indians
's Scott Bailes
. In the same game, Darrell Evans
hit his 400th career home run.
Following the 1990 season, he became ill with a serious spleen
disease, polycythemia vera. In December 1990, Lemon successfully underwent surgery at the University of Michigan
. He attempted a comeback with the Tigers in 1991, but was unsuccessful, and retired. Shortly after his retirement, he required a second surgery.
; in the 1980s, he was second only to Don Baylor
by getting plunked 108 times. He also had a penchant for diving headfirst into first base.
two successful AAU teams, Chet Lemon's Juice, (18 and under) and Chet Lemon's Juice II, (12 and under) in Eustis, Florida
.
Lemon was also the head coach for Eustis High School in Eustis, Florida
. where he led the Panthers to the 2003 State Championship. The Texas Rangers
drafted Chet's son, Marcus Lemon, in the first round draft pick in 2006, now he plays for the Braves.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. A three time All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
, he was a member of the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
champion 1984 Detroit Tigers
1984 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1984 World Series, defeating the San Diego Padres, 4 games to 1. The season was their 84th since they entered the American League in 1901 and their fourth World Series championship. Detroit relief pitcher Willie Hernandez won the Cy Young Award and was chosen as the...
.
Early years
Lemon was drafted in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft1972 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1972 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Montreal Expos had perhaps their best draft in franchise history. The Expos grabbed outfielder Ellis Valentine in round two of the June regular phase and then...
by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
out of John C. Fremont High School
John C. Fremont High School
John C. Fremont Senior High School is a Title 1 co-educational public high school located in Los Angeles, California, United States.Fremont is in a region known as South Los Angeles...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Midway through his fourth season in Oakland's farm system, Lemon was dealt to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
with Dave Hamilton
Dave Hamilton (baseball)
David Edward Hamilton is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who won three World Series championships as a member of the Oakland Athletics in the early 1970s.-Oakland A's:...
for Stan Bahnsen
Stan Bahnsen
Stanley Raymond Bahnsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Nicknamed the "Bahnsen Burner," he once made 118 starts over a three year stretch while playing with the Chicago White Sox in the mid 1970s.-New York Yankees:...
and Skip Pitlock
Skip Pitlock
Lee Patrick Thomas Pitlock is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Noted for his unusual wind-up, he had a "herky-jerky" motion which deceived major league batters, and led to 124 career strikeouts in 192.2 innings pitched....
. He batted .307 with eight home runs and 49 runs batted in for the triple A Denver Bears to earn a call up to the White Sox that September.
Chicago White Sox
An infielderInfielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
in the minor leagues, Lemon played third base during his brief stint with the Chisox in . He entered Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
1976 as the leading candidate for the third base job, but after failing to impress manager Paul Richards
Paul Richards (baseball)
Paul Rapier Richards was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and executive in Major League Baseball. During his playing career, he was a catcher and right-handed batter with the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
with his glove, was moved to the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
. He made the transition seamlessly, as he made only three errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
all season while logging a .992 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
in centerfield
Centerfield
Centerfield is an album by musician John Fogerty, released in 1985. It was his most popular post-Creedence album, containing the hit singles "The Old Man Down the Road", "Rock and Roll Girls" and the title track "Centerfield". Fogerty played all the instruments on this album himself, thanks to...
. He batted .246 with four home runs, 38 RBIs and 46 runs scored to earn Topps All-Star Rookie Teams honors.
He came into his own as both a hitter and centerfielder in 1977. He scored a career high 99 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, while showing a dramatic increase in power, hitting fifteen more home runs than he had his rookie season. He also set an American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
record with 524 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
and 512 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s in the outfield.
With the White Sox in sixth place in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
, ahead only of the expansion Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, Lemon was selected as his team's lone representative at the 1978 All-Star Game
1978 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1978 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 49th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 11, 1978 at San Diego Stadium in San Diego, California, home of the...
. Though he did not receive an at-bat, he entered the game in left field in the eighth inning, and committed an error in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
's four run eighth. The White Sox finished the season in fifth, eventually passing the Oakland A's in the standings. Lemon went 2-for-5 on the second to last day of the season to bring his season batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
to .300. He sat out his team's final game.
In 1979, Lemon was again the sole White Sox player on the American League All-Star team
1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 50th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 17, 1979, at The Kingdome in Seattle, Washington the home of the...
. He entered the game in the second inning, and scored in the third after being hit by a Joaquin Andujar
Joaquín Andújar
Joaquín Andújar is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who became one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball while playing with the St. Louis Cardinals in the mid-80s.-Early years:...
pitch. He ended the season with a .318 batting average and 86 RBIs, both career highs. He also hit 44 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, tying the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
' Cecil Cooper
Cecil Cooper
Cecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...
for the American League season best total.
The White Sox finished near the bottom of the division standings during most of Lemon's tenure with the club. With the addition of free agent catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
Greg Luzinski, the team improved to 31-22 and finished in third in the first half of the strike shortened 1981 season. For his part, Lemon batted .299 with three home runs and 22 RBIs in the first half. Though his team finished in sixth place in the second half, Lemon's stats improved, as he batted .305 with six home runs and drove in 28. Following the season, Lemon was traded to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
for outfielder Steve Kemp
Steve Kemp
Steven F. Kemp is a former Major League Baseball outfielder from 1977 to 1986 and 1988. He is of Armenian heritage.-Professional career:...
.
Detroit Tigers
Lemon joined a Tiger team with a talented, young nucleus of Alan TrammellAlan Trammell
Alan Stuart Trammell is a retired American baseball shortstop of the Detroit Tigers from to . Trammell, nicknamed "Tram", played his entire career with the Tigers, highlighted by a World Series championship in and an American League East division championship in . Although his arm was not...
, Lou Whitaker, Jack Morris
Jack Morris
John Scott "Jack" Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in 18 big league seasons between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers, and won 254 games throughout his career...
, Kirk Gibson
Kirk Gibson
Kirk Harold Gibson is a former Major League Baseball player and currently the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. As a player, Gibson was an outfielder who batted and threw left-handed...
and Lance Parrish
Lance Parrish
Lance Michael Parrish, aka "Big Wheel", is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels , Seattle Mariners , Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , and the Toronto Blue Jays...
. The team got off to a 35–5 start in 1984, and went on to take the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
by fifteen games over the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. Lemon arguably had his best season in 1984, as he hit .287 with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs, and collected a .990 fielding percentage while handling 421 total chances. He was also the starting center fielder for the American League at the 1984 All-Star game
1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 55th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 10, 1984 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, home of the...
.
Reaching the post-season for the first time in his career, Lemon went hitless in thirteen at-bats in the Tigers' three game sweep of the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in the 1984 American League Championship Series
1984 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 2, 1984 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriGame 1 was a blowout in Kansas City, as Jack Morris pitched seven innings and allowed a single run, with Willie Hernandez pitching the final two innings. The Tigers scored eight runs...
. He improved in the World Series, batting .294 with a run scored and a run batted in.
In 1988, Lemon moved from center field to right field to make room for speedy new acquisition Gary Pettis
Gary Pettis
Gary George Pettis is the current first base coach of the Texas Rangers. Prior to coaching, he spent eleven seasons as a center fielder in Major League Baseball....
. On September 20, he hit his 200th career home run off the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
's Scott Bailes
Scott Bailes
Scott Alan Bailes , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for three teams during a 13-year Major League career. At some point during his youth, he moved to Missouri, and participated in Little League, Pony League, and American Legion teams...
. In the same game, Darrell Evans
Darrell Evans
Darrell Wayne Evans is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers . He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball...
hit his 400th career home run.
Following the 1990 season, he became ill with a serious spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
disease, polycythemia vera. In December 1990, Lemon successfully underwent surgery at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He attempted a comeback with the Tigers in 1991, but was unsuccessful, and retired. Shortly after his retirement, he required a second surgery.
Career stats
Lemon recorded 400 or more outfield putouts in five different seasons, an American League record. He also had a unique ability to be hit by a pitchHit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
; in the 1980s, he was second only to Don Baylor
Don Baylor
Donald Edward Baylor is a Major League Baseball coach currently the hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a former player and manager. During his 19-year playing career, he was a power hitter who played as a first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter...
by getting plunked 108 times. He also had a penchant for diving headfirst into first base.
Retirement
Lemon underwent surgery again in , this time removing his spleen. He now coachesCoach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
two successful AAU teams, Chet Lemon's Juice, (18 and under) and Chet Lemon's Juice II, (12 and under) in Eustis, Florida
Eustis, Florida
Eustis is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,106 at the 2000 census. The Census Bureau estimated the population in 2008 to be 19,129. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
.
Lemon was also the head coach for Eustis High School in Eustis, Florida
Eustis, Florida
Eustis is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,106 at the 2000 census. The Census Bureau estimated the population in 2008 to be 19,129. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. where he led the Panthers to the 2003 State Championship. The Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
drafted Chet's son, Marcus Lemon, in the first round draft pick in 2006, now he plays for the Braves.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters