Jim Lett
Encyclopedia
James Curtis Lett is the bullpen coach for the Washington Nationals
wearing #9.
, where he played football, basketball and ran track. He earned All-State honors in basketball as the top scorer in the state and All-America honors in football as a quarterback. He is a 1973 graduate from the University of Kentucky
, where he was selected to the All-Southeastern Conference baseball team in 1971. He also was a quarterback on the Wildcats football team. Lett earned a B.S. degree in Geography.
Lett has worked in professional baseball as a player, coach, manager and front office executive in each of the last 32 years, having spent 24 of those years within the Cincinnati Reds
organization (1973–1996).
He began his career as a player with Bradenton Marauders
(the Reds' Minor league baseball
team) in 1973. After playing three years of minor league baseball (1973–1975) and compiling a .256 batting average
, six home runs and 110 RBI in 313 games, Lett began his managerial career with the Shelby Reds
in the Western Carolinas League
in 1977. He was selected as the league's Manager-of-the-Year in 1978 after guiding the club to a second-place finish and a 75-64 record.
Lett was a minor league manager in the Reds' chain from 1977 to 1985. He was the Reds Bench Coach from 1986 to 1989 and again in 1996. He managed in the minors again in 1990, coached for the Nashville Sounds
in 1991-1992, and spent 1993-1995 as the Reds' minor league field coordinator.
After leaving the Reds, Lett was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays
coaching staff from 1997 to 1999. He was the Blue Jays' assistant director of player development in 2000.
Lett was named the Pittsburgh Pirates
's Bench Coach on November 1, 2005. He was also a part of Manager Jim Tracy's staff with the Los Angeles Dodgers
; as Bench Coach in 2005 and Bullpen Coach for the previous four seasons.
In his role with the Pirates, Jim coordinated the day-to-day activities of the uniformed personnel with the manager, coaches, trainers and front office staff. He also acted as the clubs catching instructor.
When the Pirates fired Tracy in October 2007, Lett was encouraged to seek other forms of employment. Lett was not retained by the Pirates and subsequently was hired by the Milwaukee Brewers
to coach for his hometown team, the Class-A West Virginia Power
. The team plays its home games in downtown Charleston
at Appalachian Power Park.
While overseeing the Dodgers bullpen, Los Angeles relievers ranked second in the major leagues with a 3.06 ERA in 2004. The year before he helped guide the pen to a major league low 2.46 ERA, the lowest mark by any bullpen since the 1990 Oakland Athletics
posted a 2.35 ERA.
In his tenure as a coach in the majors, Lett has worked with four Cy Young Award
recipients; Toronto's Pat Hentgen
(1996 winner), two-time winner Roger Clemens
(1997–98) and Éric Gagné
(2003).
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
wearing #9.
Biography
Lett is a 1969 graduate of Winfield High School in Winfield, West VirginiaWinfield, West Virginia
Winfield is a town in Putnam County, West Virginia, along the Kanawha River. The population was 2,301 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Putnam County....
, where he played football, basketball and ran track. He earned All-State honors in basketball as the top scorer in the state and All-America honors in football as a quarterback. He is a 1973 graduate from the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, where he was selected to the All-Southeastern Conference baseball team in 1971. He also was a quarterback on the Wildcats football team. Lett earned a B.S. degree in Geography.
Lett has worked in professional baseball as a player, coach, manager and front office executive in each of the last 32 years, having spent 24 of those years within the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
organization (1973–1996).
He began his career as a player with Bradenton Marauders
Bradenton Marauders
The Bradenton Marauders are a minor league baseball team based in Bradenton, Florida that plays in the Florida State League. The Marauders are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Their home games are played at McKechnie Field, which also serves as the Pirates' spring training...
(the Reds' Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team) in 1973. After playing three years of minor league baseball (1973–1975) and compiling a .256 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 :...
, six home runs and 110 RBI in 313 games, Lett began his managerial career with the Shelby Reds
Shelby Reds
The Shelby Reds, based in Shelby, North Carolina, were a minor league baseball team that played from 1977 to 1978 in the Western Carolinas League. They were affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds....
in the Western Carolinas League
Western Carolinas League
The Western Carolinas League was a Class D and a low Class A full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful low Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard...
in 1977. He was selected as the league's Manager-of-the-Year in 1978 after guiding the club to a second-place finish and a 75-64 record.
Lett was a minor league manager in the Reds' chain from 1977 to 1985. He was the Reds Bench Coach from 1986 to 1989 and again in 1996. He managed in the minors again in 1990, coached for the Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
in 1991-1992, and spent 1993-1995 as the Reds' minor league field coordinator.
After leaving the Reds, Lett was a member of 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 ....
coaching staff from 1997 to 1999. He was the Blue Jays' assistant director of player development in 2000.
Lett was named the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
's Bench Coach on November 1, 2005. He was also a part of Manager Jim Tracy's staff with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
; as Bench Coach in 2005 and Bullpen Coach for the previous four seasons.
In his role with the Pirates, Jim coordinated the day-to-day activities of the uniformed personnel with the manager, coaches, trainers and front office staff. He also acted as the clubs catching instructor.
When the Pirates fired Tracy in October 2007, Lett was encouraged to seek other forms of employment. Lett was not retained by the Pirates and subsequently was hired by 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...
to coach for his hometown team, the Class-A West Virginia Power
West Virginia Power
This article is about the baseball team, for the electric utility serving southeast West Virginia from 1986-99, see Allegheny Energy.The West Virginia Power is a minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League, and is the Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in...
. The team plays its home games in downtown Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
at Appalachian Power Park.
While overseeing the Dodgers bullpen, Los Angeles relievers ranked second in the major leagues with a 3.06 ERA in 2004. The year before he helped guide the pen to a major league low 2.46 ERA, the lowest mark by any bullpen since the 1990 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....
posted a 2.35 ERA.
In his tenure as a coach in the majors, Lett has worked with four Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
recipients; Toronto's Pat Hentgen
Pat Hentgen
Patrick George Hentgen is a former Major League Baseball player. Hentgen was a right-handed starting pitcher in the major leagues and a Cy Young Award winner in...
(1996 winner), two-time winner Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
(1997–98) and Éric Gagné
Éric Gagné
Éric Serge Gagné is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1995, Gagné began his career as a starting pitcher...
(2003).