Lee Pelekoudas
Encyclopedia
Lee Pelekoudas is a former executive with the Seattle Mariners
Major League Baseball
club, most notable for serving as the club's interim
general manager
from June 16–October 21, . He is of Greek
descent and is the son of former MLB umpire
Chris Pelekoudas
.
Pelekoudas was selected by the Montreal Expos
in the 48th round of the 1969 amateur draft
, but attended Arizona State University
instead. He has held various front office positions with the Mariners since 1979.
Pelekoudas was the Mariners' associate GM under Bill Bavasi
when the latter was dismissed on June 16, , and Pelekoudas was named interim GM by team CEO
Howard Lincoln
and president Chuck Armstrong
. During his tenure as interim GM, several of the field personnel who had become scapegoat
s for the team's poor performance during the 2008 season
were dismissed, including hitting coach
Jeff Pentland
, field manager
John McLaren
, first baseman
Richie Sexson
, and designated hitter
José Vidro
.
He returned to his former position when Jack Zduriencik
was hired as the Mariners' general manager on October 21, and resigned from the Mariners on September 1, 2009.
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...
Major League Baseball
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...
club, most notable for serving as the club's interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
from June 16–October 21, . He is of Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
descent and is the son of former MLB umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
Chris Pelekoudas
Chris Pelekoudas
Christos George Pelekoudas was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1960 to 1975....
.
Pelekoudas was selected by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in the 48th round of the 1969 amateur draft
1969 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Washington Senators tabbed slugging outfielder Jeff Burroughs of Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA as the nation's number one pick...
, but attended Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
instead. He has held various front office positions with the Mariners since 1979.
Pelekoudas was the Mariners' associate GM under Bill Bavasi
Bill Bavasi
William J. Bavasi, born December 27, 1957 in Scarsdale, New York, is a former general manager and vice president of baseball operations for the Seattle Mariners, and currently works as a Special Assistant to the GM for the Cincinnati Reds, under Reds GM Walt Jocketty...
when the latter was dismissed on June 16, , and Pelekoudas was named interim GM by team CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
Howard Lincoln
Howard Lincoln
Howard Charles Lincoln is an American lawyer and businessman, known primarily for being the former chairman of Nintendo of America and the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Seattle Mariners baseball team, representing absentee majority owner Hiroshi Yamauchi...
and president Chuck Armstrong
Chuck Armstrong
Charles G. Armstrong is an American attorney and former officer of the United States Navy, who currently serves as the president of the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball club.-Seattle Mariners:...
. During his tenure as interim GM, several of the field personnel who had become scapegoat
Scapegoat
Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any party for unmerited negative treatment or blame. Scapegoating may be conducted by individuals against individuals , individuals against groups , groups against individuals , and groups against groups Scapegoating is the practice of singling out any...
s for the team's poor performance during the 2008 season
2008 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners season was the 32nd Major League Baseball season in the team's history. Coming off the heels of the previous 2007 season, in which the M's finished with their first winning record since 2003, the team was widely expected to once again compete for the American League West...
were dismissed, including hitting coach
Coach (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...
Jeff Pentland
Jeff Pentland
Jeffrey William Pentland is a Major League Baseball coach, who was most recently the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.-Playing career:...
, field manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
John McLaren
John McLaren (baseball)
John Lowell McLaren is a former Major League Baseball coach and manager, best known for his brief tenure as manager of the Seattle Mariners, from July 1, to June 19,...
, first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Richie Sexson
Richie Sexson
Richmond Lockwood "Big Sexy" Sexson is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for five teams from 1997 to 2008...
, 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...
José Vidro
José Vidro
José Angel Vidro is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. Though he never officially retired, Vidro has not played since .-Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals:...
.
He returned to his former position when Jack Zduriencik
Jack Zduriencik
John A. “Jack” Zduriencik is the General Manager of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners.-Career:Jack Zduriencik began his career in professional baseball as a second baseman in the Chicago White Sox farm system...
was hired as the Mariners' general manager on October 21, and resigned from the Mariners on September 1, 2009.
External links
- Seattle Mariners Front Office
- Biographical information at BR Bullpen