Lester Strode
Encyclopedia
James Lester Strode is the bullpen coach
for the Chicago Cubs
.
He was born and raised in McMinnville, Tennessee, often crediting McMinnville as his home. After attending Kentucky State University
, Strode was selected as a pitcher by the Kansas City Royals
in the 4th round of the 1980 amateur draft and played in the minors from 1980 to 1988.
After his playing career ended, he was a longtime pitching coach in the Chicago Cubs
farm system. Strode was the pitching coach for the Rookie League Wytheville Cubs
in 1989, the Single-A Peoria Chiefs
from 1990-1991, the Winston-Salem Spirits in 1992, and the Daytona Cubs
in 1993. He was then the Cubs' minor league pitching coordinator from 1996-2006. Following the 2006 season, he became the Cubs' bullpen coach.
In December 2006, Strode was chosen as a member of the Warren County (TN) Sports Hall of Fame.
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...
for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
He was born and raised in McMinnville, Tennessee, often crediting McMinnville as his home. After attending Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University is a four-year institution of higher learning, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States, the Commonwealth's capital. The school is an historically black university, which desegregated in 1954...
, Strode was selected as a pitcher by 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 4th round of the 1980 amateur draft and played in the minors from 1980 to 1988.
After his playing career ended, he was a longtime pitching coach in the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
farm system. Strode was the pitching coach for the Rookie League Wytheville Cubs
Wytheville Cubs
The Wytheville Cubs, located in Wytheville, Virginia, were a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Chicago Cubs that played from 1985 to 1989. They played in the Appalachian League and had four different managers in their five years of existence...
in 1989, the Single-A Peoria Chiefs
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, from Peoria, Illinois. They play in the Midwest League....
from 1990-1991, the Winston-Salem Spirits in 1992, and the Daytona Cubs
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs are a minor league baseball team based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The team plays in the Florida State League , and is the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs major league club. The Cubs play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in 1914, the park seats 5,100 fans.The...
in 1993. He was then the Cubs' minor league pitching coordinator from 1996-2006. Following the 2006 season, he became the Cubs' bullpen coach.
In December 2006, Strode was chosen as a member of the Warren County (TN) Sports Hall of Fame.
External links
- Cubs.com bio
- http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Lester_Strode