Thornton Lee
Encyclopedia
Thornton Starr Lee also nicknamed "Lefty", was a starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Cleveland Indians
(1933–36), Chicago White Sox
(1937–47) and New York Giants
(1948). Lee batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of pitcher Don Lee, a former big leaguer.
. He attended Arroyo Grande High School
in San Luis Obispo County from 1923-25 then went on to play football, basketball, baseball and track at California Polytechnic (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo. Lee first pitched professionally at the age of 24, reaching the major leagues on September 19, 1933, six days after his 28th birthday, with the Cleveland Indians.
From the beginning, Lee showed a fine sinking fastball
, a good control, was effective holding runners and fielding, and produced with the bat as well. Before the 1937 season, he was part of a three-team trade among the Indians, Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators
. Jack Salveson
went to the Senators, while Earl Whitehill
went to the Indians. Lee landed in Chicago and went on to pitch for the White Sox for the next eleven years.
In his first four years with the Sox, Lee won 12 or more games, with a high 15 victories in 1939, despite little offensive support. His most productive season came in 1941, when he paced all American League
pitchers in ERA
(2.34) and complete games (30). He also posted a career-high 22 victories (second only to Bob Feller
's 25), 125 strikeout
s (also a career-high), was named to the AL All-Star team
, and collected a $2,500 bonus for winning more than 20 games.
From 1942-45, Lee suffered a string of injuries and lost his pace. After fracturing his arm and undergoing two bone chip removals and a neck operation, he recovered his old form in 1945, going 15-12 with a career-high 2.44 ERA and 108 strikeouts, and pitching in the All-Star game for second time.
At the age of 42, Lee divided his time in 1948 between the National League
, with the Giants, and the Pacific Coast League
, where he contributed to the Oakland Oaks
pennant championship. He retired at the end of the season.
Thornton Lee died in June 1997 in Tucson, Arizona
, at 90 years of age. He is survived by his son, Don, who pitched for five teams in the major leagues from 1957 to 1966. Thornton Lee was inducted into the Cal Poly Hall of Fame in 1988. http://www.gopoly.com/index.php?p=hall_of_fame&id=158
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in 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...
who played for 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...
(1933–36), 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...
(1937–47) and New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1948). Lee batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of pitcher Don Lee, a former big leaguer.
Career
Lee was born in Sonoma, CaliforniaSonoma, California
Sonoma is a historically significant city in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA, surrounding its historic town plaza, a remnant of the town's Mexican colonial past. It was the capital of the short-lived California Republic...
. He attended Arroyo Grande High School
Arroyo Grande High School
Arroyo Grande High School is an American public high school located in Arroyo Grande, California. It serves grades 9-12 as part of the Lucia Mar Unified School District .-Campus:...
in San Luis Obispo County from 1923-25 then went on to play football, basketball, baseball and track at California Polytechnic (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo. Lee first pitched professionally at the age of 24, reaching the major leagues on September 19, 1933, six days after his 28th birthday, with the Cleveland Indians.
From the beginning, Lee showed a fine sinking fastball
Sinker (baseball)
In baseball, a sinker , is a type of fastball pitch which has significant downward and horizontal movement. The sinker is known for inducing a lot of ground balls...
, a good control, was effective holding runners and fielding, and produced with the bat as well. Before the 1937 season, he was part of a three-team trade among the Indians, Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. Jack Salveson
Jack Salveson
John Theodore Salveson was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for five seasons. He played for the New York Giants from 1933 to 1934, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago White Sox in 1935, and the Cleveland Indians in 1943 and 1945.Salveson had a long and successful minor league career,...
went to the Senators, while Earl Whitehill
Earl Whitehill
Earl Oliver Whitehill was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers for the most significant portion of his career , and later with the Washington Senators , Cleveland Indians , and the Chicago Cubs...
went to the Indians. Lee landed in Chicago and went on to pitch for the White Sox for the next eleven years.
In his first four years with the Sox, Lee won 12 or more games, with a high 15 victories in 1939, despite little offensive support. His most productive season came in 1941, when he paced all 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...
pitchers in ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(2.34) and complete games (30). He also posted a career-high 22 victories (second only to Bob Feller
Bob Feller
On December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
's 25), 125 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s (also a career-high), was named to the AL All-Star team
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
, and collected a $2,500 bonus for winning more than 20 games.
From 1942-45, Lee suffered a string of injuries and lost his pace. After fracturing his arm and undergoing two bone chip removals and a neck operation, he recovered his old form in 1945, going 15-12 with a career-high 2.44 ERA and 108 strikeouts, and pitching in the All-Star game for second time.
At the age of 42, Lee divided his time in 1948 between 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...
, with the Giants, and the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, where he contributed to the Oakland Oaks
Oakland Oaks (PCL)
The Oakland Oaks were a minor league baseball team in Oakland, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1955, after which the club transferred to Vancouver, British Columbia...
pennant championship. He retired at the end of the season.
Thornton Lee died in June 1997 in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, at 90 years of age. He is survived by his son, Don, who pitched for five teams in the major leagues from 1957 to 1966. Thornton Lee was inducted into the Cal Poly Hall of Fame in 1988. http://www.gopoly.com/index.php?p=hall_of_fame&id=158
Fact
- On September 19, 1939, Ted WilliamsTed WilliamsTheodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
hit a home run off Thornton Lee, one of 31 homers he hit in his rookie season. Williams homered off Thornton's son, Don Lee, of the Senators, on September 2, 1960, thus becoming the only player in major league history to hit a home run off a father and son.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins