Thornton Lee: Difference between revisions
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* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|AL ERA leader]] (1941) |
* [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|AL ERA leader]] (1941) |
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'''Thornton Starr Lee''' (September 13, 1906 – June 9, 1997), nicknamed ''' |
'''Thornton Starr Lee''' (September 13, 1906 – June 9, 1997), nicknamed "'''Lefty'''", was an American [[starting pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played for the [[Cleveland Indians]] (1933–36), [[Chicago White Sox]] (1937–47) and [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]] (1948). Lee batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of pitcher [[Don Lee (baseball)|Don Lee]]. |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Lee was born in [[Sonoma, California]]. He attended [[Arroyo Grande High School]] in [[San Luis Obispo County]] from 1923 to 1925 then went on to play football, basketball, baseball and track at [[California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo|California Polytechnic]] (Cal Poly) in [[San Luis Obispo]]. |
Lee was born in [[Sonoma, California]]. He attended [[Arroyo Grande High School]] in [[San Luis Obispo County]] from 1923 to 1925 then went on to play football, basketball, baseball and track at [[California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo|California Polytechnic]] (Cal Poly) in [[San Luis Obispo]].<ref>Images of America Arroyo Grande by Jean Hubbard and Gary Hoving; 2009 Arcadia Publishing.</ref> 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. |
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Before the 1937 season, he was part of a three-team trade among the Indians, Chicago White Sox and [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|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.{{cn|date=August 2021}} |
Before the 1937 season, he was part of a three-team trade among the Indians, Chicago White Sox and [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|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.{{cn|date=August 2021}} |
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From 1942 to 1945, 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 2.44 ERA and 108 strikeouts, and pitching in the All-Star game for the second time. |
From 1942 to 1945, 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 2.44 ERA and 108 strikeouts, and pitching in the All-Star game for the second time. |
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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 (PCL)|Oakland Oaks]] pennant championship. He retired at the end of the season. |
At the age of 42, Lee divided his time in 1948 between the [[National League (baseball)|National League]], with the Giants, and the [[Pacific Coast League]], where he contributed to the [[Oakland Oaks (PCL)|Oakland Oaks]] pennant championship. He retired at the end of the season. |
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Lee had a .200 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (167-for-835) with 63 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 4 [[home runs]] and 66 [[Run batted in|RBI]] in 375 games. All four of his career home runs came as a member of the 1938 Chicago White Sox. |
Lee had a .200 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] (167-for-835) with 63 [[run (baseball)|runs]], 4 [[home runs]] and 66 [[Run batted in|RBI]] in 375 games. All four of his career home runs came as a member of the 1938 Chicago White Sox. |
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California Polytechnic University inducted Lee into their Hall of Fame on November 4, 1988.<ref>{{cite news |title=Poly Hall to Honor Six |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-press-recorder-thornton-lee-cal-po/141325809/ |access-date=February 17, 2024 |work=The Times-Press-Recorder |date=November 4, 1988 |location=[[Arroyo Grande, California]] |page=2B |via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> Lee died from complications of [[Parkinson's disease]] on June 9, 1997 in [[Tucson, Arizona]] at the age of 90.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hansen |first1=Greg |title=Thornton Lee Dies; Pitched 16 Years in Major Leauges |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-thornton-lee-obit-ju/141324795/ |access-date=February 17, 2024 |work=[[The Arizona Daily Star]] |date=June 11, 1997 |location=[[Tucson, Arizona]] |pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-thornton-lee-obit-par/141324978/ D5]|via=Newspapers.com}} {{open access}}</ref> |
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Lee died was inducted into the Cal Poly Hall of Fame in 1988 and died in June 1997 in [[Tucson, Arizona]], at 90 years of age. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gopoly.com/index.php?p=hall_of_fame&id=158 |title=Thorton S. Lee |access-date=October 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924185535/http://gopoly.com/index.php?p=hall_of_fame&id=158 |archive-date=September 24, 2010 }}</ref> |
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==Fact== |
==Fact== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Baseballstats |mlb=117615 |espn= |br=l/leeth01 |fangraphs= |cube= |brm=lee---005tho }} |
{{Baseballstats |mlb=117615 |espn= |br=l/leeth01 |fangraphs= |cube= |brm=lee---005tho }} |
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*[https://baseballbiography.com/thornton-lee Thornton Lee] - Baseballbiography.com |
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*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3526/is_200201/ai_n8321175 The National Pastime] |
*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3526/is_200201/ai_n8321175 The National Pastime] |
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[[Category:Chicago White Sox players]] |
[[Category:Chicago White Sox players]] |
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[[Category:Cleveland Indians players]] |
[[Category:Cleveland Indians players]] |
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[[Category:New York Giants ( |
[[Category:New York Giants (baseball) players]] |
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[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals scouts]] |
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals scouts]] |
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[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]] |
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]] |
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[[Category:Minor league baseball managers]] |
[[Category:Minor league baseball managers]] |
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[[Category:Salt Lake City Bees players]] |
[[Category:Salt Lake City Bees players]] |
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[[Category:Cal Poly Mustangs baseball players]] |
[[Category:Cal Poly Mustangs baseball players]] |
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[[Category:People from Sonoma, California]] |
[[Category:People from Sonoma, California]] |
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Revision as of 06:38, 27 May 2024
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2017) |
| Thornton Lee | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: September 13, 1906 Sonoma, California, U.S. | |
| Died: June 9, 1997 (aged 90) Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 19, 1933, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 18, 1948, for the New York Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 117–124 |
| Earned run average | 3.56 |
| Strikeouts | 937 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Thornton Starr Lee (September 13, 1906 – June 9, 1997), nicknamed "Lefty", was an American 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.
Career
Lee was born in Sonoma, California. He attended Arroyo Grande High School in San Luis Obispo County from 1923 to 1925 then went on to play football, basketball, baseball and track at California Polytechnic (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo.[1] 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.
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.[citation needed]
In his first four years with the Sox, Lee won 12 or more games, with a high 15 victories in 1939. 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 strikeouts (also a career-high), was named to the AL All-Star team, and collected a $2,500 bonus for winning more than 20 games.[citation needed]
From 1942 to 1945, 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 2.44 ERA and 108 strikeouts, and pitching in the All-Star game for the 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.
Lee had a .200 batting average (167-for-835) with 63 runs, 4 home runs and 66 RBI in 375 games. All four of his career home runs came as a member of the 1938 Chicago White Sox.
California Polytechnic University inducted Lee into their Hall of Fame on November 4, 1988.[2] Lee died from complications of Parkinson's disease on June 9, 1997 in Tucson, Arizona at the age of 90.[3]
Fact
- On September 17, 1939, Ted Williams hit a home run off Thornton Lee, one of 31 homers he hit in his rookie season. Williams hit a home run 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.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ Images of America Arroyo Grande by Jean Hubbard and Gary Hoving; 2009 Arcadia Publishing.
- ^ "Poly Hall to Honor Six". The Times-Press-Recorder. Arroyo Grande, California. November 4, 1988. p. 2B. Retrieved February 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hansen, Greg (June 11, 1997). "Thornton Lee Dies; Pitched 16 Years in Major Leauges". The Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. pp. D1, D5. Retrieved February 17, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- The National Pastime
Categories:
- 1906 births
- 1997 deaths
- American League All-Stars
- American League ERA champions
- Chicago White Sox players
- Cleveland Indians players
- New York Giants (baseball) players
- St. Louis Cardinals scouts
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Minor league baseball managers
- Salt Lake City Bees players
- New Orleans Pelicans (baseball) players
- Shreveport Sports players
- Wilkes-Barre Barons (baseball) players
- Toledo Mud Hens players
- Oakland Oaks (baseball) players
- Cal Poly Mustangs baseball players
- People from Sonoma, California
- Baseball players from Sonoma County, California