Leron Lee

Leron Lee

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 196 lb.
• High School Grant Union High School (Sacramento)
• Debut September 5, 1969
• Final Game October 3, 1976
• Born March 4, 1948 in Bakersfield, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Outfielder Leron Lee played eight years in the majors and four in the minors, but is much more famous as a star in Japan.

The brother of Leon Lee and the uncle of Derrek Lee, Leron was a first-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1966 amateur draft. He hit .297 with 22 home runs for the Modesto Reds in 1967 and was the MVP of the California League. With the Tulsa Oilers, managed by Warren Spahn, in 1969, he hit .303 with 17 homers and 96 RBIs. Overall, he hit 52 home runs during four seasons in the minors.

Lee reached the majors as a September call-up in 1969 and hit .217 in 7 games for St. Louis. He was the Cardinals Opening Day rightfielder in 1970 and went on to post a .227 average along with 6 homers in 121 games. The following June, he was traded to the San Diego Padres. He had his best year in the majors in 1972, hitting .300 and slugging .497, when hit league hit .248 and slugged .365. He was the only regular on the team to hit higher than .269, and he clubbed a career-high 12 home runs. He later played with the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Lee went to Japan in 1977, joining the Lotte Orions. In his first season with the team, he hit .317 and led the Pacific League with 34 home run and 109 RBIs. In 1980, he led the circuit with a .358 average. Overall, in eleven seasons in with the club he hit .320 with 283 home runs. He holds the record for the career highest batting average in Nippon Pro Baseball for a batter with over 4000 at-bats.

Notable Achievements

• 1967 MVP California League Modesto Reds