Jim Lemon
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2009) |
| Jim Lemon | |
|---|---|
 Lemon in 1959 | |
| Outfielder / Manager | |
| Born: March 23, 1928 Covington, Virginia, U.S. | |
| Died: May 14, 2006 (aged 78) Brandon, Mississippi, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 20, 1950, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 24, 1963, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .262 |
| Home runs | 164 |
| Runs batted in | 529 |
| Managerial record | 65–96 |
| Winning % | .404 |
| Teams | |
| As player
As manager | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
James Robert Lemon (March 23, 1928 – May 14, 2006) was an American
Playing career
Born in
A free-swinger who three times led the
However, the home run exploits of Lemon and his teammates were more than offset by poor pitching, and after multiple second-division finishes in the AL, Griffith moved the Senators to Minneapolis–Saint Paul after the 1960 campaign to become the Minnesota Twins. But Lemon left his stroke behind in Washington, and after only 14 homers in Minnesota in 1961 and an injury-ruined 1962, his career wound down quickly. His last year as a player, 1963, was divided among the Twins, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox. All told, he appeared in 1,010 games over all or parts of 12 major league seasons and batted .262 with 164 home runs.
Coach and manager
Lemon remained in the game as a coach for the Twins, serving two different terms (1965–67; 1981–84) in that role, including with the 1965 pennant-winning team. In between, in 1968, he returned to Washington as manager of the expansion Senators, but his popularity as a player did not translate to a successful managerial record. His club finished last in the ten-team American League, winning 65 games and losing 96 (.404)—but it did feature a fearsome, right-handed power-hitter in Frank Howard. Lemon was fired after only one season, replaced by Ted Williams.
As a native son, and to honor his batting achievements with the original Senators, he was elected to the
Jim Lemon died from cancer at the age of 78 at his Brandon, Mississippi home.[3]
See also
References
- ^ Cool of the Evening: The 1965 Minnesota Twins
- ^ "Senators lose to Yanks, But Lemon Steals Show With Three Home Runs". Ottawa Citizen. 1956-09-01. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
- ^ Jim Lemon, 78, Outfielder, Is Dead; Earned Visit With Eisenhower
- The Baseball Encyclopedia, tenth edition. New York: MacMillan USA, 1996.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs
- Jim Lemon managerial career statistics at Baseball-Reference.com
- Bio from Cool of the Evening: The 1965 Minnesota Twins
- Excerpt from a 1953 film following Lemon's progress in spring training