Lee Weyer
Lee Howard "Big Lee" Weyer (September 3, 1936 – July 4, 1988) was an
Early life and career
Born in
MLB umpiring career
Weyer umpired in the World Series in 1969, 1976, 1982 and 1987, serving as crew chief in 1976 and 1982. He also officiated in five National League Championship Series (1971, 1974, 1978, 1983, 1986, as crew chief in 1978), the 1981 National League Division Series (Western Division), and four All-Star games (1965, 1972, 1979, 1984), calling balls and strikes for the last of these. Weyer was behind the plate on April 16, 1978, when Bob Forsch of the St. Louis Cardinals pitched the first of his two no-hitters, a 5–0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.[5]
Weyer was widely regarded as having one of the overall largest
In 1980, after a spring training episode of bronchitis, Weyer was diagnosed as having Guillain–Barré syndrome, a potentially life-threatening disorder which can affect muscle control and even cause blindness. He rebounded after suffering from blurred vision, returning to the field in late August,[2] and also returned from a bout with diabetes in 1982.
Personal life
Weyer resided in Imlay City until 1969, when he relocated to the
Death
On July 4, 1988, Weyer suffered a massive heart attack at the San Mateo, California home of fellow umpire Ed Montague, while playing basketball with Montague's children. He was taken by paramedics to Mills Hospital in San Mateo, where he was pronounced dead at age 51. Weyer and Montague, close friends who had partnered on quite a popular amateur magic act,[3] had umpired together in a game between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs at Candlestick Park earlier that afternoon, with Weyer at first base.[2] Weyer's father had died of a heart attack at age 53, and a brother had died of a heart attack at age 52. At the time of his death Weyer was engaged to be married to Linda Hickey, a resident of Long Island, New York.[3] He was buried in Imlay Cemetery in his hometown.
See also
References
- ^ a b Gammons, Peter (April 6, 1987). "What Ever Happened to the Strike Zone?". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 66, no. 14. pp. 36–40, 45–46.
- ^ a b c d e "Obituaries". The Sporting News. 1988-07-18. p. 57.
- ^ ISSN 0733-1436.
- ^ "N.L. Recalls Weyer From Int, Purchases Four Other Arbiters". The Sporting News. 1961-09-13. p. 33.
- ISBN 0-934289-00-X.
- ^ The Sporting News Baseball Register. St. Louis: The Sporting News. 1964. p. 383.