Lee was born inPlaquemine, Louisiana, and playedcollege baseball as a freshman forLouisiana State University.[1] He was originally a top prospect in theSt. Louis Cardinals organization. In August 1933, Cardinals general managerBranch Rickey called his counterpart with the Cubs,William Veeck, Sr. and offered him two pitchers—Lee andClarence Heise. According toBill Veeck, one of Rickey's favorite tricks was to offer another team two players and trust that the other team would take the wrong one. In the case of Lee and Heise, Rickey knew that all but one Cubs pitcher was right-handed, and expected the Cubs to take Heise, a left-hander. However, on the advice of chief scoutJack Doyle, the Cubs took Lee. As it turned out, Heise would make only one relief appearance in 1934, and was never heard from again.[2] It was one of the few times where Rickey, who was legendary for fleecingNational League teams, ended up getting fleeced himself.[3]
Lee spent 10 full seasons with the Cubs, as well as a pair of cameo appearances in 1947. He made his major league debut on April 29, 1934, with the Cubs. He saved Game 5 of the1935 World Series atWrigley Field, with his team on the verge of elimination, and his best year was in 1938 when he helped lead the Cubs to anotherWorld Series with a league-leading 22 wins and a 2.66 ERA.[4] He was on theNational League All-Star Team twice when he played for the Cubs.[5]
Lee played for the Phillies from 1943–1945 and for the Braves from 1945–1946. Lee developed eye problems which made it difficult for him to see the catcher's signs. Eyeglasses helped little, and he retired in 1947 while playing for the Cubs.
Lee's career marks were 169 wins, 157 losses and a 3.54 ERA.[6] His 139 wins with the Cubs are still the ninth-most in franchise history.[7]
After retiring, Lee returned to Plaquemine, Louisiana, and had eye surgery for his detached retinas. He eventually lost sight in one eye[8] Lee suffered a heart attack in 1976 while visiting in Texas and died on June 15, 1977, and is interred in Saint John Cemetery in Plaquemine.[9]
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