| Jim Lefebvre | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Second baseman /Third baseman /Manager | |
| Born: (1942-01-07)January 7, 1942 (age 83) Inglewood, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 12, 1965, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 19, 1972, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .251 |
| Home runs | 74 |
| Runs batted in | 404 |
| Managerial record | 417–442 |
| Winning % | .485 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .263 |
| Home runs | 60 |
| Runs batted in | 176 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| As player As manager As coach | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
James Kenneth Lefebvre (/ləˈfiːvər/lə-FEE-ver;[1] born January 7, 1942) is an American former professionalinfielder,coach, andmanager inMajor League Baseball (MLB). He was signed by theLos Angeles Dodgers as an amateurfree agent in 1962.
Lefebvre was the 1965 National LeagueRookie of the Year; he hit .250 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI in 157 games, helping the Dodgers win theWorld Series.[2] In 1965, he was part of an infield for the Dodgers that consisted of four players who wereswitch hitters. The others wereJim Gilliam,Wes Parker, andMaury Wills. In 1966, Lefebvre batted .274 with 24 home runs and 74 RBI in 152 games.[2] He also started atsecond base in the1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[3]
Lefebvre also played four seasons in Japan, from 1973 until 1976, for theLotte Orions.[4] Lefebvre became only the second player, afterJohnny Logan, to have won a World Series (1965 Dodgers) and aJapan Series with the 1974 Lotte Orions.
He was a big-league manager from 1989 to 1993, and briefly again in 1999, and was formerly the hitting coach with theCincinnati Reds.
Lefebvre was first hired as a major league manager by the Seattle Mariners in November 1988, with a two-year contract at $150,000 annually, with incentives and a team option for a third year.[5] In his second season in1990, Seattle won 77 games and drew over 1.5 million in home attendance at theKingdome. In1991, the Mariners posted their first-ever winning record at 83–79 (.512) and drew over 2.1 million, but Lefebvre's contract was not extended;[6] he was succeeded by assistant coachBill Plummer.[7] Lefebvre finished with a record of 233 wins and 253 losses.[8] Lefebvre was soon hired by theChicago Cubs in November,[9] and led them during the1992 and1993 seasons; he was released again after a posting a winning record, Chicago was 84–78 (.519) in the 1993 season.[10] With theMilwaukee Brewers, he was the interim manager for the final seven weeks of the1999 season.[11]
In addition to managing, Lefebvre has spent time coaching in the Dodgers,Milwaukee Brewers,San Francisco Giants,Oakland Athletics,Cincinnati Reds, andSan Diego Padres organizations. He coached the China National Baseball Team (Olympics) in 2005, the2006 World Baseball Classic, and 2008 Olympics.
| Team | From | To | Regular season record | Post–season record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | Win % | G | W | L | Win % | |||
| Seattle Mariners | 1989 | 1991 | 486 | 233 | 253 | .479 | DNQ | |||
| Chicago Cubs | 1992 | 1993 | 324 | 162 | 162 | .500 | ||||
| Milwaukee Brewers | 1999 | 1999 | 49 | 22 | 29 | .431 | ||||
| Total | 859 | 417 | 442 | .485 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | ||
| Ref.:[8] | ||||||||||
Lefebvre had roles on several television shows includingGilligan's Island andBatman. His role inBatman was of a henchman for theRiddler.[12] He is also a spokesman forVemma vitamin supplements.
Lefebvre first married Jean Bakke fromWaterford, Wisconsin, and they had their son,Ryan, when Lefebvre was playing baseball in Japan after he was with the Dodgers, where he was rookie of the year in 1965. Lefebvre has a daughter, Brittany, who is currently working in Christian motion pictures, and two other children, Bryce and Brianna Lefebvre.[12]
His son, Ryan, is the lead play-by-play announcer for theRoyals onFanDuel Sports Network Kansas City.
| Preceded by | Los Angeles Dodgers Hitting Coach 1979 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
