| Charlie Lea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1956-12-25)December 25, 1956 Orléans, France | |
| Died: November 11, 2011(2011-11-11) (aged 54) Collierville, Tennessee, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 12, 1980, for the Montreal Expos | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 1, 1988, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 62–48 |
| Earned run average | 3.54 |
| Strikeouts | 535 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Charles William Lea (December 25, 1956 – November 11, 2011) was an American professionalbaseballstarting pitcher inMajor League Baseball. From1980 through1988, Lea played for theMontreal Expos (1980–84, 1987) andMinnesota Twins (1988). He batted and threw right-handed.
Lea was drafted three times, by theNew York Mets (1975),St. Louis Cardinals (1976) andChicago White Sox (1977), but did not sign and decided to go on toMemphis State University. He signed with the Montreal Expos after being selected in the 1978 draft.
Lea played for the Double-AMemphis Chicks in theSouthern League from 1978 to 1980 and was selected an All-Star in 1979 and 1980. After a 9–0 mark and a 0.84ERA in his last season at Memphis, Lea was called to the majors and debuted with the Expos in the 1980 midseason. He finished hisrookie season with a 7–5 record.
On May 10, 1981, Leano-hit theSan Francisco Giants 4-0 in the second game of adoubleheader atOlympic Stadium.[1] He was one of only three Expos to throw a no-hitter, the others beingBill Stoneman, twice, in 1969 and 1972, andDennis Martínez, who pitched aperfect game in 1991.
In 1982, Lea finished with a 12–10 mark and a 3.24ERA. His most productive season came in 1983, when he collected career-highs in victories (16),strikeouts (137), and starts (33), posting a 3.12 ERA. Then, in 1984 Lea was 15–10, set personal marks in ERA (2.89) andinnings pitched (224+1⁄3), and was selected as aNational League All-Star where he was the starting and winning pitcher in the All-Star game.
Lea suffered arm and shoulder injuries and could not pitch at all in 1985 and 1986. He spent most of 1987 rehabilitating in theminor leagues and appeared in one inning for the Expos. Afree agent before the 1988 season, he signed with the Minnesota Twins, finishing 7-7 with a 4.85 ERA.
In a seven-season career, Lea posted a 62–48 record with 535 strikeouts and a 3.54 ERA in923+1⁄3 innings. He added 22complete games and eightshutouts in 152games pitched (144 as a starter).
Lea was inducted to the Tennessee Sports of Hall of Fame in 1999.[2]
Lea died on November 11, 2011, inCollierville, Tennessee, after an apparent heart attack at the age of 54.[3]
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