Charlie Lea
Born: 12/25/1956 in Orleans, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Died: 11/11/2011 in Collierville, TN, USA
MLB Debut: 1980-06-12 | Final Game: 1988-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 194 lbs
Full name: Charles William Lea
Biography
Charlie Lea was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1980 until his retirement in 1988. Born in 1956, Lea made a significant impact on the mound during his career, which spanned parts of nine seasons. He was known for his competitive spirit and versatility, contributing to his teams both as a starter and in relief roles. Throughout his career, Lea compiled a record of 62 wins and 48 losses, with a respectable earned run average (ERA) of 3.54. He also recorded 535 strikeouts, showcasing his ability to overpower hitters during a time when pitching talent was abundant in the league.
Lea's most notable achievement came in 1983 when he was selected as an All-Star, a recognition of his performance and contributions to the game. Playing during an era that saw the rise of power hitters and the evolution of pitching strategies, Lea's skill set allowed him to adapt and thrive. His career was highlighted by moments of brilliance on the mound, and he remains a respected figure for his contributions to the teams he represented. After concluding his playing career on October 1, 1988, Lea left a lasting legacy in the baseball community, remembered for his tenacity and skill as a pitcher.
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 48 | 152 | 144 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 923.3 | 864 | 363 | 79 | 341 | 535 | 3.54 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | WSN | NL | 7 | 5 | 21 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 104.0 | 103 | 43 | 55 | 56 | 3.72 | - |
| 1981 | WSN | NL | 5 | 4 | 16 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 64.3 | 63 | 33 | 26 | 31 | 4.62 | - |
| 1982 | WSN | NL | 12 | 10 | 27 | 27 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 177.7 | 145 | 64 | 56 | 115 | 3.24 | - |
| 1983 | WSN | NL | 16 | 11 | 33 | 33 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 222.0 | 195 | 77 | 84 | 137 | 3.12 | - |
| 1984 | WSN | NL | 15 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 224.3 | 198 | 72 | 68 | 123 | 2.89 | - |
| 1987 | WSN | NL | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 36.00 | - |
| 1988 | MIN | AL | 7 | 7 | 24 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 130.0 | 156 | 70 | 50 | 72 | 4.85 | -3660.2 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 152 | 259 | 11 | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 93 | 0.112 | 0.144 | 0.127 | 0.272 | -2096.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | WSN | NL | 21 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0.081 | 0.0 |
| 1981 | WSN | NL | 16 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0.133 | 0.0 |
| 1982 | WSN | NL | 27 | 65 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 22 | 0.123 | -578.5 |
| 1983 | WSN | NL | 33 | 70 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 0.114 | -730.0 |
| 1984 | WSN | NL | 30 | 72 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 0.111 | -787.9 |
| 1987 | WSN | NL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1988 | MIN | AL | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 152 | 144 | 65 | 112 | 4 | 5 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | MON | P | 21 | 19 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | MON | P | 16 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 1982 | MON | P | 27 | 27 | 6 | 22 | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 | MON | P | 33 | 33 | 19 | 27 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | MON | P | 30 | 30 | 19 | 33 | 1 | 1 |
| 1987 | MON | P | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | MIN | P | 24 | 23 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 152 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Pitcher of the Month | May |
| 1981 | Player of the Week | Week of 1981-05-08 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | MIN | AL | $62,500 |
| 1986 | MON | NL | $850,000 |
| 1985 | MON | NL | $650,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $1,562,500 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Memphis | Memphis | TN | 1978 |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | Memphis | TN | 1976, 1977 |