Derrek Lee
First Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1997-2011)
Derrek Lee was a first baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2011 for 6 teams, including the San Diego Padres, a span of 15 seasons. In 1,942 career games, he hit .281 with 1,959 hits, 331 home runs, and 1,078 RBI. Derrek Lee was a 2-time All-Star, a 3-time Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 21,677.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- First Baseman
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'5" / 240 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1997-04-28
- Last Game
- 2011-09-28
- Awards
- 2× All-Star · 3× Gold Glove · Silver Slugger
Full name: Derrek Leon Lee
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,942 | 6,962 | 1,081 | 1,959 | 432 | 30 | 331 | 1,078 | 104 | 874 | 1,622 | .281 | .365 | .495 | .859 | 21,677 |
Career AVG .281 vs. league average .265 across their career seasons — +6.3% above league average.
Career OBP .365 vs. league average .334 across their career seasons — +9.2% above league average.
Career SLG .495 vs. league average .421 across their career seasons — +17.5% above league average.
Career OPS .859 vs. league average .755 across their career seasons — +13.9% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | SDN | NL | 22 | 54 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 24 | .259 | .266 (-3%) | .336 (+8%) | .419 (-12%) | .756 (-3%) | 1.1 |
| 1998 | FLO | NL | 141 | 454 | 62 | 106 | 29 | 1 | 17 | 74 | 5 | 47 | 120 | .233 | .266 (-12%) | .335 (-5%) | .420 (-1%) | .755 (-3%) | -231.2 |
| 1999 | FLO | NL | 70 | 218 | 21 | 45 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 2 | 17 | 70 | .206 | .271 (-24%) | .344 (-24%) | .433 (-25%) | .778 (-24%) | -939.4 |
| 2000 | FLO | NL | 158 | 477 | 70 | 134 | 18 | 3 | 28 | 70 | 0 | 63 | 123 | .281 | .270 (+4%) | .344 (+7%) | .437 (+16%) | .782 (+12%) | 1324.8 |
| 2001 | FLO | NL | 158 | 561 | 83 | 158 | 37 | 4 | 21 | 75 | 4 | 50 | 126 | .282 | .263 (+7%) | .332 (+4%) | .426 (+11%) | .758 (+8%) | 909.0 |
| 2002 | FLO | NL | 162 | 581 | 95 | 157 | 35 | 7 | 27 | 86 | 19 | 98 | 164 | .270 | .261 (+3%) | .331 (+14%) | .416 (+19%) | .747 (+17%) | 2247.5 |
| 2003 | FLO | NL | 155 | 539 | 91 | 146 | 31 | 2 | 31 | 92 | 21 | 88 | 131 | .271 | .264 (+3%) | .332 (+14%) | .422 (+20%) | .754 (+18%) | 2226.1 |
| 2004 | CHN | NL | 161 | 605 | 90 | 168 | 39 | 1 | 32 | 98 | 12 | 68 | 128 | .278 | .266 (+4%) | .335 (+6%) | .427 (+18%) | .762 (+13%) | 1667.5 |
| 2005 | CHN | NL | 158 | 594 | 120 | 199 | 50 | 3 | 46 | 107 | 15 | 85 | 109 | .335 | .264 (+27%) | .330 (+27%) | .418 (+58%) | .749 (+44%) | 5616.8 |
| 2006 | CHN | NL | 50 | 175 | 30 | 50 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 30 | 8 | 25 | 41 | .286 | .269 (+6%) | .336 (+9%) | .431 (+10%) | .768 (+10%) | 322.4 |
| 2007 | CHN | NL | 150 | 567 | 91 | 180 | 43 | 1 | 22 | 82 | 6 | 71 | 114 | .317 | .268 (+18%) | .335 (+19%) | .422 (+21%) | .758 (+20%) | 2655.3 |
| 2008 | CHN | NL | 155 | 623 | 93 | 181 | 41 | 3 | 20 | 90 | 8 | 71 | 119 | .291 | .263 (+10%) | .333 (+8%) | .416 (+11%) | .749 (+10%) | 1334.7 |
| 2009 | CHN | NL | 141 | 532 | 91 | 163 | 36 | 2 | 35 | 111 | 1 | 76 | 109 | .306 | .262 (+17%) | .332 (+18%) | .417 (+39%) | .750 (+30%) | 3332.8 |
| 2010 | CHN | NL | 109 | 418 | 63 | 105 | 21 | 0 | 16 | 56 | 1 | 52 | 101 | .251 | .257 (-2%) | .325 (+3%) | .402 (+3%) | .728 (+3%) | 307.2 |
| 2010 | ATL | NL | 39 | 129 | 17 | 37 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 0 | 21 | 33 | .287 | .257 (+11%) | .325 (+18%) | .402 (+15%) | .728 (+17%) | 307.2 |
| 2011 | BAL | AL | 85 | 334 | 39 | 82 | 15 | 1 | 12 | 41 | 2 | 25 | 83 | .246 | .255 (-4%) | .320 (-6%) | .399 (+1%) | .719 (-2%) | -126.0 |
| 2011 | PIT | NL | 28 | 101 | 16 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 27 | .337 | .255 (+32%) | .320 (+24%) | .399 (+46%) | .719 (+37%) | -126.0 |
| Career · 17 seasons | 1,942 | 6,962 | 1,081 | 1,959 | 432 | 30 | 331 | 1,078 | 104 | 874 | 1,622 | .281 | — | — | — | — | 20,830 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | NLDS2 | ATL | 4 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .125 |
| 2008 | NLDS1 | CHN | 3 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .545 |
| 2007 | NLDS1 | CHN | 3 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .333 |
| 2003 | NLCS | FLO | 7 | 32 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | .188 |
| 2003 | NLDS1 | FLO | 4 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | .250 |
| 2003 | WS | FLO | 6 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | .208 |
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (1942 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 977 | 3384 | 549 | 968 | 158 | 527 | .286 |
| Away | 965 | 3578 | 532 | 991 | 173 | 551 | .277 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-09-28 | PIT | MIL | L | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011-09-27 | PIT | MIL | L | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011-09-26 | PIT | MIL | W | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2011-09-25 | PIT | CIN | L | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2011-09-24 | PIT | CIN | W | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2011-09-23 | PIT | CIN | W | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011-09-21 | PIT | AZ | L | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011-09-20 | PIT | AZ | W | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011-09-19 | PIT | AZ | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2011-09-17 | PIT | LAD | L | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1901 | 1816 | 14910 | 1367 | 98 | 1442 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | SDN | 1B | 21 | 12 | 131 | 13 | 0 | 12 |
| 1998 | FLO | 1B | 132 | 114 | 950 | 114 | 8 | 116 |
| 1999 | FLO | 1B | 66 | 54 | 463 | 47 | 3 | 44 |
| 2000 | FLO | 1B | 147 | 123 | 1101 | 102 | 8 | 104 |
| 2001 | FLO | 1B | 156 | 146 | 1271 | 114 | 8 | 142 |
| 2002 | FLO | 1B | 162 | 161 | 1312 | 121 | 12 | 138 |
| 2003 | FLO | 1B | 155 | 153 | 1279 | 97 | 5 | 132 |
| 2004 | CHN | 1B | 161 | 159 | 1259 | 130 | 6 | 113 |
| 2005 | CHN | 1B | 158 | 158 | 1322 | 122 | 6 | 118 |
| 2006 | CHN | 1B | 47 | 44 | 370 | 26 | 5 | 34 |
| 2007 | CHN | 1B | 147 | 146 | 1165 | 87 | 7 | 99 |
| 2008 | CHN | 1B | 153 | 152 | 1193 | 110 | 9 | 98 |
| 2009 | CHN | 1B | 139 | 140 | 1088 | 94 | 6 | 110 |
| 2010 | CHN | 1B | 105 | 105 | 784 | 92 | 6 | 73 |
| 2010 | ATL | 1B | 39 | 36 | 283 | 24 | 1 | 26 |
| 2011 | BAL | 1B | 85 | 85 | 713 | 52 | 7 | 67 |
| 2011 | PIT | 1B | 28 | 28 | 226 | 22 | 1 | 16 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1901 |
| Designated Hitter | 8 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Player of the Month | September |
| 2007 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 2005 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 2005 | Player of the Month | April |
| 2005 | Player of the Week | Week of 2005-04-30 |
| 2005 | Player of the Week | Week of 2005-05-28 |
| 2005 | Silver Slugger | 1B |
| 2003 | Gold Glove | 1B |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | BAL | AL | $7,250,000 |
| 2010 | CHN | NL | $13,250,000 |
| 2009 | CHN | NL | $13,250,000 |
| 2008 | CHN | NL | $13,250,000 |
| 2007 | CHN | NL | $13,250,000 |
| 2006 | CHN | NL | $9,416,667 |
| 2005 | CHN | NL | $7,666,667 |
| 2004 | CHN | NL | $6,166,667 |
| 2003 | FLO | NL | $4,250,000 |
| 2002 | FLO | NL | $2,700,000 |
| 2001 | FLO | NL | $375,000 |
| 2000 | FLO | NL | $225,000 |
| 1999 | FLO | NL | $265,000 |
| 1998 | FLO | NL | $172,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $91,487,001 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 9th | 66.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2008 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 10.0 | 448 | 0 |
| 2005 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 3rd | 263.0 | 448 | 1 |
| 2003 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 27th | 3.0 | 448 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Derrek Lee (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Derrek Lee
Derrek Lee: the record in brief
Between the debut on April 28, 1997 and the final game on September 28, 2011, Derrek Lee built the record summarized on this page. The team column moves through the San Diego Padres (1997), the Florida Marlins (1998 to 2003), the Chicago Cubs (2004 to 2010), the Atlanta Braves (2010), the Baltimore Orioles (2011), and the Pittsburgh Pirates (2011). Lee played primarily as a first baseman and both batted and threw right-handed. The bio adds a birth date on September 6, 1975, in Sacramento, CA, USA and a listed size of 6 feet, 5 inches and 240 pounds. Derrek Lee was the playing name; the full given name is Derrek Leon.
Across 1,942 games at the plate, Lee's career line reads 1,959 hits in 6,962 at bats for a .281 average, adding 331 homers, 1,078 RBI, and 104 stolen bases. The on-base percentage is .365 and the slugging percentage .495, for an OPS of .859.
Frequently Asked Questions about Derrek Lee
- What years did Derrek Lee play?
- Derrek Lee played in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2011.
- Was Derrek Lee a pitcher?
- No. Derrek Lee was a position player (First Baseman).
- How many home runs did Derrek Lee hit?
- Derrek Lee hit 331 career home runs with 1959 hits.
- What was Derrek Lee's career batting average?
- Derrek Lee batted .281 over his career, with 1,959 hits in 6,962 at bats.
- How many RBI did Derrek Lee have?
- Derrek Lee drove in 1,078 runs in his career.
- Is Derrek Lee in the Hall of Fame?
- No. Derrek Lee has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.