Chet Lemon
Born: 2/12/1955 in Jackson, MS, USA
Died: 5/8/2025 in Apopka, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1975-09-09 | Final Game: 1990-10-03
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Chester Earl Lemon
Biography
Chet Lemon, born in 1955, was a prominent professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1975 to 1990. Known for his dynamic playing style and versatility in the outfield, Lemon appeared in 1,988 games over his 15-year career. He achieved a notable .273 batting average, accumulating 1,875 hits, 215 home runs, and 884 RBIs. Additionally, he showcased speed on the base paths with 58 stolen bases, complementing his offensive prowess. Lemon's contributions to the game earned him three All-Star selections, solidifying his status as one of the era's reliable position players.
Lemon played during a transformative period in Major League Baseball, navigating the transition from the tail end of the deadball era into the more power-centric styles of the late 1980s. His ability to hit for average while also providing pop in the lineup made him a key player for the teams he represented. With a career marked by consistency and a strong work ethic, Chet Lemon remains a respected figure in baseball history, remembered for both his on-field achievements and his impact on the game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 6868 | 973 | 1875 | 396 | 61 | 215 | 884 | 58 | 749 | 1024 | 0.273 | 0.355 | 0.442 | 0.797 | 17253.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | CHW | AL | 9 | 35 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0.257 | 0.0 |
| 1976 | CHW | AL | 132 | 451 | 46 | 111 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 13 | 28 | 65 | 0.246 | -727.5 |
| 1977 | CHW | AL | 150 | 553 | 99 | 151 | 38 | 4 | 19 | 67 | 8 | 52 | 88 | 0.273 | 1080.3 |
| 1978 | CHW | AL | 105 | 357 | 51 | 107 | 24 | 6 | 13 | 55 | 5 | 39 | 46 | 0.300 | 1745.5 |
| 1979 | CHW | AL | 148 | 556 | 79 | 177 | 44 | 2 | 17 | 86 | 7 | 56 | 68 | 0.318 | 2620.1 |
| 1980 | CHW | AL | 147 | 514 | 76 | 150 | 32 | 6 | 11 | 51 | 6 | 71 | 56 | 0.292 | 1948.6 |
| 1981 | CHW | AL | 94 | 328 | 50 | 99 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 50 | 5 | 33 | 48 | 0.302 | 1629.2 |
| 1982 | DET | AL | 125 | 436 | 75 | 116 | 20 | 1 | 19 | 52 | 1 | 56 | 69 | 0.266 | 1446.6 |
| 1983 | DET | AL | 145 | 491 | 78 | 125 | 21 | 5 | 24 | 69 | 0 | 54 | 70 | 0.255 | 1477.5 |
| 1984 | DET | AL | 141 | 509 | 77 | 146 | 34 | 6 | 20 | 76 | 5 | 51 | 83 | 0.287 | 2005.2 |
| 1985 | DET | AL | 145 | 517 | 69 | 137 | 28 | 4 | 18 | 68 | 0 | 45 | 93 | 0.265 | 835.7 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | 126 | 403 | 45 | 101 | 21 | 3 | 12 | 53 | 2 | 39 | 53 | 0.251 | 126.6 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | 146 | 470 | 75 | 130 | 30 | 3 | 20 | 75 | 0 | 70 | 82 | 0.277 | 1592.8 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | 144 | 512 | 67 | 135 | 29 | 4 | 17 | 64 | 1 | 59 | 65 | 0.264 | 1302.6 |
| 1989 | DET | AL | 127 | 414 | 45 | 98 | 19 | 2 | 7 | 47 | 1 | 46 | 71 | 0.237 | -204.3 |
| 1990 | DET | AL | 104 | 322 | 39 | 83 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 32 | 3 | 48 | 61 | 0.258 | 374.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 48 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 0.208 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | ALCS | DET | 5 | 18 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0.278 |
| 1984 | WS | DET | 5 | 17 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0.294 |
| 1984 | ALCS | DET | 3 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| OF | 1925 | 1846 | 4993 | 115 | 81 | 25 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | CHA | 3B | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | CHA | OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976 | CHA | OF | 131 | 118 | 353 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| 1977 | CHA | OF | 149 | 149 | 512 | 12 | 12 | 2 |
| 1978 | CHA | OF | 95 | 94 | 284 | 8 | 5 | 2 |
| 1979 | CHA | OF | 147 | 147 | 411 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
| 1980 | CHA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | CHA | OF | 139 | 135 | 347 | 11 | 7 | 2 |
| 1981 | CHA | OF | 93 | 94 | 240 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 1982 | DET | OF | 121 | 117 | 242 | 11 | 4 | 2 |
| 1983 | DET | OF | 145 | 140 | 406 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| 1984 | DET | OF | 140 | 135 | 427 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 1985 | DET | OF | 144 | 143 | 411 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| 1986 | DET | OF | 124 | 111 | 316 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 1987 | DET | OF | 145 | 130 | 350 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 1988 | DET | OF | 144 | 141 | 296 | 8 | 8 | 3 |
| 1989 | DET | OF | 111 | 103 | 189 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990 | DET | OF | 96 | 88 | 209 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 6 |
| Left Field | 1 |
| Center Field | 1470 |
| Right Field | 458 |
| Designated Hitter | 41 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Player of the Week | Week of 1988-09-30 |
| 1979 | Player of the Week | Week of 1979-04-13 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | DET | AL | $828,571 |
| 1989 | DET | AL | $828,571 |
| 1988 | DET | AL | $828,571 |
| 1987 | DET | AL | $698,571 |
| 1986 | DET | AL | $698,571 |
| 1985 | DET | AL | $670,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $4,552,855 | ||