Jim Lemon
Born: 3/23/1928 in Covington, VA, USA
Died: 5/14/2006 in Brandon, MS, USA
MLB Debut: 1950-08-20 | Final Game: 1963-09-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 200 lbs
Full name: James Robert Lemon
Biography
Jim Lemon was a prominent American professional baseball player who enjoyed a successful career as a position player from 1950 to 1963. Born in 1928, Lemon made his mark in Major League Baseball during an era characterized by a blend of traditional baseball aesthetics and the evolving strategies of the game. He played in a total of 1,010 games, amassing 901 hits and demonstrating consistent power with 164 home runs and 529 runs batted in. His career batting average stood at .262, reflecting a solid performance at the plate, while he also contributed with 13 stolen bases, showcasing his versatility as a player.
Throughout his career, Lemon was recognized for his abilities, earning All-Star selections in two seasons. His contributions were particularly significant during the 1950s and early 1960s, a time when baseball was transitioning into a more dynamic sport with the integration of African American players and an increasing emphasis on power hitting. Lemon's style of play and his ability to connect with fans left a lasting impact, ensuring his place in baseball history as a skilled and exciting player of his time.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1010 | 3445 | 446 | 901 | 121 | 35 | 164 | 529 | 13 | 363 | 787 | 0.262 | 0.332 | 0.460 | 0.792 | 7455.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | CLE | AL | 12 | 34 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0.176 | 0.0 |
| 1953 | CLE | AL | 16 | 46 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 0.174 | 0.0 |
| 1954 | WSN | AL | 37 | 128 | 12 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 9 | 34 | 0.234 | -325.9 |
| 1955 | WSN | AL | 10 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1956 | WSN | AL | 146 | 538 | 77 | 146 | 21 | 11 | 27 | 96 | 2 | 65 | 138 | 0.271 | 1720.8 |
| 1957 | WSN | AL | 137 | 518 | 58 | 147 | 23 | 6 | 17 | 64 | 1 | 49 | 94 | 0.284 | 1104.6 |
| 1958 | WSN | AL | 142 | 501 | 65 | 123 | 15 | 9 | 26 | 75 | 2 | 50 | 120 | 0.246 | 736.4 |
| 1959 | WSN | AL | 147 | 531 | 73 | 148 | 18 | 3 | 33 | 100 | 5 | 46 | 99 | 0.279 | 1761.0 |
| 1960 | WSN | AL | 148 | 528 | 81 | 142 | 10 | 1 | 38 | 100 | 2 | 67 | 114 | 0.269 | 2267.6 |
| 1961 | MIN | AL | 129 | 423 | 57 | 109 | 26 | 1 | 14 | 52 | 1 | 44 | 98 | 0.258 | 242.2 |
| 1962 | MIN | AL | 12 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0.176 | 0.0 |
| 1963 | CHW | AL | 36 | 80 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 32 | 0.200 | -176.0 |
| 1963 | MIN | AL | 7 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.118 | -176.0 |
| 1963 | PHI | NL | 31 | 59 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 18 | 0.271 | -176.0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 30 | 26 | 168 | 11 | 8 | 18 |
| OF | 901 | 865 | 1631 | 47 | 68 | 12 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | CLE | OF | 10 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 1953 | CLE | 1B | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1953 | CLE | OF | 11 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1954 | WS1 | OF | 33 | 32 | 58 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1955 | WS1 | OF | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | WS1 | OF | 141 | 141 | 301 | 11 | 12 | 6 |
| 1957 | WS1 | 1B | 3 | 3 | 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1957 | WS1 | OF | 131 | 130 | 227 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| 1958 | WS1 | OF | 137 | 134 | 255 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| 1959 | WS1 | OF | 142 | 140 | 281 | 4 | 9 | 0 |
| 1960 | WS1 | OF | 145 | 141 | 251 | 11 | 11 | 1 |
| 1961 | MIN | OF | 120 | 119 | 182 | 7 | 12 | 0 |
| 1962 | MIN | OF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | CHA | 1B | 25 | 23 | 136 | 7 | 3 | 18 |
| 1963 | MIN | OF | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | PHI | OF | 18 | 16 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 30 |
| Left Field | 452 |
| Right Field | 454 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 10th | 36.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1959 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 25th | 4.0 | 336 | 0 |