Lee Tinsley
Born: 3/4/1969 in Shelbyville, KY, USA
Died: 1/12/2023 in Scottsdale, AZ, USA
MLB Debut: 1993-04-06 | Final Game: 1997-09-28
Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Lee Owen Tinsley
Biography
Lee Tinsley, born in 1969, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1993 to 1997. A versatile position player known for his speed and agility, Tinsley played primarily as an outfielder during his career. He appeared in 361 games, where he recorded 210 hits, 13 home runs, and 79 RBIs, finishing with a career batting average of .241. His ability to steal bases was a significant aspect of his game, as evidenced by his 41 stolen bases, showcasing his talent for creating opportunities on the basepaths.
Tinsley played in an era marked by the emergence of power hitters and a shifting focus towards offensive production. Although he was not primarily known for his power at the plate, his contributions as a speedy, contact-oriented player added depth to the teams he played for, which included the Seattle Mariners and the Boston Red Sox. His career, while relatively brief, reflected the evolving dynamics of baseball during the 1990s, where the balance between speed and power was increasingly scrutinized. After retiring on September 28, 1997, Tinsley's legacy continued to influence the game, particularly in discussions surrounding the value of speed and defense in a sport often dominated by home run hitters.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 361 | 870 | 131 | 210 | 34 | 4 | 13 | 79 | 41 | 88 | 231 | 0.241 | 0.313 | 0.334 | 0.647 | -2208.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | SEA | AL | 11 | 19 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0.158 | 0.0 |
| 1994 | BOS | AL | 78 | 144 | 27 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 36 | 0.222 | -517.2 |
| 1995 | BOS | AL | 100 | 341 | 61 | 97 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 41 | 18 | 39 | 74 | 0.284 | 128.2 |
| 1996 | BOS | AL | 92 | 192 | 28 | 47 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 13 | 56 | 0.245 | -664.9 |
| 1996 | PHI | NL | 31 | 52 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 0.135 | -664.9 |
| 1997 | SEA | AL | 49 | 122 | 12 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 34 | 0.197 | -635.8 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | ALDS1 | BOS | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 309 | 208 | 574 | 15 | 9 | 5 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | SEA | OF | 6 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | BOS | OF | 60 | 36 | 113 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 1995 | BOS | OF | 97 | 83 | 228 | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| 1996 | BOS | OF | 83 | 49 | 132 | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | PHI | OF | 22 | 7 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | SEA | OF | 41 | 31 | 68 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 89 |
| Center Field | 215 |
| Right Field | 14 |
| Designated Hitter | 18 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | SEA | AL | $400,000 |
| 1996 | PHI | NL | $225,000 |
| 1995 | BOS | AL | $140,000 |
| 1994 | BOS | AL | $119,000 |
| 1993 | SEA | AL | $109,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $993,000 | ||