Charlie Lea
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Charles William Lea (born December 25, 1956 in Orléans, France) is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1980 through 1988, Lea played for the Montreal Expos (1980-84, 1987) and Minnesota Twins (1988). He batted and threw right handed.
Lea was a solid starter on the strong Montreal Expos teams of the early 1980s. He was drafted three times, by the Mets (1975), Cardinals (1976) and White Sox (1977), but did not sign and decided to go on to Memphis State University. Finally, he signed with the Montreal Expos after being selected in the 1978 draft.
Lea played for the Double-A Memphis Chicks in the Southern League from 1978-80 and was selected an All-Star in 1979 and 1980. After a 9-0 mark and a 0.84 ERA in his last season at Memphis, Lea was called to the majors and debuted with the Expos in the 1980 midseason. He finished his rookie season with a 7-5 record.
In the strike-shortened 1981 season, Lea won five games, including a no-hitter against the Giants on May 10.
In 1982, Lea finished with a 12-10 mark and a 3.24 ERA. His most productive season came in 1983, when he collected career-highs in victories (16), strikeouts (137), and starts (33), posting a 3.12 ERA. Then, in 1984 Lea was 15-10, set personal marks in ERA (2.89) and innings pitched (224.1), and was selected as a National League All-Star where he was the starting and winning pitcher in the All-Star game.
But Lea suffered arm and shoulder injuries and could not pitch at all in 1985 and 1986. He spent most of 1987 rehabilitating in the minor leagues and appeared in one inning with the Expos. A free agent before the 1988 season, he signed with the Minnesota Twins, finishing 7-7 with a 4.85 ERA.
In a seven-season career, Lea posted a 62-48 record with 535 strikeouts and a 3,54 ERA in 923.1 innings. He added 22 complete games and eight shutouts in 152 games pitched (144 as a starter).
Lea was inducted to the Tennessee Sports of Hall of Fame in 1999.
[edit] Fact
- Lea is one of only three Montreal pitchers to throw a no-hitter. The others are Bill Stoneman, twice, in 1969 and 1972, and Dennis Martínez, a perfect game in 1991.
