Born: Philadelphia, Pa., 7/16/37
B-R, T-R... 5'11", 192 lbs
A native Philadelphia, Lee Elia was a minor league manager in the Phillies' system for five years before joining the Phils' coaching staff in 1980. Coaching third base, Elia's spotlight was unwanted: a bungled-up communication with Bake McBride that deprived the Phils of a winning run in regulation of Game 2 of the NLCS, a game that the Astros would take in the 10th inning. However, Elia was a well-respected coach, and would manage for the Chicago Cubs (under General Manager Dallas Green) and the Phillies.
Elia's major league career was just two short stints. In 1966, Lee played 80 games with the Chicago White Sox, batting .205 with three homers and 22 RBI in 195 at-bats. Two years later, Elia had a short cup of coffee with the crosstown Cubs. This time, Elia failed to reach the Mendoza line in his limited stint (15 games, 17 ABs). He did manage to knock in three run without the benefit of an extra-base hit.
Lifetime Playing Statistics
|
Year |
Team |
AB |
Runs |
Hits |
HR |
RBI |
Avg. |
|
1966 |
White Sox |
195 |
16 |
40 |
3 |
22 |
.205 |
|
1968 |
Cubs |
17 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
.176 |
|
TOTALS |
|
195 |
16 |
40 |
3 |
22 |
.203 |
Lifetime Managing Statistics
|
|
Team |
W |
L |
Pct. |
Finish |
|
1982 |
Cubs |
73 |
89 |
0.451 |
5 |
|
1983 |
Cubs |
54 |
69 |
0.439 |
5 |
|
1987 |
Phillies |
51 |
50 |
0.505 |
4 |
|
1988 |
Phillies |
60 |
92 |
0.395 |
6 |
|
TOTALS |
|
238 |
300 |
0.442 |
|
Phillies Publications
From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:
Personal: Age 42, turns 43 on July 16... Born- Philadelphia, Pa., July 16, 1937... Home- Clearwater, Fla.... B-R, T-R... 5'11", 192... Graduated Olney (Philadelphia) High School... Attended the University of Delaware.
Lee joins the Phillies this season as third base coach after serving as a manager in the Phils minor league system since 1975... Led Spartanburg to League title in 1975... Both his 1978 Reading and 1979 Oklahoma City teams won their divisions and lost in the playoffs... Was a member of the Chicago White Sox in 1966 and the Chicago Cubs in 1968.
From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:
Personal: Age 43, turns 44 on July 16... Born- Philadelphia, Pa., July 16, 1937... Home- Clearwater, Fla.... B-R, T-R... 5'11", 192... Graduated Olney (Philadelphia) High School... Attended the University of Delaware... Married; Wife's name is Penny.
Lee begins his second year as Phillies third base coach after serving as a manager in the Phils minor league system since 1975... Led Spartanburg to League title in 1975... Both his 1978 Reading and 1979 Oklahoma City teams won their divisions and lost in the playoffs... Was a member of the Chicago White Sox in 1966 and the Chicago Cubs in 1968.
From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:
Personal: Age 42, turns 43 on July 16... Born- Philadelphia, Pa., July 16, 1937... Home- Clearwater, Fla.... B-R, T-R... 5'11", 192... Graduated Olney (Philadelphia) High School... Attended the University of Delaware.
- Favorite Color: Baby Blue
- Favorite Singer/Group: Barbra Streisand, Bee Gees
- Favorite Song: After the Lovin' by Englebert Humperdinck
- Favorite City: Philadelphia- where I was born and raised
- Least Favorite City: Jersey City
- Person You'd Most Like To Meet: President Carter and/or Barbra Streisand
- Boyhood Idol(s): "Schoolboy" Rowe
- Biggets Turn-On: Catching a 10-pound speckled trout
- Biggest Turn-Off: Unsatisfied people
- Favorite Subject in School: Math and phys. ed.
- Favorite TV Show: Columbo
- Favorite Book: None- I watch too much TV
- Person You Most Admire: My mother and father
- Greatest Achievement: Being where I am right now both physically and mentally
- Most Memorable Moment: Driving in the winning run in the 12th inning against St. Louis while playing for the Cubs on Stan Musial Day
- Hobbies: Fishing and horses, arts and crafts
- Toughest Pitcher You've Faced: All of them