Towards the end of his playing career, Lemon was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called polycythemia vera. Over the years, Lemon suffered numerous blood clots and strokes eventually rendering him unable to walk or speak. However, Lemon was able to attend celebrations commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Detroit Tigers' 1984 World Series title at Comerica Park last September.
Born in Mississippi and raised in Los Angeles, Lemon was a first round draft pick by the Oakland A's in 1972. During the 1975 season, the A's sent Lemon along with pitcher Dave Hamilton to the Chicago White Sox for pitchers Stan Bahnsen and Skip Pitlock. Lemon would make his MLB debut with the Chisox later that season as a third baseman.
By 1976, Lemon was moved to the outfield where he would remain for the rest of his career playing primarily in centerfield earning the nickname The Jet. In 1978 and 1979, Lemon would bat .300 or better earning back-to-back AL All-Star Team selections. Lemon's 44 doubles led the AL in 1979. It would also mark the first of four times that Lemon led the league in getting hit by a pitch. During his MLB career, Lemon was hit by a pitch 151 times which is 25th on the all-time MLB list.
Prior to the 1982 season, the White Sox dealt Lemon to the Detroit Tigers for outfielder Steve Kemp. This has to be one of the most lopsided trades in Tigers history. While Kemp had a good season on the South Side of Chicago in 1982 but would sign with the New York Yankees as a free agent the following season and was never quite the same player after leaving Chicago.
Meanwhile, Lemon would spend 9 seasons with the Tigers. Aside from earning a World Series ring in 1984, Lemon would earn another AL All-Star Team selection. Although he never won a Gold Glove, Lemon was a solid defender in centerfield with a reliable bat. In 1988 career games, Lemon collected 1875 hits for a lifetime batting average of .273 with 215 HR and 884 RBIs. Of his 215 HR, 142 were hit in a Tigers uniform good enough for 20th in franchise history.
Lemon remained in baseball as a high school baseball coach in Florida guiding his teams to several championships.
On a personal note, Chet Lemon is among the first baseball players whom I ever took notice. At first, it had to do with his last name. But years later I got watch a lot of Detroit Tigers game on WDIV. I fondly remember a commercial which featured a clip of Lemon robbing Rod Carew of a home run. In the commercial, Lemon stops to tell the viewer, "You probably think the ball is out of here. No way." He then proceeds to make the catch. As he's running back, he turns to the camera and says, "Hey, that's what they pay me for."
At the risk of sounding cliche, a piece of my childhood is gone. R.I.P.
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