Editing Chet Lemon (section)

==Professional baseball==
===Minor leagues===
Lemon was drafted in the first round (22nd overall) of the [[1972 Major League Baseball draft]] by the [[Oakland Athletics]]. He began his professional baseball career in 1972 playing for the Athletics' minor league team in [[Coos Bay, Oregon|Coos Bay]]-[[North Bend, Oregon]]. After 38 games in Oregon, he moved up to the [[Burlington Bees]] in the [[Midwest League]]. He remained with Burlington through the 1973 and 1974 seasons.<ref name="BRM" />

Lemon was traded along with [[Dave Hamilton (baseball)|Dave Hamilton]] from the Athletics to the [[Chicago White Sox]] for [[Stan Bahnsen]] and [[Skip Pitlock]] at the non-waiver trade deadline on June 15, {{mlby|1975}}.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1975/06/17/archives/as-obtain-bahnsen-on-deadline.html "A's Obtain Bahnsen on Deadline," ''The New York Times'', Tuesday, June 17, 1975.] Retrieved October 26, 2020.</ref> During the 1975 season, he batted .307 with eight [[home run]]s and 49 [[runs batted in]] for the Triple A [[Denver Bears]].<ref name="BRM">{{cite web|title=Chet Lemon Minor League Statistics|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lemon-001che|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>

===Chicago White Sox===
An [[infielder]] in the minor leagues, Lemon played third base during his brief stint with the Chicago White Sox in {{mlby|1975}}. He entered [[spring training]] 1976 as the leading candidate for the third base job, but after failing to impress manager [[Paul Richards (baseball)|Paul Richards]] with his glove, was moved to the [[outfield]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C1VjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O20NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1456,3607207&dq=morris+nettles+white+sox&hl=en|title=Chisox to be Nearly All New This Season|date=March 27, 1976|publisher=The Rochester Sentinel}}</ref> He made the transition seamlessly, as he made only three [[error (baseball)|errors]] all season while logging a .992 [[fielding percentage]] in [[Center fielder|centerfield]]. He batted .246 with four home runs, 38 RBIs, and 46 [[runs scored]].<ref name=BR/>

He came into his own as both a hitter and [[centerfielder]] in 1977. He scored a career high 99 [[run (baseball)|runs]], while showing a dramatic increase in power, hitting fifteen more home runs than he had his rookie season. He also set an [[American League]] record with 524 [[total chances]] and 512 [[putout]]s in the outfield, a record that still stands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/rb_ofpu.shtml|title=Outfielder Putout Records by Baseball Almanac}}</ref>

With the White Sox in sixth place in the [[American League West]], ahead only of the expansion [[Seattle Mariners]], Lemon was selected as his team's lone representative at the [[1978 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1978 All-Star Game]]. Though he did not receive an [[at-bat]], he entered the game in left field in the eighth inning, and committed an error in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]'s four-run eighth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS197807110.shtml|title=1978 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|date=July 11, 1978|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> The White Sox finished the season in fifth, eventually passing the Oakland A's in the standings. Lemon went 2-for-5 on the second-to-last day of the season to bring his season [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]] to .300.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL197809300.shtml|title=Chicago White Sox 6, California Angels 5|date=September 30, 1978|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> 

In 1979, Lemon was again the sole White Sox player on the [[1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|American League All-Star team]]. He entered the game in the second inning, and scored in the third after being hit by a [[Joaquín Andújar]] pitch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS197907170.shtml|title=1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|date=July 17, 1979|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He ended the season with a .318 batting average, a career high. He also hit 44 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], tying the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]' [[Cecil Cooper]] for the American League season best total.<ref name=BR/><ref>{{cite web|title=1979 American League Batting Leaders|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=May 15, 2025|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1979-batting-leaders.shtml}}</ref> Lemon recorded 411 putouts in 1979. That season was the first of four seasons that he led the league in times [[hit by pitch]].<ref name=BR/>

The White Sox finished near the bottom of the division standings during most of Lemon's tenure with the club. With the addition of free agent [[catcher]] [[Carlton Fisk]] and [[designated hitter]] [[Greg Luzinski]], the team improved to 31–22 and finished in third in the first half of the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|strike]] shortened 1981 season. For his part, Lemon batted .299 with three home runs and 22 RBIs in the first half. Though his team finished in sixth place in the second half, his stats improved, as he batted .305 with six home runs and drove in 28. Following the season, Lemon was traded to the [[Detroit Tigers]] for outfielder [[Steve Kemp]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3HNNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-FEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5546,5697477&dq=chet+lemon&hl=en|title=Lemon In, Kemp Out|publisher=The Bryan Times|date=November 28, 1981}}</ref>

===Detroit Tigers===
====1982 and 1983 seasons====
On November 27, 1981, the [[Detroit Tigers]] acquired Lemon in a trade that sent Steve Kemp to the [[Chicago White Sox]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Right-handed bat pleases Sparky|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=November 28, 1981|page=1C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17583737/righthand_bat_pleases_sparky_chet/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

In his first season with Detroit, Lemon shifted from his regular position in center field, starting 92 games in right field and 25 in center field.<ref name=BR>{{cite web|title=Chet Lemon Stats|publisher=[[Sports Reference|Sports Reference LLC]]|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2018|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lemonch01.shtml}}</ref> The [[1982 Detroit Tigers season|1982 Tigers]] compiled an 83–79 record and finished fourth in [[American League East]] (AL East). Lemon 's batting average dropped to .266, 38 points lower than he had averaged in the preceding four years.<ref name=BR/> Newspaper columnist [[Mike Downey (columnist)|Mike Downey]] opined that uprooting Lemon and his young family, along with a torn [[rib cage]], damaged [[ligaments]] in his left wrist, and several pulled muscles, had resulted in the worst season in his major league career.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sudden uprooting stunted Lemon's first Tiger season|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|author=Mike Downey|date=September 17, 1982|page=1D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17583875/sudden_uprooting_stunted_lemons_first/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Lemon later noted that moving to right field also affected him: "Playing right field wasn't real difficult. I didn't want to play it, that was my problem. It affected me so much mentally. I wasn't happy."<ref name=DFP84/>

Despite Lemon's 1982 performance, the Tigers signed Lemon to a five-year contract in November 1982. The contract paid Lemon an estimated $450,000 a year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tigers sign all 4 potential free agents|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=November 5, 1982|pages=1D, 7D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17583909/tigers_sign_all_4_potential_free_agents/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

In 1983, Lemon became the Tigers' regular center fielder, starting 133 games at the position. With only three errors in 417 chances, he provided the club with solid defense in the middle of the outfield. It was the first of three consecutive seasons where he had more than 400 putouts.<ref name=BR/> Manager [[Sparky Anderson]] in July 1983 called Lemon "the best defensive center fielder I've been around."<ref>{{cite news|title=Defense can't rest: Lemon's fielding wins raves from Sparky|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=July 15, 1983|page=1D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17583960/defense_cant_rest_lemons_fielding/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> On July 24, 1983, he gained national attention for a leaping catch that deprived [[Rod Carew]] of a game-winning home run in the 12th inning.<ref name=DFP84>{{cite news|title=Lemon's bat takes backseat to defense|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=February 27, 1984|page=3F|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17584139/lemons_bat_takes_backseat_to_defense/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lemon's catch was a sweet one|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|date=March 20, 1984|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17584177/lemons_catch_was_a_sweet_one/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Lemon also developed power with a career-high 24 home runs in 1983, and he led the American League with a career-high 20 times being [[hit by pitch]]. However, his batting average fell to .255.<ref name=BR/> His overall contributions helped the 1983 Tigers improve to 92–70, good for second in AL East.<ref>{{cite web|title=1983 Detroit Tigers Statistics|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2018|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1983.shtml}}</ref>

====1984 season====
In 1984, the Tigers opened with a 35–5 record, won the [[American League East]] by 15 games, and defeated the [[San Diego Padres]] in the [[1984 World Series]]. Lemon played a key role on the 1984 championship team. Defensively, he started 135 games in center field and compiled a career-high .995 fielding percentage with only two errors in 438 chances.<ref name=BR/> Offensively, his batting average jumped more than 30 points to .287, and his 60 extra-base hits tied [[Kirk Gibson]] for the most on the team. His 20 home runs and 76 RBIs ranked third on the 1984 Tigers team.<ref name=t84>{{cite web|title=1984 Detroit Tigers Statistics|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2018|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1984.shtml}}</ref> Lemon was also the starting center fielder for the American League at the [[1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1984 All-Star game]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS198407100.shtml|title=1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|date=July 10, 1984}}</ref>

Reaching the post-season for the first time in his career, Lemon went hitless in thirteen [[at-bat]]s in the Tigers' three-game sweep of the [[Kansas City Royals]] in the [[1984 American League Championship Series]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1984_ALCS.shtml|title=1984 American League Championship Series|date=October 2–5, 1984|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He improved in the World Series, batting .294 with a [[run scored]] and a run batted in.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1984_WS.shtml|title=1984 World Series|date=October 9–14, 1984|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> He also had "a [[Willie Mays]]–style back-to-the-plate catch" on a [[Terry Kennedy (baseball)|Terry Kennedy]] drive to preserve the Tigers' lead in the seventh inning of Game 3.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lemon is Tigers' radar-equipped cheetah|newspaper=Asbury Park Press (reprinted from Los Angeles Times)|date=October 13, 1984|page=B3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17584262/lemon_is_tigers_radarguided_cheetah/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Big catch stifles Padres|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=October 13, 1984|page=3D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17584221/big_catch_stifles_padres/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

====1985–1989====
In March 1985, the Tigers signed Lemon to a contract extension running through the 1991 season with a club option to extend through 1992. The extension was reported to be worth $4.5 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lemon signs 5-year contract extension|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=March 4, 1985|page=3D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17584305/lemon_signs_5year_contract_extension/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

He remained the Tigers' starting center fielder for three more seasons, playing 144 games at the position in 1985, 124 games in 1986, and 145 games in 1987. In 1987, he hit at least 20 home runs and 30 doubles for the third time in his career. He also ranked among the league's leading center fielders with a .992 [[fielding percentage]] (second), 348 [[putouts]] (third), and a 2.70 range factor (fourth), and helped the 1987 Tigers win the AL East with a record of 98–64.<ref name=BR/><ref>{{cite web|title=1987 Detroit Tigers Statistics|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=February 19, 2018|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1987.shtml}}</ref>

In 1988, the Tigers moved Lemon moved to [[right field]] to make room for speedy new acquisition [[Gary Pettis]]. He played 144 games in right field in 1988 and 111 games in 1989.<ref name=BR/>

====Polycythemia and retirement====
In the spring of 1990, Lemon was diagnosed with [[polycythemia vera]], a rare blood disorder.<ref name=OS01>{{cite news|title=Lemon has spleen removed|newspaper=The Lake Sentinel|date=December 21, 2001|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17595844/lemon_has_spleen_removed/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> During the 1990 season, he missed 47 games with multiple injuries and went through a divorce that affected his concentration.<ref>{{cite news|title=Don't count Lemon out just yet|newspaper=Battle Creek Enquirer|date=March 6, 1991|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17593106/dont_count_lemon_out_just_yet/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He failed to hit a home run between early May and late September and concluded the 1990 season with a career-low 378 at bats and only 32 RBIs.<ref name=BR/><ref name=DFP91a/>

Lemon returned to [[spring training]] in 1991, but he was injured for much of the training camp. He was waived by the Tigers on April 5, three days before opening day.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tigers waive Lemon|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=April 6, 1991|page=1B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17594853/tigers_waive_lemon/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

In August 1991, Lemon was hospitalized in the [[intensive care]] unit at the [[UF Health Shands Hospital|University of Florida Shands Hospital]] with a [[blood clot]] in his [[abdomen]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-Tiger Lemon hospitalized with rare blood disorder|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|date=August 29, 1991|page=5C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17595236/tampa_bay_times/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2sFRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ylUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3821,4923490&dq=chet+lemon&hl=en|title=Ex-Tiger Chet Lemon Improving|publisher=Ludington Daily News|date=August 29, 1991}}</ref> He was discharged after almost four weeks of treatment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lemon goes home 'happy' to be alive|newspaper=Battle Creek Enquirer|date=September 8, 1991|page=5D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17595537/lemon_goes_home_happy_to_be_alive/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

In December 2001, he underwent surgery at the [[Mayo Clinic]] to have his spleen removed.<ref name=OS01/>

===Career statistics===
{| class="wikitable"
|[[Games played|G]]
|PA
|[[At-bat|AB]]
|[[Run (baseball)|R]]
|[[Hit (baseball)|H]]
|[[Double (baseball)|2B]]
|[[Triple (baseball)|3B]]
|[[Home run|HR]]
|[[Runs batted in|RBI]]
|[[stolen base|SB]]
|[[Base on balls|BB]]
|[[hit by pitch|HBP]]
|[[Strikeout|SO]]
|[[Batting average (baseball)|BA]]
|[[On-base percentage|OBP]]
|[[slugging percentage|SLG]]
|[[Fielding percentage|Fld%]]
|-
|1988
|7872
|6868
|973
|1875
|396
|61
|215
|884
|58
|749
|151
|1024
|.273
|.355
|.442
|.984
|-
|colspan="17" style="text-align: center;"|'''Source:'''<ref name=BR/>
|}