Editing Chet Lemon (section)

====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>