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Lee Lacy was a professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on April 10, 1948, in Longview, Texas, and attended LeTourneau University. Lacy was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.
Lacy made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 1972 and played
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Lee Lacy was a professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on April 10, 1948, in Longview, Texas, and attended LeTourneau University. Lacy was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.
Lacy made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 1972 and played for them until 1978. During his time with the Dodgers, he played in the outfield and at third base. He was known for his speed on the basepaths and his ability to hit for power. In 1975, he hit a career-high 15 home runs and stole 32 bases.
After leaving the Dodgers, Lacy played for several other teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles, and Texas Rangers. He continued to be a versatile player, playing in the outfield and at third base, as well as serving as a designated hitter.
Lacy had some of his best seasons with the Pirates, where he played from 1979 to 1984. In 1980, he hit .321 with 13 home runs and 66 RBIs, helping the Pirates win the National League East division. He also had a strong performance in the 1980 National League Championship Series, hitting .389 with two home runs and six RBIs.
Lacy's career was not without controversy, however. In 1986, he was suspended for 60 days after testing positive for cocaine. He later admitted to struggling with drug addiction during his playing career.
Lacy retired from baseball in 1987 with a career batting average of .286, 91 home runs, and 401 RBIs. He also stole 174 bases and was known for his strong defense in the outfield and at third base.
After his playing career, Lacy worked as a coach and scout for several teams, including the Dodgers, Orioles, and Pirates. He also founded the Lee Lacy Baseball Academy in his hometown of Longview, Texas, where he worked to develop young baseball players.
Overall, Lee Lacy had a successful career as a versatile player who could hit for power and steal bases. While his career was marred by drug addiction and suspension, he remained a respected figure in the baseball community and worked to give back to the sport through coaching and mentoring young players.
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Los Angeles Dodgers vs St. Louis Cardinals - Radio Broadcast / On September 2, 1972, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium II. Starting for the Dodgers was Doug Rau, a left-handed pitcher making his Major League debut, while the Cardinals sent out Durham to the mound. The 1972 season was an interesting one for both teams. The Dodgers were in the midst of a rebuilding phase, having traded away some of their established stars in the previous year. Meanwhile, the Cardinals were coming off a successful 1971 campaign and were looking to repeat their success. The league was also experiencing a significant story in 1972, as it was the year of the first players' strike in Major League Baseball history, which had led to the cancellation of some games earlier in the season.
The game started off quietly, with both teams failing to score in the first inning. However, the Dodgers broke the deadlock in the second inning, scoring four runs. This scoring spree was initiated by a walk to Crawford and a single by Valentine. A wild pitch by Durham moved the runners to second and third, followed by an intentional walk to Russell. This set the stage for Yeager, who tripled to left, clearing the bases. Rau, in his debut game, followed suit with a triple of his own, scoring Yeager and putting the Dodgers up 4-0. The Cardinals' pitching struggled to contain the Dodgers' offense, with Durham being replaced by Palmer partway through the second inning.
The Cardinals' offense, on the other hand, was held in check by Rau. The Cardinals managed only three hits and one run, which came in the seventh inning when Jutze doubled and was driven in by Carbo. The Dodgers scored one more run in the sixth inning, with Yeager scoring on a single by Lacy. The Dodgers' pitching was the star of the game, with Rau going the distance, giving up only one run on three hits in his Major League debut.
The Dodgers' 5-1 victory over the Cardinals was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season for the team. Despite their struggles, the Dodgers would go on to finish the season in second place in the National League West, while the Cardinals would finish fourth in the National League East. The 1972 season was also notable for the performance of Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies, who won the Cy Young Award after an outstanding season in which he won 27 games for a team that won only 59 games in total. Meanwhile, the Oakland Athletics would go on to win the World Series, defeating the Cincinnati Reds in seven games.
