Lee Elia

Lore & Background

Elia was born in New York City (the Bronx), and attended Olney High School in Philadelphia, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. He played college football at the University of Delaware before focusing on baseball. He signed with the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent in 1959 and spent seven years in the minor leagues before reaching the majors with the White Sox in 1966 and the Cubs in 1968. His playing career was cut short by knee injuries. He later became a coach and manager, winning the 1980 World Series as a first base coach with the Phillies. He is remembered for a profanity-laden tirade against fans and media while managing the Cubs in 1983.

In Their Own Story

It is a Thursday in late September, the kind of Pittsburgh evening where the air smells faintly of coal dust and wet concrete. The kitchen table is set with a cold plate of pierogis and a glass of dark beer gone warm. The AM dial crackles, settles, and there he is — the same steady baritone, counting the pitch, letting the silence stretch just long enough for the catcher to shift his weight. The crowd is a low tide of noise. Then the bat turns, the ball leaves the yard, and the voice rises, just slightly, just enough. The woman at the table sets down her fork. The man at the stove stops stirring. For three seconds, the whole apartment is the ballpark, and the voice in the radio is the only thing that matters in the world.

Reader's Guide

Elia's managerial career included stints with the Chicago Cubs (1982–1983) and Philadelphia Phillies (1987–1988). He also served as a coach for the Phillies, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Baltimore Orioles, and Seattle Mariners. Later in life, he was a special assistant with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.

Did You Know?

• Elia was born in the Bronx, New York City.
• He played quarterback in high school and was offered football scholarships by more than 50 schools.
• His father Connie Elia emigrated from Albania to the United States in 1920.
• Elia's only MLB hit was a single on September 2, 1966; he never had a walk-off or game-winning hit.
• He was named Manager of the Year in the Western Carolinas League in 1975.