Joe Lefebvre

Lore & Background

Lefebvre was born in Concord, New Hampshire, and attended Concord High School and Eckerd College of St. Petersburg, Florida, playing with future Giants general manager Brian Sabean at both schools. In 1976 and 1977, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star in 1976. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1977 draft on the advice of scout Andy Michael. He retired on May 28, 1986.

Reader's Guide

Lefebvre began his professional career with the Fort Lauderdale Yankees, and by the end of 1977 he had already been promoted to the Double-A West Haven Yankees. He continued to play for West Haven in 1978, batting .266 with 19 home runs while splitting time between the outfield and third base. Lefebvre returned to West Haven in 1979, where he had a breakout season. He led the Eastern League champion Yankees in all three triple crown categories, batting .292 with 21 home runs and 107 RBI.

In 1980, he was promoted to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, and was called up to the majors in mid-May. In his first major league game, he hit a home run off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dave Stieb. He was traded to the San Diego Padres in 1981, and later to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1983. He finished with his best season statistically in 1983, batting .306 with a career-high 39 RBI along with 8 home runs, as the Phillies won the National League East.

After playing briefly for the Reading Phillies later in 1984, he missed the entire 1985 season, then played just 14 games for the Phillies in 1986. He retired on May 28, 1986.