Jim Lefebvre

Lore & Background

Lefebvre won the National League Rookie of the Year in 1965 with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team won the World Series. He started in the MLB All-Star Game the following season. He managed the Seattle Mariners from 1989 to 1991, the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and 1993, and the Milwaukee Brewers in part of 1999. He was a coach for six MLB teams. He also played four seasons in Japan for the Lotte Orions and became only the second player to have won a World Series and a Japan Series.

In Their Own Story

The static crackled softly before Jim Lefebvre's familiar voice filled the airwaves, painting a picture of a sun-drenched afternoon at Arlington Stadium. 'It's a beautiful day for baseball in Texas,' he began, his words carrying the weight of decades of memories. As the pitcher wound up and the batter swung, Lefebvre's description brought the action to life for thousands of listeners who couldn't be there in person. His voice was the soundtrack to countless family gatherings, road trips, and quiet evenings spent dreaming of a pennant.

Reader's Guide

Lefebvre was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1962. He was the 1965 National League Rookie of the Year, hitting .250 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI in 157 games. In 1966, he batted .274 with 24 home runs and 74 RBI in 152 games. As a manager, he had a record of 233 wins and 253 losses with Seattle. He managed the China national baseball team in 2005, the 2006 World Baseball Classic, and the 2008 Olympics.

Did You Know?

• Lefebvre was part of a Dodgers infield in 1965 that consisted of four switch hitters: himself, Jim Gilliam, Wes Parker, and Maury Wills.
• He had a role on the television show Batman, playing a henchman for the Riddler.
• His son Ryan is a play-by-play announcer for the Kansas City Royals.