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Lee Elia

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Lee Elia
Shortstop / Manager / Coach
Born: (1937-07-16)July 16, 1937
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: July 9, 2025(2025-07-09) (aged 87)
Odessa, Florida, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 23, 1966, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 13, 1968, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Batting average.203
Home runs3
Runs batted in25
Managerial record238–300
Winning %.442
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Managerial record at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
As player
As manager
As coach
Career highlights and awards

Lee Constantine Elia (July 16, 1937 – July 9, 2025) was an American professional baseball infielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Chicago White Sox (1966) and Chicago Cubs (1968). Following his playing career, he managed the Cubs (1982–1983) and Philadelphia Phillies (1987–1988), and 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, Elia was also a special assistant to the general manager with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and then with the Atlanta Braves.

Early life

[edit]

Elia was born on July 16, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[1] to Constantine and Florence (née Soulas) Elia.[2][3] His father, Connie Elia, was born in Albania and emigrated to the United States in 1920. He worked as a supervisor for a food service company for 30 years.[4] Elia also grew up with a younger sister, Diane.[2]

Elia grew up playing multiple sports. While attending Olney High School, he played quarterback and was named all-city for the football team, was the starting shortstop on the baseball team, and played for the basketball team.[2][5] He also played guard for a summer league basketball, where he was a teammate of future NBA players Wilt Chamberlain and Ray Scott, and future Philadelphia 76ers announcer Sonny Hill.[2]

After being offered football scholarships by more than 50 different schools, Elia chose to attend the University of Delaware. In his freshman year, he was the team's leading rusher and points scorer while playing halfback.[2] He suffered a dislocated hip in the offseason, however, and was unable to play in his sophomore year. That injury healed in time for the Fightin' Blue Hens' baseball season, and after spending the summer playing baseball in Nova Scotia, he settled on baseball as his future.[2]

Playing career

[edit]

Elia's college and summer league baseball performances attracted the attention of his hometown Phillies, and he signed with them for a $21,000 signing bonus. He was assigned to the Elmira Pioneers of the Class D New York–Penn League for the 1959 season.[2] Playing mostly as a shortstop, he batted .309 with an OPS of .858 across 98 games,[1] and earned an invite to the subsequent spring training, where he was praised by Phillies manager Eddie Sawyer as the "surprise player of spring".[2] Promotion to the Phillies' Single-A affiliate Williamsport Grays followed, but he suffered a knee injury that summer.[2] Playing in 124 games, mostly at third base, Elia saw his batting average drop to .233, with 59 runs batted in – fewer than he managed with Elmira.[1]

Elia played for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts in 1961, where his batting average improved to .266, but he hit just four home runs, the fewest of his minor league career so far.[1] He was promoted to Triple-A for 1962, where he would spend the next three years, with both the Buffalo Bisons and Arkansas Travelers. By 1964, his OPS had improved to .800, but did not receive a call-up to the major leagues from the Phillies.[1]

In the following offseason, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox along with Danny Cater, in exchange for Ray Herbert and Jeoff Long. Elia said he was "stunned" by the trade, as he "had such a good relationship with the Phillies,"[6] although he later admitted he had been "stagnant" in the organization.[7] He was assigned to the Indianapolis Indians, Chicago's Triple-A affiliate, and hit a career-high 29 home runs and 75 RBIs.[1] After starting 1966 with the Indians, he was called up to the Major Leagues for the first time.[7] He appeared in 80 games for the White Sox that year, playing shortstop in 75 of them. That season he hit .205 with three home runs with 22 RBIs,[1] as the team finished fourth in the American League, with a record of 83–79.[8]

Although Elia started 1967 with the Indians in Triple-A, he was dealt to the cross-town National League team the Chicago Cubs, in a deal that saw shortstop Jim Stewart head to the White Sox.[9] He played the rest of the 1967 season in the minors, after being assigned to the Tacoma Cubs. He finished with 14 home runs, 59 RBIs, and a batting average of .267. He split 1968 between Triple-A Tacoma and the Cubs' major league team. He appeared in just fifteen games in the majors that year, hitting .176 and racking up three RBIs[1] –although one was a walk-off single in the 11th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals, in a game he described as "the most memorable game I've ever seen."[10]

In 1969, Elia played in twenty AAA games, three with Tacoma and seventeen with the Syracuse Chiefs,[1] after a trade to their parent organization, the New York Yankees.[11] A fourth knee operation of his career resulted in a three-year break from minor league baseball, although he continued to play non-professionally in the Penn-Del League.[2] He returned for a brief stint as player-coach for the Eugene Emeralds – a Phillies affiliate – in 1973.[5]

Coaching and managerial career

[edit]

1973–1981: Early roles

[edit]
Elia (pictured) coaching the Toledo Mud Hens in 1975.

After spending three years out of professional baseball, during which time he sold insurance, Elia was recruited to return as a player-coach for the Eugene Emeralds, the Phillies' Triple-A affilliate, to support manager Jim Bunning.[5] The Emeralds finished in last place in the West Division of the Pacific Coast League, with a 64–79 record.[12] The next season, the Phillies ended their association with Eugene, instead switching to the Toledo Mud Hens.[13] Both Bunning and Elia were retained to head up the newly-affiliated Triple-A team.[14] The Mud Hens finished the year with a 70–74 record, third in the International League North Division.[15]

In 1975, at the age of 37, Elia got his first position as a manager, leading the Spartanburg Phillies of the Class A Western Carolinas League.[2] With the Phillies leading the league at the halfway mark, Elia was named as manager of the WCL's All-Star team, to play against the Carolina League's All-Stars.[16] The teams split the two-game series; the WCL won the first game 7–0,[17] before losing the second, 2–1.[18] Elia went on to lead the Phillies to a league-best 81–59 record,[19] winning WCL Manager of the Year honours.[20] The following season, the Phils weren't able to repeat – they finished with a 59–80 record, tied for last in the WCL.[21]

Elia was promoted to the manage the Double-A Reading Phillies in the Eastern League for the 1977 season.[22] With a roster that included future 1980 World Series champions Kevin Saucier and Keith Moreland,[23][24] he managed his team to a 63–75 finish, which was good for third place in the Can-Am Division.[25] During the 1978 season, Elia remained head man in Reading and oversaw a winning season – a 79–57 record, good for a second place finish, 1.5 games back from the West Haven Yankees.[26]

The Phillies named him manager of their Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City 89ers, for the 1979 season.[27] The 89ers finished with a 72–63 record,[28] winning the first American Association West Division title in their history.[29] They went on to play the Evansville Triplets, affiliate of the Detroit Tigers,[28] in the Championship Series, a team led by Jim Leyland.[30] Despite taking a 2–1 lead after three games, the 89ers lost three straight, as Evansville won the championship.[31]

After the season, the Phillies fired their big league manager Danny Ozark. He was replaced by Dallas Green, who had served as the Phillies' director of minor leagues and scouting during Elia's time as a manager in the system.[32][33] Green sought to fill out his coaching staff with "baseball men", and hired Elia as the Phils' third base coach.[5] They went on to finish the season as NL East Champions with a 91–71 record, one game ahead of the Montreal Expos, en route to winning the 1980 World Series Championship.[34]

In the strike-impacted 1981 season, the Phillies finished with a 59–48 record. In a split-season format, they won the NL East first half with a 34–21 record,[35] granting them a playoff berth,[36] but finished third in the second half 25–27. The National League Division Series saw them matched with the NL East second-half winners, the Montreal Expos. The series went to all five games, as the Expos knocked out the defending champions, 3–2.[35]

1982–83: Manager of the Chicago Cubs

[edit]

After the 1981 season, Green left the Phillies to join the Chicago Cubs as their general manager, having been looking to return to a front office role.[2] He brought Elia over to be the manager, and acquired players Larry Bowa, Ryne Sandberg,[5] Keith Moreland, and Dickie Noles from the Phillies.[37] They finished the season with a 73–89 record and finished fifth out of six in the NL East.[2]

Elia was often remembered for an infamously profanity-filled tirade directed at the fans at Wrigley Field on April 29, 1983. After the Cubs dropped a one-run game at home to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Elia lost his temper while making post-game remarks to reporters.[2][5] During this tirade Elia vented his feelings about Cubs fans in the stands who were booing and heckling Chicago:

I'll tell you one fuckin' thing—I hope we get fuckin' hotter than shit just to stuff it up them three thousand fuckin' people that show up every fuckin' day. Because if they're the real Chicago fuckin' fans, they can kiss my fuckin' ass, right Downtown, and print it! They're really, really behind you around here. My fuckin' ass! What ... what the fuck am I supposed to do? Go out there and let my fuckin' players get destroyed every day, and be quiet about it? For the fuckin' nickel/dime people that show up? The motherfuckers don't even work! That's why they're out at the fuckin' game! They ought to get a fuckin' job and find out what it's like to go out and earn a fuckin' living. Eighty-five percent of the fuckin' world is working. The other fifteen come out here. A fuckin' playground for the cocksuckers. Rip them motherfuckers! Rip those country cocksuckers, like the fuckin' players! We've got guys bustin' their fuckin' asses and those fuckin' people boo ... and that's the Cubs? My fuckin' ass! They talk about the great fuckin' support that the players get around here, I haven't seen it this fuckin' year![38][39]

Larry Bowa later remarked that "what [Elia] did was stick up for his players. He'll always stick up for his players."[2] Green demanded he apologise for his comments, but Elia's relationship with the Chicago fans and the press was damaged.[2] With the Cubs in fifth place in the NL Central, Elia was fired as manager, 132 games into the season.[2]

1984–88: Returning to the Phillies

[edit]

After being fired by the Cubs, Elia rejoined the Phillies organization as manager for the Triple-A Portland Beavers. He replaced John Felske, who had been promoted to bench coach for the Phillies' Major League team.[40] Elia's tenure in Portland is perhaps best remembered for his role in an unusual incident during a May 30, 1984, game against the Vancouver Canadians. Elia was ejected for arguing a called third strike and subsequently threw a chair onto the field before leaving the dugout; this in turn led to the ejection of the team's batboy, Sam Morris, when he refused (acting on instructions from Beavers players in the dugout) umpire Pam Postema's demand that he retrieve the chair that Elia had thrown on the field.[41] Elia led the Beavers to a 62–78 record in the Pacific Coast League, a last place finish in the Northern Division.[42]

With Felske named as the new Phillies manager for 1985, Elia was promoted back to the Major Leagues, to serve as bench coach.[43] The Phillies finished the season 75–87, fifth in the NL East.[44] They improved to 86–75 in 1986, good for second place in the division, but finished 21.5 games back of the New York Mets, and did not qualify for the playoffs.[45]

Elia remained as bench coach for the 1987 season. After a 29–32 start, manager John Felske was fired mid-season, and Elia was hired as his replacement manager.[46] Third baseman Mike Schmidt remarked that "I'm friends with Lee. I'll be able to yell at him to come out on the field so we can discuss something, and he won't think I'm trying to undermine him," something he didn't experience with Feldske.[47] The Phillies went 51–50 under Elia's leadership,[48] finishing 80–82, fourth in the NL East.[49]

He remained in charge for 1988, and received a contract extension through 1990 in July. But with the Phillies in last place in the NL East, sitting at 60–92, Elia was relieved of his duties, replaced by John Vukovich.[50] The Phillies would ultimately finish 65–96,[51] their worst season since 1972.[50]

Later roles

[edit]

After Dallas Green was appointed manager of the New York Yankees in 1989, Elia reunited with his former boss from Philadelphia and Chicago, joining his coaching staff.[52] He was released by the team in August.[53]

He returned to the Phillies organisation the following year, as manager of the Clearwater Phillies of the Class A Florida State League.[53][54] In his first season, he led the team to a 50–87 record, last in the West Division,[55] before improving to 81–49 in his second year, winning a divisional title and playoff berth. After a bye, they swept the St. Lucie Mets 2–0 in the semifinals, before losing to the West Palm Beach Expos in the finals.[56]

A promotion back to the Phillies Triple-A affiliate followed for 1992, now the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons of the International League.[57] He led the team to an 84–58 record and Eastern Division title. After defeating the Pawtucket Red Sox in the semifinals, he was again on the losing end of a championship series, dropping the series 3–2 to the Columbus Clippers.[58] For his efforts, he was named IL Manager of the Year.[59]

Elia said that he hoped to be on a Major League club's coaching staff for 1993, but was not given such a role by the Phillies. Instead of staying on as Red Barons manager, he took up a role on Lou Piniella's Seattle Mariners staff, as bench coach.[59] He was later named hitting instructor for the Mariners alongside his coaching duties, and worked closely with Alex Rodriguez as he won a batting title in 1996.[60][61] Elia remained with the team through 1997.[60] He was named director of minor league instruction for the Phillies for the 1999 season,[62] then was named bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays,[63] spending the 2000 season with the club.[64] He returned to the Mariners in 2001 in a consulting role, spending two more years there.[65]

He was reunited with Piniella after being appointed as hitting coach for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.[65] After three seasons in Florida, he spent a year as bench coach for the Baltimore Orioles,[66] before returning to Tampa as a pro scout for 2007,[67] then reprised his consultancy role with the Mariners for a year, supporting manager John McLaren.[68] He was named special assistant to general manager Ned Colletti of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2009,[69] and held the same role for Frank Wren of the Atlanta Braves two years later.[70][71] He took on the role of special assistant to player development with the Braves for the 2012 season.[72]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Elia resided in Odessa, Florida, with his second wife Priscilla, and his two daughters, Tana and Ashley.[73]

Elia died in Odessa on July 9, 2025, one week before his 88th birthday.[74][75]

Awards

[edit]

Elia was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.[76]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Lee Elia Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Bowen, Les (September 2, 1987). "Elia Began Sports Career at Olney High". Philadelphia Daily News. pp. 80, 81. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Death Notices – Elia". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 1, 1987. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Constantine Dimitri Elia, father of Phillies coach". The Philadelphia Inquirer. March 1, 1987. p. 17-D. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Breen, Matt (July 10, 2025). "Former Phillies manager and Philly native Lee Elia has died at 87". Inquirer.com. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  6. ^ Greenwald, Max (April 1, 1985). "Phils' Trade Stuns New Tribe Shortstop". Indianapolis Star. p. 56. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Markus, Robert (June 28, 1966). "Elia Remembers a Day in May". Chicago Tribune. pp. 3-1, 3-2. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "1966 American League Team Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  9. ^ "Cubs Peddle Jim Stewart To Chisox". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. May 24, 1967. p. 27. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Elia's Winning Hit Final Drama In Cubs' Uphill Win Over Cards". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. United Press International. August 5, 1968. p. 25. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Chiefs Send Kennedy to Manchester". The Post-Standard. United Press International. April 22, 1969. p. 19. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "1973 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  13. ^ Rea, Larry (April 14, 1975). "Memphis Blues Will Begin A New Era Friday Night". The Memphis Commercial Appeal. p. 3-3. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Rea, Larry (April 16, 1975). "Toledo's Bunning Is Wary Of Blues". The Memphis Commercial Appeal. p. 26. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "1974 International League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  16. ^ Monague, John (July 17, 1975). "Phils Pace CL, WCL Star Voting". Twin City Sentinel. p. 25. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Carolina All-Stars blanked". The Daily Advance. Associated Press. July 25, 1975. p. 9. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Former G-Brave Rick Albert Leads Carolina To Win". The Greenwood Index-Journal. Associated Press. July 26, 1975. p. 9. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "1975 Western Carolinas League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  20. ^ Pope, Larry (June 16, 1976). "Unsolicited Coaching Ignites Tourists' Lisi". The Asheville Times. p. 30. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "1976 Western Carolinas League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  22. ^ Inman, Hank (November 3, 1976). "Phils Name Emery To Manage 89ers". The Daily Oklahoman. Retrieved July 12, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Kevin Saucier Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  24. ^ "Keith Moreland Minor Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  25. ^ "1977 Eastern League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  26. ^ "1978 Eastern League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  27. ^ Gurley, Todd (November 10, 1978). "Elia Had Eye on 89er Job Earlier". The Daily Oklahoman. p. 28. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ a b "1979 American Association". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  29. ^ Petree, Pat (August 28, 1979). "89ers Capture West Division Crown". The Daily Oklahoman. p. 13. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Johnson, Dave (September 1, 1979). "Rain out – Leyland tells Triplets to stay loose, have fun". The Evansville Press. p. 12. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Petree, Pat (September 7, 1979). "Triplets Put Away 89ers, 7-3". The Daily Oklahoman. p. 25. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Firing of Ozark Makes Elia 'Sad'". The Daily Oklahoman. Associated Press. September 1, 1979. pp. 25, 27. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Hochman, Stan (September 12, 1979). "Dallas Green Runs Tight Ship". Philadelphia Daily News. pp. 79, 70. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "1980 Major League Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  35. ^ a b "1981 Major League Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  36. ^ "Split idea wins vote of owners". The Baltimore Evening Sun. Associated Press. August 7, 1981. pp. C1, C6. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Stark, Jayson (December 9, 1981). "Phils trade Moreland, Noles to Cubs". Sports. The Philadelphia Inquirer. pp. 1-D, 5-D. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ Drehs, Wayne (April 29, 2008). "Fans won't let Elia forget meltdown". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  39. ^ Jaffe, Jay (April 26, 2013). "Happy anniversary, Lee Elia and Hal McRae (NSFW)". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 15, 2015.
  40. ^ "...while Felske named team's coach". Sports. The Statesman Journal. Associated Press. October 21, 1983. p. 1E. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Kindred, Dave (June 1, 1984). "To obey or not to obey?". The Atlanta Constitution. p. D1. Retrieved September 8, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "1984 Pacific Coast League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  43. ^ Pray, Rusty (October 1, 1984). "Felske selected as Phillies' manager – Owens goes 'upstairs' to advise Giles". Sports/Money. Camden Courier-Post. pp. 1B, 2B. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ "1985 Major League Baseball Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  45. ^ "1986 Major League Baseball Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  46. ^ Hagen, Paul (June 18, 1987). "Phillies Fire John Felske". Philadelphia Daily News. pp. 100, 98. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ Hagen, Paul (June 19, 1987). "Schmidt Finds Faults in Felske Approach". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 143. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Lee Elia Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  49. ^ "1987 Major League Baseball Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  50. ^ a b Joseph, Gar (September 23, 1988). "Phils Fire Elia, Name Vukovich Manager". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 3. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  51. ^ "1988 Major League Baseball Standings". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  52. ^ Dolson, Frank (March 19, 1989). "A brave new world for new manager Dallas Green". Sports. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 8-D. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ a b Hagan, Paul (November 10, 1989). "Elia Returns to His Roots". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 100. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  54. ^ King, George A. III (November 10, 1989). "Lee Elia rejoins Phillies". Sports. The Trenton Times. p. B3. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  55. ^ "1990 Florida State League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  56. ^ "1991 Florida State League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  57. ^ Holeva, Larry (December 19, 1991). "Elia sees growth on Phils' farm". Sports/Business. The Scranton Tribune. p. B-1. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ "1992 International League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  59. ^ a b Savage, Bill (November 28, 1992). "Red Baron hero Elia sto sit on Seattle Bench". Sports. Times Leader. p. 5C. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ a b "M's hire new hitting coach". Baker City Herald. Associated Press. December 15, 1997. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  61. ^ Newhan, Ross (September 23, 1996). "Nothing Short of Remarkable – Mariners' Rodriguez Having a Season for the Ages at 21". Los Angeles Times. pp. C1, C16. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  62. ^ "Phillies shake up farm system". Sports. Tri-City Herald. August 18, 1998. p. B2. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  63. ^ "Once-bitten Gaston to return to Blue Jays as hitting coach". Sports. Knoxville News-Sentinel. Associated Press. October 14, 1999. p. D4. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  64. ^ "Sports Briefs". Alamogordo Daily News. Associated Press. October 11, 2000. p. 10. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  65. ^ a b "Devil Rays Name Elia Hitting Coach". Sports. The Bellingham Herald. Associated Press. November 6, 2002. p. B4. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  66. ^ "Former O's bench coach Elia says he left on excellent terms". Sports. The Baltimore Sun. November 1, 2006. p. 4E. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  67. ^ Topkin, Marc (December 7, 2006). "Possible Rays deals dwindle with meetings ending today". Sports. Tampa Bay Times. p. 6C. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  68. ^ Bell, Gregg (November 26, 2008). "Mariners cutting ties with Stottlemyre, Elia". Sports. Peninsula Daily News. Associated Press. p. B3. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  69. ^ Mitchell, Fred (January 26, 2009). "Cubs greats agree: New owner must beef up farm system". Chicago Tribune. p. 2-4. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  70. ^ "Braves' hires include ex-managers Elia, Trembley | Atlanta Braves". Archived from the original on November 16, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  71. ^ "Braves add Elia, Trembley to staff". Sports. Winston-Salem Journal. November 12, 2010. p. B2. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  72. ^ Hersh, Jim (December 25, 2011). "Sunday notebook". Sports. Lancaster Sunday News. p. C3. Retrieved July 13, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  73. ^ "Manager and Coaches – Lee Elia". MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2012.
  74. ^ "Lee Elia, manager of Cubs and Phillies, dies at 87". ESPN.com. July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  75. ^ "Lee Elia Baseball Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  76. ^ "Lee Elia". Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 15, 2025. Year Inducted: 2003
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by Chicago Cubs Manager
1982–83 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Philadelphia Phillies Manager
1987–88 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Baltimore Orioles Bench Coach
2006 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Seattle Mariners Hitting Coach
2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Seattle Mariners Bench Coach
2008 		Succeeded by
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