May 8, 2025May 8 More sad news, one of my favorites, Chet Lemon has passed away. Had a lot of health issues in recent years, including several strokes. Couldn't walk or talk during his final days. Only 70.
May 8, 2025May 8 He was so fun to watch play the OF in old Comiskey. Truly one of my favorites when I was younger.
May 8, 2025May 8 He was an excellent player. Had the chance to interview him in 2004. Friendly man. RIP
May 8, 2025May 8 1 hour ago, Dick Allen said: More sad news, one of my favorites, Chet Lemon has passed away. Had a lot of health issues in recent years, including several strokes. Couldn't walk or talk during his final days. Only 70. So sad to pass that way and not that old. May he rest in peace.
May 8, 2025May 8 Chet the Jet. One of the best. I wish he was never traded to Detroit where he was part of a World Series championship. Imagine if he was on the '83 Sox.
May 9, 2025May 9 My favorite player growing up as a young kid. My cats are named after him- Chet and Lemon.
May 9, 2025May 9 2 hours ago, tray said: Chet the Jet. One of the best. I wish he was never traded to Detroit where he was part of a World Series championship. Imagine if he was on the '83 Sox. That would have required a big contract extension - but that was also a time that JR and EE were signing Free Agents. He was an excellent player. May he rest in peace.
May 9, 2025May 9 2 hours ago, GreenSox said: That would have required a big contract extension - but that was also a time that JR and EE were signing Free Agents. He was an excellent player. May he rest in peace. From my interview with Chet in 2004. He explains how things developed where the Sox had little choice but to deal him: ML: You hit .302 in the strike shortened season and played your usual solid defense but on November 27, 1981 you were shipped to Detroit for Steve Kemp. The reasoning as I remember it was that the Sox wanted more balance in the lineup and Kemp was left handed. (Author’s Note: Harold Baines was basically the only power threat from the left side as opposed to having guys like Fisk, Luzinski and the newly acquired Tom Paciorek who were all right handed hitters.) Were you ever told by the Sox why they let you go? CL: "That may have been part of it but there was another reason." "In spring training 1981 I had verbally agreed to a five year contract that would have made me the highest paid player on the team. It was a great negotiation. Eddie Einhorn, Jerry Reinsdorf, Roland Hemond, my agent and I all sat around a table one day and worked everything out including some deferred compensation. For some reason I hadn’t gotten around to actually signing the document though. A few weeks later they signed Carlton Fisk and his numbers came out. When I saw those I told my agent “hmmmm maybe we need to renegotiate.” Everything that I did in five years, I did in Chicago and now I wasn’t going to be the highest paid player anymore? I know it was childish on my part but that’s the way I felt at the time." "It created some problems. After a period of time I said that I’d just play my next year out (1982) and then see what happens in that off season. I guess the Sox thought that I was automatically going to go the free agent route and that wasn’t necessarily the case. However I did know that other clubs were interested, I knew that Earl Weaver of the Orioles wanted me badly and that the Sox were close to trading me to them at one time." "It was weird how some things happened. I mean "Bull" Luzinski, whom I respected, and thought did a great job for us by supplying power, came out and said something like ‘if he’s not going to sign then we need to get somebody for him.’ After the trade I did play out my option but Detroit re-signed me to a 10 year deal which gave me security. I had some no trade clauses in it so I had some control if I was going to be uprooted again."
May 9, 2025May 9 I always liked Chet and was sorry to see him get traded. It's a shame he had all the health issues, RIP Chester.
May 9, 2025May 9 My complete interview with Chet from 2004: https://www.southsidesox.com/2025/5/9/24426467/chet-lemon-q-a-chicago-white-sox-detroit-tigers
May 9, 2025May 9 Chet really was a dynamic player to watch. Its hard to define "underrated" but Chet's career with the Sox and Tigers was incredible and I never thought he received the attention / recognition he deserved. RIP Mr Lemon.
May 9, 2025May 9 Chet was my first favorite Sox player in the late 1970s. I think I liked Ron LeFlore too for some reason. Good memories of Chet and sorry to hear about his passing.
May 10, 2025May 10 On 5/8/2025 at 4:55 PM, tray said: Chet the Jet. One of the best. I wish he was never traded to Detroit where he was part of a World Series championship. Imagine if he was on the '83 Sox. For Steve Kemp, a terrible trade.
May 10, 2025May 10 49 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said: For Steve Kemp, a terrible trade. But one that unfortunately Chet brought on himself as he said in my interview and Kemp drove in almost 100 RBI's in 1982 so it's not like he was like chopped liver.
May 10, 2025May 10 7 minutes ago, Lip Man 1 said: But one that unfortunately Chet brought on himself as he said in my interview and Kemp drove in almost 100 RBI's in 1982 so it's not like he was like chopped liver. Dude was just being respectful. Chet averaged 4.5 WAR a year. Kemp wasn’t even close to that. In today’s game, Chet would be worth at least $300 million.
May 10, 2025May 10 7 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said: Dude was just being respectful. Chet averaged 4.5 WAR a year. Kemp wasn’t even close to that. In today’s game, Chet would be worth at least $300 million. From talking with him I don't think respect had anything to do with it, he admitted he wanted to stay and was immature (his words). Remember he also got into a blowup with TLR before a game in Milwaukee, left the team and went back to Chicago again he said he was out of line. That happened either in 1980 or 1981. Roland Hemond had to talk with him to get to the root of the issue. He wished he could have stayed with the Sox but his actions backed Roland into a corner and he did what he could.
May 10, 2025May 10 11 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said: Dude was just being respectful. Chet averaged 4.5 WAR a year. Kemp wasn’t even close to that. In today’s game, Chet would be worth at least $300 million. really horrible trade. I'm glad he got a ring. my wifes favorite. I loved the guy too. rest in peace Chet.
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