Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1988
Thornton "Lefty" Lee is a legend in Cal Poly athletic history. As a pitcher, he set a Cal Poly record with 19 strikeouts in one game against San Jose State. He was successful in the minor leagues before moving to Major League play.
During his 16 years in the Majors, he played for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox and New York Giants. He was an All-Star team selection in 1941 and 1945. Lee compiled a 117-124 career record with a 3.56 ERA and 155 complete games, including 30 in the 1941 season. His ERA of 2.37 in 1941 was the best in the majors.
Following his retirement from pitching, he served as a scout for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals. A graduate of Arroyo Grande High School, member of the Arizona Hall of Fame as well as the second class of inductees in the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame, Lee passed away in April 1997 in Tucson, Ariz., at age 90. His son, Don Lee, pitched at Phoenix College and Arizona before he played for five different teams in the Major Leagues from 1957-66.
