American baseball player and manager
Baseball player
James Kenneth Lefebvre ( lə-FEE-ver;[1] born January 7, 1942) is a former major league baseball player, coach, and manager. An infielder, he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1962.
Baseball career
Playing career
Lefebvre was the 1965 National League Rookie of the Year; he hit .250 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI and the Dodgers won the World Series. He started at second base in the All-Star Game in 1966. In 1965, he was part of an infield for the Dodgers that consisted of four players who were switch hitters. The others were Jim Gilliam, Wes Parker, and Maury Wills.
Lefebvre also played four seasons in Japan, from 1973 until 1976, for the Lotte Orions. Lefebvre became only the second player, after Johnny Logan, to have won a World Series (1965 Dodgers) and a Japan Series with the 1974 Lotte Orions.
He was a big-league manager from 1989–1993, and briefly again in 1999, and was formerly the hitting coach with the Cincinnati Reds.
Managerial and coaching career
Lefebvre was first hired as a major league manager by the Seattle Mariners in November 1988, with a two-year contract at $150,000 annually, with incentives and a team option for a third year.[2] In his second season in 1990, Seattle won 77 games and drew over 1.5 million in home attendance at the Kingdome. In 1991, the Mariners posted their first-ever winning record at 83–79 (.512) and drew over 2.1 million, but Lefebvre's contract was not extended;[3] he was succeeded by assistant coach Bill Plummer.[4] Lefebvre finished with a record of 233 wins and 253 losses.[5] Lefebvre was soon hired by the Chicago Cubs in November,[6] and led them during the 1992 and 1993 seasons; he was released again after a posting a winning record, Chicago was 84–78 (.519) in the 1993 season.[7] With the Milwaukee Brewers, he was the interim manager for the final seven weeks of the 1999 season.[8]
In addition to managing, Lefebvre has spent time coaching in the Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, and San Diego Padres organizations. He coached the China National Baseball Team (Olympics) in 2005, the 2006 World Baseball Classic, and 2008 Olympics.
Managerial record
Lefebvre and President George W. Bush at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games
Outside of baseball
Lefebvre had roles on several television shows including Gilligan's Island and Batman. His role in Batman was of a henchman for the Riddler.[9] He is also a spokesman for Vemma vitamin supplements.
Personal life
Jimmy first married Jean Bakke from Waterford, WI and they had their son, Ryan, before they divorced and Jimmy was playing baseball in Japan after he was with the Dodgers, where he was rookie of the year in 1965.
Lefebvre has a daughter, Brittany Lefebvre, who is currently working in Christian motion pictures. His son, Ryan, is the lead play-by-play announcer for the Royals on Bally Sports Kansas City. He also has two other chrildren, Bryce and Brianna Lefebvre. [9]
National League Rookie of the Year Award
Seattle Mariners managers
Milwaukee Brewers managers
Los Angeles Dodgers 1965 World Series champions
China roster – 2006 World Baseball Classic
China 2008 Summer Olympics baseball roster
