Jim Lefebvre

Hardworking, spirited, and optimistic are all apt descriptions of Jim Lefebvre. The switch-hitter spent more than 40 years in professional baseball, including eight years (1965-72) as a Los Angeles Dodgers infielder and six seasons managing the Mariners, Cubs and Brewers. Perhaps determined would be the best adjective of all for the former National League Rookie of the Year, because Lefebvre, nicknamed “Frenchy,” decided at age 10 that he wanted to get to the major leagues and stay there.

James Kenneth Lefebvre, born January 7, 1942 in Inglewood, California, was the second of Ben and Virginia (Girard) Lefebvre’s four children. He had an older sister, Yvonne, and two younger brothers, Cliff and Gil. Their father was a renowned hitting instructor and coach in American Legion and college (Pepperdine) baseball. Don Buford, Sparky Anderson, and Billy Consolo were just three of the future big leaguers taught by Ben Lefebvre. His sons Jim, Cliff and Gil would all play professional baseball. From age ten, Jim worked on his skills with his father, who encouraged him to switch hit. They would drill for hours at a time on the double play pivot and Jim could often be seen practicing long after his father went inside.

At Morningside High School, Jim earned all-league honors three times and was named player of the league as a senior. He also played for the Dodger Juniors against semipro teams and, during his senior year, served as the visiting team’s batboy during Dodgers games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.1 “Being batboy was a great experience,” said Lefebvre. “The players (especially Don Zimmer and Dick Schofield) talked baseball and worked with me on the field before games. The main thing I learned is that when a good ballplayer is down, he always bounces back. The idea is to stay with it, don’t get discouraged and keep hustling. Things will start going for you.”

After his 1961 graduation Lefebvre signed with the Dodgers for $11,000 in early 1962 despite a reported $25,000 offer from the Angels.2 Kenny Myers and Lefty Phillips inked the six-foot, 180-pounder. Myers was the scout who’d previously found Willie Davis and would also sign Wes Parker the following year.

Jim immediately reported to the Reno (NV) Silver Sox of the Class C California League. He hit 39 homers, drove in 130 runs, and batted .327 to earn the Win Clark Award given to Southern California’s Most Outstanding First-Year Man in Pro Baseball by the Los Angeles Baseball Writers. He also made The Sporting News’ Class C Minor League All-Star Team at second base.3

In 1963, Frenchy played for the Salem (OR) Dodgers and was selected as the West Division All-Star second baseman in the Class A Northwest League. He continued to progress in 1964, playing for the Spokane (WA) Indians in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.

A late start because of a service commitment limited Frenchy to 55 games, but he continued his progress to the majors that fall by leading the Arizona Instructional League in total bases. His defense also attracted the attention of top Dodger officials. “A fellow who can get rid of the double play ball the way [Lefebvre] does deserves a thorough trial at second base,” said team Vice President Fresco Thompson. 4

Lefebvre attended Dodgers spring training camp at Vero Beach as a non-roster invitee in 1965. The “Abundant Talent on Dodger Farms” section of the club’s yearbook that season read, “Watch for this switch-hitting second baseman in the Dodgers’ future. After losing 1964 spring training to military service, he hit a credible .265 at Spokane and .321 in the Arizona Instructional League during the Winter. He has fine power from either side of the plate. Led Arizona League in homers (7) and total bases (90) in an abbreviated schedule.”

Lefebvre expected to return to Spokane in 1965 for more Triple-A seasoning, but the Dodgers were looking to make some changes after a sixth-place finish. Frenchy’s superb spring training performance convinced them his future was now and earned him a ticket to the big leagues.

By becoming the Dodgers’ starting second baseman in 1965, Lefebvre joined with first baseman Wes Parker, shortstop Maury Wills and third baseman Jim Gilliam to form the first all switch-hitting infield in major league history. When Frenchy hit .269 with three homers in his first four weeks, he was touted as the Dodgers’ best second sacker (except for Gilliam) since Jackie Robinson. The best was yet to come.5

On August 24, the resurgent Dodgers were in first place by a slim margin, but Lefebvre’s ninth-inning miscue helped cost them a game at Shea Stadium. “[Jackie] Robinson called me after I had booted a game against the Mets,” Jim recalled. “He told me, ‘Don’t let it get you down. I’ve been through the same thing.’ When I made that error, I felt like the loneliest person in the world. Then, when Jackie called me, it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me. That man carried me through the last month.” 6

By September 16, the Dodgers were four-and-a-half games behind the rival Giants, who had won 14 straight games to overtake them. As soon as the Giants’ winning ways ended, however, Lefebvre led LA on a 13-game victory streak of their own. Belying his youth, he hit .333 with 10 RBI, including four game-winners. His fielding had also became steadier, aided by coach Preston Gomez, who repeatedly hit slow rollers to Frenchy’s right before games.

Los Angeles finished 97-65 and won the pennant by two games. The Dodgers then beat the Minnesota Twins in seven games to win the 1965 World Series. Lefebvre went four-for-10 in the Fall Classic before injuring a heel in Game Three and missing the rest of the series

Frenchy’s crucial September spurt helped him earn the BBWAA’s 1965 NL Rookie of the Year Award. He had season totals of 12 home runs (tying Lou Johnson for the club lead for a team that only managed a league-worst 78), 69 RBIs and a .250 batting average. He received 14 votes, vs. four for Houston second baseman Joe Morgan and three for San Francisco reliever Frank Linzy. Lefebvre also had 14 game-winning hits, tying Chicago Cubs outfielder Billy Williams for the league lead.

Prior to the 1966 season, Jim became the program coordinator and owner of Jim Lefebvre’s Catalina and Baseball and Summer Camp at Toyon Bay on Catalina Island. The camp offered personal coaching for each position, automatic pitching machines and a variety of camping activities in five two-week sessions beginning in mid-June.

Lefebvre’s salary doubled to $15,000 going into his sophomore spring training,7 but despite starring as a rookie second baseman, he admitted that a position change might be at hand. “Maybe third base would be a better spot for me,” he said. “Actually, I like to handle hard-hit balls better than slow rollers, which gave me my biggest problem at second.”8

Lefebvre impressed enough during Grapefruit League play that he became the Dodgers’ ninth Opening Day third basemen in their nine seasons in Los Angeles. His stay at third was short lived, however, as he ended up returning to second for the bulk of his games.

Frenchy occasionally struggled in the field. Once, he was so ashamed of a recent string of errors that he failed to keep a public appearance, feeling he had let his fans down. Dodgers manager Walter Alston reassured him that he had not lost faith in the young infielder, so he should not lose faith in himself. Jim was one player who never shied away from hard work if it could lead to improved play. For example, on one road trip he swung a bat for 30 minutes against a phantom opposing hurler in his hotel room in Cincinnati while his roommate slept. He then blasted homers both left and right-handed the next night. 9 10

One of Lefebvre’s biggest thrills was starting at second base as a replacement for the injured Morgan in the National League’s 2-1 victory in the 1966 All-Star Game in St. Louis. Frenchy, who went 0-for-2 against AL starting pitcher Denny McLain, had finished second to Morgan in the All-Star voting by NL players, coaches, and managers.

Despite not having a steady position in the field in his second big league year, Lefebvre enjoyed his greatest season at the plate. He paced the team with 24 homers and 74 RBI while batting .274, all career highs. His home run total remained a single-season mark for Dodgers’ second basemen until Davey Lopes belted 28 in 1979. LA became the NL’s first repeat pennant winners since the 1957-58 Milwaukee Braves, and met the Baltimore Orioles in the 1966 World Series. Unfortunately, in trying to become the first NL team to win consecutive World Series since the 1921-22 New York Giants, the Dodgers lost in four straight games.

The major factor was Baltimore’s pitching, which held the Dodgers to two total runs and a record low .142 batting average. Lefebvre hit .167 (2-for-12). The Orioles credited detailed scouting reports for their success. For example, their rundown on Lefebvre went as follows:

Right-handed batter: “Likes ball high. Play slightly to pull. Has hit the first or second pitch more often than anyone on club. Has hit lots of balls up the middle. (Tug) McGraw of Mets had good luck on change, curve and breaking stuff.”

Left-handed batter: “(Larry) Dierker, who compares to (Jim) Palmer, threw him hard stuff and had good luck. (Lefebvre) didn’t pull the ball, (hit) mostly to center of diamond. (Dierker) didn’t throw him a curve. Likes ball down. Our stuff pitchers (mediocre fastball pitchers) should pitch away from him. Gaylord Perry had luck with good hard stuff down and in and in hard sliders on the fist.” 11

Lefebvre doubled his salary again in 1967, to $30,000.12 On Opening Day, he was back at third base, the first LA Dodger to open at the position in consecutive seasons.13 Bob Bailey and Gene Michael — acquired in an off-season deal for Wills — failed to win the team’s starting third base and shortstop jobs, respectively. Following the retirement of repeat Cy Young Award winner Sandy Koufax, the Dodgers sank to a disappointing 73-89 record. Frenchy also endured a disappointing year. At the end of May, he suffered his first serious mishap when he re-injured a pulled muscle in his leg. 14 He missed many more games because of a sore left shoulder, which had bothered him since the spring. 15 It was eventually diagnosed as a partial dislocation, which needed a month off to heal.16 Lefebvre finished with only eight homers and 50 RBIs in 494 at-bats. Dr. Robert Kerlan, the Dodgers’ team physician, blamed Frenchy’s poor season on his being overweight. 17

As a sports figure living in the LA area, Jim made movie industry contacts who convinced him to try acting as a sidelight to baseball. His first venture into show business came playing a cannibal, along with teammate Al Ferrara, in a 1967 episode of television’s Gilligan’s Island. Frenchy also appeared on TV’s Batman, M*A*S*H, Alice, St. Elsewhere and Knight Rider. 18

After their forgettable year, the Dodgers’ Public Relations Department dubbed the 1968 season “Operation Bounce Back”. The slogan fit Jim’s situation as well.19 Los Angeles acquired Minnesota’s Zoilo Versalles to play shortstop and traded away injury-prone second baseman Ron Hunt, clearing the way for Lefebvre to return to his original position. “That’s where I’ve always preferred to play and where I think I play the best,” he said of the keystone spot.20

But he could not stay on the field. Frenchy missed Opening Day because of an injured heel, the same one that had forced him to miss time in the 1965 World Series.21 On April 27 he suffered a severely sprained wrist striking out against San Francisco’s Mike McCormick.22 Although the team doctor originally thought the sprain would keep Frenchy out of the lineup for three or four days, he missed 53 contests.23 Then in September the infielder was limited by a pulled hamstring.

Despite batting .324 in the final month when he was able to play, Jim finished with five home runs, 31 RBI and a .241 average in 286 at-bats overall. The entire team came up short in Operation Bounce Back, going 76-86 to tie Philadelphia for sixth place.

Lefebvre’s lone season highlight was nevertheless a major one; he married Jean Bakke of Waterford, Wisconsin, on July 7. Their son Ryan was born in 1971.

Eight games into the 1969 season, Frenchy injured an ankle. When he returned, he lost playing time to second baseman Ted Sizemore, the eventual NL Rookie of the Year, and third baseman Bill Sudakis. Although the Dodgers (85-77) finished over .500 for the first time since 1966, Lefebvre was a part-time player for the second consecutive year. In 95 games, he managed four home runs, 44 RBIs and .236 batting average.

In spring training 1970, Frenchy was one of seven candidates for the hot corner, competing with Sudakis, Wills, Manny Mota, Bill Russell, Steve Garvey and Bill Grabarkewitz. TSN columnist Dick Young reported the Dodgers tried to reduce the field by trading Lefebvre to Montreal for reliever Dan McGinn or St. Louis for starting pitcher Nelson Briles, but both offers were rejected.24

Despite an 87-74 record, the Dodgers were never in the West Division race in 1970, finishing 14½ games behind the hot-starting Reds. After replacing the injured Sizemore at second base, Lefebvre batted .252 with the same homer and RBI totals he had produced the previous year. LA went 48-30 when Frenchy started.

To help youngsters in his community, that off-season Lefebvre joined with Parker and a local disc jockey to give anti-drug lectures at area high schools. Before hitting the lecture circuit, Lefebvre and Parker took a course to learn the facts on commonly abused drugs such as marijuana, LSD, amphetamines, and heroin. 25

Invited by President Richard Nixon, Frenchy attended the White House conference on drug abuse with teammates Parker and Pete Richert.26 Lefebvre also headed Athletes for Youth. Members like Parker, Richert, Al Downing, and Tommy McCraw spoke with teens and young adults about the dangers of drug abuse. 27

Lefebvre considered retiring when he was not in the lineup early in 1971.28 After an arm injury sidelined Grabarkewitz in late-April, however, Frenchy again became the Dodgers regular second baseman. Despite missing a few games with back problems in August, he appeared in 119 games, his highest total in four years.29 The 12 homers and 68 RBIs he produced were his best figures since 1966. Overall, he batted .245 in 388 at-bats. The Dodgers battled for the NL West title until the final day of the season but finished one game behind the Giants.

In 1972, Frenchy enjoyed his best spring training ever and beat out rookie Bobby Valentine for the second base job, batting fifth on Opening Day.30 The season started late because of a players’ strike, and Lefebvre took advantage of the delay to get in extra work and improve his batting and physical condition.31

Despite these efforts, the season was a distinct disappointment for the utility infielder and the Dodgers as he finished with the worst statistics of his career. LA finished third behind the Reds and Astros and Lefebvre batted only .201 in in 70 games. He managed five homers and 24 RBIs in 169 at-bats in what proved to be his last action as a major-league player.

In November, Lefebvre and Parker received the first Brian Piccolo Award from the National Council of YMCAs in Chicago for their continuing efforts at preventing drug abuse.32As for baseball, Frenchy had to decide whether to retire, to remain an irregular performer or, perhaps, to find another setting where he could start. He opted for the latter. LA released Lefebvre so he could sign a three-year, no-cut contract for $300,000 with the Lotte Orions and play in Japan from 1973-75. According to columnist Ross Newhan in The Sporting News, Lefebvre also received a house in Tokyo and expense money.33

Playing mostly first base in 1973, Frenchy hit .265 with 29 homers and 63 RBIs in 400 at-bats. His slugging percentage was .523.

The following season, he was one of 20 Americans playing in the two Japanese Major Leagues.34 In 82 contests, he batted .283 with 14 homers and 52 RBIs. When Lotte defeated the Chunichi Dragons four games two in the championship playoffs, Lefebvre became the first player to be on both a World Series and Japan Series champion

Lefebvre only appeared in 47 contests for Lotte in 1975. He returned to the club in 1976 for what would be his final season as an active player, and he seemed to be wearing out his welcome. He got into a feud with manager Masaichi Kaneda, who threatened to punch Jim when he threw his glove against the dugout wall after being removed from a game.35 Apparently, however, tensions between the two subsided because Lefebvre coached with Kaneda the following season.

Lefebvre returned to the U.S. in 1978 when he briefly became a scout for the Dodgers before becoming manager of their Rookie League team in Lethbridge, Alberta.36 37Lethbridge finished fifth with a 33-35 record, and its roster included future major leaguers Steve Sax, Mitch Webster, Mike Marshall and Candy Maldonado.

For 1979, Frenchy became hitting instructor and first base coach on Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda’s staff, replacing the recently deceased Gilliam.38 Jim had grown very close to Lasorda, who had encouraged him throughout his career. “Tommy knows what it takes to win,” Jim said. “He stresses the mental aspect of the game, the physical, and, as you well know, the emotional, too.”

A week after the season, Lasorda fired Lefebvre even though the manager had endorsed the jacket of Lefebvre’s 1979 book The Making of a Hitter, co-authored by Jim and his father, saying “Jim’s the best hitting coach I know.” Lefebvre also wrote Backyard Baseball in 1997 to help parents coach their children in youth sports.

Jim cited a personality conflict and a difference in batting theories with Lasorda, who said he was not happy with the job Lefebvre had done. On February 17, 1980, the former friends fought at KNBC Studios in Burbank, California, where they were both were scheduled to tape interviews. According to witnesses, Lasorda finished first and waited for Frenchy to arrive. Then they went into an empty studio and began shouting at each other. When two NBC employees entered, Lefebvre and Lasorda were seen wrestling on the carpet. Jim said Lasorda took off his coat and charged at him, and Lefebvre then threw one punch, bloodying Lasorda’s nose. 39 TSN columnist Dick Young said Lasorda started the altercation by accusing Lefebvre of trying to undermine him, and Lefebvre responded by accusing Tommy of selling him out as a Dodger coach.39

Frenchy then became a coach and batting instructor for Dave Bristol’s San Francisco Giants for the 1980 season. Darrell Evans, Jack Clark and Larry Herndon were among the players who benefited from Lefebvre’s hitting instruction. 40 41 42

A project for Frenchy during the strike season of 1981 was helping Giant shortstop Johnnie LeMaster try to become a switch hitter by having him take 200 left-handed swings a day.43

Jim also met his second wife, Ruth Endersby, during this time.44 They had three children: daughters Briana and Brittany, and a son, Bryce.

In 1982, Jim was promoted to Giants Field Director of Player Development.45 The following year, he started the team’s annual winter training camp, the first by any baseball organization in winter when top minor league prospects received a refresher course in fundamentals, and veterans reported for off-season conditioning. 46

Frenchy returned to the dugout in 1985 as manager of the Giants’ Triple-A Phoenix club while keeping his title as field director of player development.47 He led the Phoenix Giants to an 80-62 record and an appearance in the Pacific Coast League Championship Series. In 1986, he guided Phoenix to the PCL’s South Division championship.

Lefebvre moved to Oakland for the 1987 season as manager Tony La Russa’s hitting and third base coach. 48 He stayed with the Athletics for two years and assisted such players as Mark McGwire and Walt Weiss. 49 50

Jim’s range of experience paid dividends at the end of the 1988 season when he signed a two-year contract to manage the Seattle Mariners, succeeding interim manager Jim Snyder. He approached his latest challenge with the utmost optimism even though the Mariners were coming off a 68-93 season. Eight previous skippers had failed to lead the 1977 expansion franchise to even a .500 record. “[First baseman] Alvin Davis is a winner, [pitcher] Mark Langston is a winner, [pitcher] Mike Moore is a winner, [second baseman] Harold Reynolds is a winner,” insisted Frenchy. “They’re not losers. They just haven’t won yet.” 51

Lefebvre came to spring training as upbeat as possible. So upbeat, in fact, that Langston and third baseman Jim Presley rendered him speechless by buying about 60 “I’m a Lefebvre Believer” t-shirts in honor of their new manager. 52

Unfortunately, the feelings of goodwill and hope did not bring success in 1989. Moore left as a free agent before the start of the season and Langston, the staff ace, was traded in May. By August eleven players, including touted rookie Ken Griffey Jr., had visited the disabled list. A late-season slide doomed Seattle to a 73-89 record and sixth-place finish in the American League West.

In 1990, the Seattle players nicknamed Lefebvre “Duracell” because he never seemed to run out of energy.53 Unfortunately, as in Lefebvre’s first season at the helm, the team was plagued by frequent injuries. Seven Mariners had in-season surgery, and Seattle finished fifth with a 77-85 record. 54

Lefebvre signed a one-year contract to remain the Mariners’ manager in 1991. The club hung within a half-game of first until mid-May and went 83-79 overall. Despite leading Seattle to its first ever winning season, Frenchy and pitching coach Mike Paul were dismissed at the end of the season. The fact that Jim had said the Seattle team lacked the funds to win the AL West may have had something to do with his departure.55 Still, his three-year 233-253 managerial record made him the winningest skipper in Mariners history up to that time.

Lefebvre did not stay unemployed for long, because new Chicago Cubs general manager Larry Himes chose him over Cub coaches Tom Trebelhorn and Chuck Cottier to fill the NL East team’s managerial opening for 1992.56 To improve on Chicago’s 77-83 record, Frenchy planned to concentrate in spring training on baserunning, which he perceived to be the team’s chronic fundamental weakness. “I want to be able to run because it’s a weapon,” he said. “Speed dictates what the pitcher is going to throw. The Cubs, over the years, have not traditionally been a good baserunning club, but basically, we’re still a big inning club. This team is not going to have a problem scoring runs.” 57

However, Chicago was shut out nine times in its first 46 games and ranked just 10th in the NL in runs scored en route to a 78-84, fourth-place finish in 1992. Injuries to three shortstops, –including starter Shawon Dunston– plus outfielder Sammy Sosa and pitcher Mike Harkey undermined the Cubs’ chances. 58

After Greg Maddux and Andre Dawson departed as free agents, the team’s situation looked even more dire entering the 1993 season. Despite those losses, Lefebvre guided Chicago to only its third winning season (84-78) since 1972. The Cubs placed fourth, 13 games behind NL champion Philadelphia. Unfortunately, it was not good enough to save Lefebvre’s job. “My heart’s broken, and I’m at a loss for words,” said Frenchy, who was surprised and embittered to be fired after meeting with General Manager Himes for two days in Phoenix. “I thought I did the best job under the circumstances.” 59

Lefebvre replaced Greg Luzinski as the Oakland A’s batting instructor in 1994, reuniting with La Russa.60 Explaining that he felt “burned out from managing” and that he wanted “to get my feet on the ground and enjoy the game again,” Jim signed a two-year deal.61

Following his second and last season as A’s hitting coach, Lefebvre remained out of the majors until mid-August 1998 when Milwaukee Brewers manager Phil Garner hired him to succeed hitting coach Lamar Johnson.62 That winter, Frenchy helped Brewers such as Jeff Cirillo, Geoff Jenkins, Brian Banks and Bobby Hughes by holding hitting clinics at his home in the Phoenix area.63 In 1999 Lefebvre remained Milwaukee’s hitting instructor. After Garner was fired in August, Jim took over as interim manager and guided the Brewers to 22 wins in their final 49 games.

After conducting hitting clinics in Europe in 2000 and 2001, Lefebvre served as hitting instructor in 2002 for Bob Boone’s Cincinnati Reds. Next, he was hired to rebuild the Chinese National Baseball Team in 2003. Beginning in 2005, Frenchy managed China in the Baseball World Cup, Asian Championship, Asian Games, World Baseball Classic and Summer Olympics.

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China was guaranteed its first Olympic baseball appearance as the host team and did not have to play qualifying games like the other entrants. Understandably, the country was ecstatic when its lightly regarded squad stunned favored rival Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), 8-7, in 12 innings for China’s first ever Olympic baseball victory. Chinese Tapei had won five Asian Baseball Championships, the bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the silver medal in 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

The San Diego Padres hired Lefebvre to become their fourth hitting coach in four seasons in 2009, but he was fired in July, ending a professional baseball career that lasted more than four decades.

In eight seasons as a major-league player, Lefebvre batted .251 with 74 home runs in 922 games. His overall record as a big-league skipper for three teams was 417-442.

As of 2021, Jim lives in San Diego with his wife, Marla (Meany). His son, Ryan, has been a play-by-play announcer for the Kansas City Royals since 1999.

Last revised: February 23, 2021

Acknowledgments

This biography was reviewed by Malcolm Allen and Joe DeSantis and checked for accuracy by SABR’s fact-checking team.

Sources

In addition to the sources cited in the Notes, the author also consulted www.ancestry.com, www.baseball-reference.com, Los Angeles Dodgers’ yearbooks from 1966-1972 and the 1980 San Francisco Giants media guide.

Notes

1 Bob Hunter, “Ooh La-La! Dodger Camp’s Ga-Ga Over Frenchy Lefebvre,” The Sporting News, March 27, 1965: 3.

2 Bob Hunter, “Lefebvre Tosses Wrench in Dodger Plan,” The Sporting News, April 24, 1965: 5.

3 “Meet the Members of the Topps-National Association All-Star Team,” The Sporting News, October 27, 1962: 31.

4 Bob Hunter, “Sleeper Lefebvre—A Real Eye-Opener for Dodgers’ Brass,” The Sporting News, November 14, 1964: 12.

5 Harry Jupiter, “Watch Young Alou, Batting-Title Threat,” The Sporting News, May 15, 1965: 4.

6 Bob Hunter, “Robinson Phone Call Helped Lefebvre to Ring Up Big Season,” The Sporting News, November 6, 1965: 4.

7 “Frosh Star Lefebvre Lands 100 Percent Salary Boost,” The Sporting News, February 12, 1966: 11.

8 Bob Hunter, “Lefebvre Credo: Practice Makes Perfect,” The Sporting News, December 25, 1966: 3.

9 Bob Hunter, “Behind the Scenes, Alston Proves He’s Quite a Leader,” The Sporting News, July 16, 1966: 6.

10 Bob Hunter, “A Dodger Lifesaver – – That’s Lefebvre,” The Sporting News, October 15, 1966: 3.

11 Dick Kaegel, “A Report That Led to a Dodger Disaster,” The Sporting News, October 29, 1966: 25.

12 Bob Hunter, “Sandy Pegging Sutton the Key to Dodger Flag,” The Sporting News, March 4, 1967: 7.

13 “Jim Only L.A. 3rd Sacker to Open 2 Seasons at Spot,” The Sporting News, July 29, 1967: 27.

14 Bob Hunter, “Sutton Puts Big Smile on Dodger Plans,” The Sporting News, June 17, 1967: 15.

15 Bob Hunter, “Cool It — Claude Ices Wing in Bid To Log 20 Wins,” The Sporting News, August 26, 1967: 17.

16 “Major Flashes,” The Sporting News, August 26, 1967: 25.

17 Bob Hunter, “Lefebvre Works on Homer Swing,” The Sporting News, November 25, 1967: 38.

18 Internet Movie Database

19 William Leggett, “From Pop Art to Bounce Back,” Sports Illustrated, February 26, 1968: 22.

20 Bob Hunter, “Dodgers Crooning Up, Up and Away with Zoilo’s Help,” The Sporting News, April 13, 1968: 30.

21 Bob Hunter, “Dodgers Hope Cleo James Can Fill Ferrara’s Shoes,” The Sporting News, April 27, 1968: 21.

22 Bob Hunter, “Dodgers’ Few Runs Doing Work of Many,” The Sporting News, May 18, 1968: 18.

23 Bob Hunter, “Dodgers Expect to Transplant Returning Lefebvre in Garden,” The Sporting News, July 6, 1968: 18.

24 Dick Young, “Young Ideas,” The Sporting News, April 11, 1970: 16.

25 C.C. Johnson Spink, “We Believe…Baseball Joins War on Drugs,” The Sporting News, November 20, 1971: 16.

26 Bob Hunter, “Dodgers’ Willie D. Sees 13 as Lucky,” The Sporting News, February 26, 1972: 41.

27 “Speaking for a Cause,” The Sporting News, October 6, 1973: 12.

28 Bob Hunter, “Lefebvre Answers Dodgers’ Call for Help with Fast Bat,” The Sporting News, June 26, 1971: 14.

29 Bob Hunter, “Ferguson Finds Luck in Dodger ‘13’,” The Sporting News, August 28, 1971: 20.

30 Bob Hunter, “Dodgers’ Winter Deals Look Better and Better,” The Sporting News, May 13, 1972: 3.

31 “Major Flashes, Dad Helped Lefebvre,” The Sporting News, May 6, 1972: 30.

32 “Jim Lefebvre and Wes Parker Share the First Brian Piccolo Award,” New York Times, November 2, 1972.

33 Ross Newhan, “Last but Not Least,” The Sporting News, February 10, 1973: 51.

34 Robert Obojski, “20 Americans Thrive on Japanese Baseball Diet,” The Sporting News, August 10, 1974: 17.

35 Robert Whiting, “Obituary: Masaichi Kaneda, Japanese Legend with Korean Roots,” Nikkei Asian Review, October 8, 2019: 47.

36 Gordon Verrell, “More Homers Lurk in Dodger Arsenal,” The Sporting News, January 28, 1978: 47.

37 Gordon Verrell, “Lefebvre on Phase 2 as Dodger Farm Manager,” The Sporting News, February 18, 1978: 50.

38 Gordon Verrell, “Dodgers Turn Other Cheek Now Thomas Is One of Them,” The Sporting News, December 2, 1978: 47.

39 Dick Young, “Young Ideas,” The Sporting News, March 8, 1980: 1.

40 Nick Peters, “Giants Soft-Spoken Evans Let’s His Bat Do His Talking,” The Sporting News, June 7, 1980: 31.

41 Nick Peters, “Clark Worries Less—And Swats More,”, The Sporting News, June 21, 1980: 10.

42 Nick Peters, “Patient Giants Rewarded with Herndon Surge” The Sporting News, August 16, 1980: 31.

43 Stan Isle, “Notebook,” The Sporting News, March 7, 1981: 16.

44 Joey Reaves, “Baseball’s at the Center of Lefebvre’s World,” Chicago Tribune, February 23, 1992.

45 Nick Peters, “Nelson, Lefebvre Given New Posts,” The Sporting News, September 13, 1982: 29.

46 Nick Peters, “Lefebvre Spreads Mini-Camp Gospel,” The Sporting News, January 31, 1983: 39.

47 Nick Peters, “$2 Million Package for Leonard,” The Sporting News, December 3, 1984: 53.

48 “Athletics,” The Sporting News, November 9, 1987: 53.

49 Kit Stier, “Seven Days in May Prove Beneficial,” The Sporting News, June 27, 1988: 19.

50 Kit Stier, “McGwire Needs to Readjust,” The Sporting News, July 4, 1988: 16.

51 Bob McCoy, “Keeping Score,” The Sporting News, November 21, 1988: 12.

52 “Mariners,” The Sporting News, April 3, 1989: 21.

53 Bob McCoy, “Keeping Score,” The Sporting News, April 9, 1990: 6.

54 “Hanson Now No. 1 Seattle Righthander,” The Sporting News, October 15, 1990: 24.

55 Bob Nightengale, “L.A. Story is Spiced with Discontentment,” The Sporting News, December 2, 1991: 37.

56 Dave Van Dyck, “Baseball, N.L. East, Chicago Cubs,” The Sporting News, December 2, 1991: 38.

57 Dave Van Dyck, “Baseball, N.L. East, Chicago Cubs,” The Sporting News, March 23, 1992: 14.

58 Joe Goddard, “Baseball, N.L. East, Chicago Cubs,” The Sporting News, October 12, 1992: 19.

59 Dave Van Dyck, “Baseball, “Chicago Cubs,” The Sporting News, October 18, 1993: 24.

60 Ron Kroichick, “Oakland Athletics,” The Sporting News, November 1, 1993: 21.

61 Ron Kroichick, “Oakland Athletics,” The Sporting News, November 22, 1993: 42.

62 Drew Olson, “Milwaukee, Vino, Cirillo, Declare Gold Glove Candidacy,” The Sporting News, September 7, 1998: 75.

63 Drew Olson, “Milwaukee,” The Sporting News, January 4, 1999: 58.