Chet Lemon, former All-Star outfielder for the White Sox, dead at 70

CHICAGO (WGN) — Chet Lemon, a former All-Star outfielder for the Chicago White Sox, has died at the age of 70.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Lemon died in his Apopka, Florida home Thursday.

“He was sleeping on his reclining sofa,” Gigi Lemon, his wife, told the Free Press. “He just wasn’t responsive.”

After retiring in 1990, Lemon was diagnosed with polycythemia vera, a rare blood disorder causing excessive red blood cell production. He underwent spleen surgery the same year and had it removed in 2001. As a result of the condition, he also suffered at least 13 strokes, which left him unable to walk or speak clearly by 2024.

Lemon was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics with the 22nd overall pick in the 1972 MLB draft. Two years later on June 15, 1974 he and pitcher Dave Hamilton were dealt to the White Sox for pitchers Stan Bahnsen and Skip Pitlock just before the trade deadline.

Lemon made his MLB debut on the South Side in 1975. He started his Sox career at third base before then-manager Paul Richards moved him to center field ahead of the 1976 season.

Lemon played seven seasons for the South Siders, earning American League All-Star honors from 1978-79. He set the single-season AL record for putouts by an outfielder in 1977 (512)—a record that still stands today—and led the AL in doubles in 1979.

In 1981, Lemon said he verbally agreed to a five-year contract with the White Sox that would have made him the team’s highest-paid player. However, when Carlton Fisk signed a larger deal, Lemon realized he never signed the original contract, which led him to ask for more money, and negotiations stalled. Lemon went on to be traded to the Detroit Tigers for Steve Kemp.

He played nine seasons with the Tigers, which included his third All-Star selection and a World Series championship in 1984.

Lemon is survived by his wife, Gigi, and five children. He had four kids with his previous wife, Valerie Jones—Chester Jr, David, Geneva and Marcus—and one child with Gigi, who is named Brianna.