Lee Elia, who managed the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies in a professional baseball career that lasted more than 50 years as a coach and player, died Wednesday at the age of 87, the Phillies announced Thursday.
Elia, an infielder who signed with the Phillies in 1958, played for the Chicago White Sox and the Cubs during his brief playing career, hitting .203 with 3 home runs and 25 RBIs in 95 games over the 1966 and ’68 seasons.
It was as a manager and coach where Elia made his mark. He landed his first managerial job in 1982 with the Cubs at age 44. In his two seasons with the Cubs, Elia went 127-158, but he was most remembered for his expletive-filled rant directed at Cubs fans just 19 games into the 1983 season.
He managed the Phillies during the 1987 and ’88 seasons, going 111-42.
During his long coaching career, he served as Philadelphia’s third base coach during the Phillies’ 1980 championship season.
“Affiliated with 10 different organizations throughout his distinguished career, he always considered himself a Phillie at heart,” the team posted on X.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is adding his name to the list of Home Run Derby participants.
Rooker announced Thursday that he’s participating in the event, which takes place Monday in Atlanta. He will become the first Athletics player in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021.
Competing in the Home Run Derby has always been a dream of mine,” Rooker said in an Instagram post.“Can’t wait to make it happen next week in Atlanta! See ya there!”
Rooker, 30, entered Thursday with a .270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace for a third straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 and had 39 homers in 2024.
His 58 homers since the start of the 2024 season rank him third among all American League players.
The only A’s to win the Derby were Mark McGwire in 1992 and Yoenis Céspedes in 2013 and 2014.
Other announced participants include Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Washington’s James Wood.
