Some sad news to pass along out of Tennessee.
According to the Associated Press, Charlie Lea passed away yesterday at the age of 54. Collierville police chief Larry Goodwin told the Commercial Appeal that he died of a suspected heart attack.
Lea pitched seven seasons in the big leagues, six of them with the Expos, and finished his career with the Twins in 1988. The French-born right-hander went 62-48 with a 3.54 ERA in 152 career games.
Lea is probably best known for throwing a no-hitter against the Giants in the second game of a double-header on May 10, 1981. But he was actually one of the better starting pitchers in the National League for a brief stretch before shoulder problems derailed his career, even starting and winning the All-Star Game in the 1984.
Lea was still involved in baseball in recent years, doing radio play-by-play for the local Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. May he rest in peace.
