Jim Lefebvre


James Kenneth Lefebvre 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. Lefebvre also played four seasons in Japan, from 1973 until 1976, for the Lotte Orions. He was a big league manager from 1989–1993, and briefly again in 1999, and was formerly the hitting coach for the Cincinnati Reds.
He became the first player to have won a World Series and a Japan Series. 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.

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. 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 and drew over 2.1 million, but Lefebvre's contract was not extended; he was succeeded by assistant coach Bill Plummer. Lefebvre finished with a record of 233 wins and 253 losses. Lefebvre was soon hired by the Chicago Cubs in November, and led them during the 1992 and 1993 seasons; he was released again after a posting a winning record, Chicago was in the 1993 season. With the Milwaukee Brewers, he was the interim manager for the final seven weeks of the
In addition to managing, Lefebvre has spent time coaching in the Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and San Diego Padres organizations. He coached the China National Baseball Team in 2005, the 2006 World Baseball Classic, and 2008 Olympics.

Managerial record

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. He is also a spokesman for Vemma vitamin supplements.

Family

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 Fox Sports Kansas City.