The Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer has taken countless tumbles in his life, yet he has always managed to rise again. Even last year, when Lee faced a challenging chapter, he never remained down for long. Lee collapsed twice while pitching for the lively and captivating Savannah Bananas.
He was finished, but not defeated. “These aren’t health scares,” Lee explained to WMUR-TV. “They’re simply events.” Following several cardiac crises that culminated in a major surgery, including the placement of a stent in a blocked artery in Lee’s heart, the determined 77-year-old aimed to return to pitching.
The towering left-hander rejoined his beloved exhibition team on the mound once more. The man known as Spaceman for his unrestrained spirit refused to stay down after his operation. Lee’s cardiologist, Hannah Chaudry, encouraged him to remain active and continue playing baseball, even after the life-saving procedure.
“I advised him to remain active and keep playing baseball,” Chaudry said to her patient. Lee heeded her advice. “I’ve faced setbacks countless times,” Lee remarked. “But I live by one rule: if you slide, stand back up.” It sounds straightforward, but it’s not always simple, especially for a 77-year-old recovering from significant heart surgery.
Yet here Lee is, a year later, at 78, still tossing his signature eephus pitch into the catcher’s glove. Lee played 14 seasons in the major leagues, spending a decade with Boston and four years with the Montreal Expos. His vibrant personality shone as brightly off the field as it did on it. Approaching 80, Lee continues to embrace life one pitch at a time, persistently moving forward, and always, always, rising again.
