Former Detroit Tigers outfielder Chet Lemon died May 8. He was 70 years old.
Lemon played in MLB for 16 seasons, the last nine of them from 1982-90 as a member of the Tigers after a contract clash sent him from the Chicago White Sox to Detroit. He had his most memorable season in 1984, when he was named an American League All-Star and played a huge role on the Tigers’ World Series-winning team.
Lemon suffered from multiple health conditions since his retirement in 1990, including a series of clots and at least 13 strokes, leaving him unable to walk or talk.
He appeared at Comerica Park on August 31, 2024, for the 40th anniversary of the team’s 1984 world championship in his last public appearance with the Tigers.
Here’s a roundup of reactions following Lemon’s passing:
BREAKING: Chet Lemon, 1984 Detroit @Tigers hero, dies at age 70 https://t.co/fFjKjVUDSW pic.twitter.com/3EDXX7AqIp
RIP Chet Lemon, the former All-Star center fielder and 1984 Detroit Tigers World Series champion
Chet Lemon has passed away at age 70. All-Star on the 1984 WS Tigers, Chet was a HUGE part of that season and all the way to 1990. Came to Detroit 1981 trade from #WhiteSox for Steve Kemp. Hit 215 career HRs. Helluva outfielder. Many of us always called him Chester. #RIP34 pic.twitter.com/TF92NMrLny
In honor of Chet Lemon … here’s a funny promo celebrating his greatest moment with the @tigers — robbing Hall of Famer @RodCarew_29 of a walkoff homer in Anaheim. I was at a friend’s birthday party then … and screamed like a banshee throughout the house. https://t.co/RsMPHljdiv
RIP CHET LEMON
A fan favorite and key member of the 1984 World Series Tigers who covered a ton of ground in CF in a couple of spacious ballparks. He still ranks 25th in career OF putouts ahead of defensive stars like Mantle, Flood, Snider, Pinson, Torii Hunter & Puckett. pic.twitter.com/Pw246aiP1j
My favorite Detroit Tiger when I was a kid RIP, Chet Lemon pic.twitter.com/hje24jhUYS
RIP Chet Lemon.
Back in 1999, our varsity baseball team spent a week in Orlando with Chet. (He’s in this pic, red jacket in the middle. My arm around him)
It was an amazing experience and he taught us a lot. He’d say to me after running us hard “Doc, your hammies hurtin’?” pic.twitter.com/mvxpLHEsy9
Thank you, Chet Lemon. My all time favorite @tigers player. Only jersey I’ve ever owned. #RepDetroit pic.twitter.com/bg764qNpav
A childhood hero, a great man, wonderful husband and father. God Bless Chet Lemon.
1984. Chet Lemon. Tiger Stadium. All his years here, forever engrained.
Please consider a donation to the @ChetFoundation How wonderful it would be to see hundreds of $34.00 donations to… pic.twitter.com/xQCwB8TGS4
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chet Lemon death: Reaction to passing of a Detroit Tigers fan favorite
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
