Lee Gooch
Lee Currin Gooch
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.
- School Wake Forest University
- Debut August 17, 1915
- Final Game June 29, 1917
- Born February 23, 1890 in Oxford, NC USA
- Died May 18, 1966 in Raleigh, NC USA
Biographical Information[edit]
Lee Gooch played two games for the 1915 Cleveland Indians, for whom he made his debut shortly before the Indians traded Joe Jackson. Lee came back to the majors in 1917 for 17 games with the 1917 Philadelphia Athletics, posting an above-average batting line of .288/.333/.373. He also played 15 seasons in the minors, much of it in the South. He was often a player-manager, managing for nine seasons in the minors. He was often the best hitter on the minor league teams for whom he played.
He coached Duke University in 1919 and Wake Forest University in 1949-1950. Lee had previously attended Wake Forest, at the same time as Larry Woodall was there.
Gooch was responsible for Luke Stuart coming to the majors, according to the SABR biography of Stuart. Stuart had retired, but Gooch was managing in 1920, and coaxed him to come back. Gooch had played for manager Lee Fohl back in 1915, and Fohl noticed Gooch's success with the Richmond Colts for whom Stuart played. Fohl managed the 1921 St. Louis Browns and acquired Stuart in the summer of 1921.
Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | Raleigh Capitals | North Carolina State League | 8-20 | -- | Team disbanded on May 18 | |
| 1920 | Richmond Colts | Virginia League | 76-38 | 1st | Lost League Finals | |
| 1922 | Durham Bulls | Piedmont League | 69-58 | 2nd | League Champs | |
| 1923 | Durham Bulls | Piedmont League | 48-74 | 6th | ||
| 1925 | Greensboro Patriots | Piedmont League | -- | -- | replaced by Hardin Herndon on July 2 | |
| 1926 | Greensboro Patriots | Piedmont League | 86-60 | 1st | League Champs | |
| 1927 | Rocky Mount Buccaneers | Piedmont League | 84-60 | 1st | ||
| 1928 | Fayetteville Highlanders | Eastern Carolina League | -- | -- | replaced by Pooly Hubert on August 22 | |
| 1929 | Henderson Bunnies | Piedmont League | 29-32 | -- | -- | replaced Lew Murphy (1-2) on May 26 replaced by Guy Winston (13-32) on July 26 |
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