Lee Mazzilli

Lee Louis Mazzilli
(Mazz or The Italian Stallion)

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.
• High School Abraham Lincoln High School (New York)
• Debut September 7, 1976
• Final Game September 29, 1989
• Born March 25, 1955 in New York, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Lee Mazzilli was drafted with the 14th overall pick in the 1973 amateur draft. He debuted in pro ball in 1974 with the Anderson Mets. On June 8, 1975 he stole 7 bases in a 7 inning game for the Visalia Mets. He reached the major leagues with the Mets late in the 1976 season and was their main centerfielder until the end of the 1981 season.

Leading off the 8th inning of the 1979 All-Star Game, Lee hit a game-tying home run for the National League. In the 9th, he walked with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run.

The Mets traded Mazzilli to the Texas Rangers in April 1982 for Ron Darling and Walt Terrell (who was later traded for Howard Johnson). Both Darling and Johnson were key members of the great Mets team of the 1980s, while Mazzilli was never again a full-time player in the majors. Lee deteriorated rapidly as a player after he was traded to the Rangers; he first developed back problems while with the Mets in 1979. In his time in Pittsburgh he was noted for having the weakest arm in the National League. Lee testified in the 1985 Pittsburgh drug trials.

Lee was a nationally known speed skater as a youth, winning 3 consecutive St. Louis Silver Skates championships from 1965-1967. Lee graduated from Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, NY.

After his playing career ended, Mazzilli was a coach for the New York Yankees from 2000 to 2003. After managing the Baltimore Orioles for a year and a half, he returned to the Yankees as a coach for the 2006 season.

Mazzilli's father, Libero Mazzilli, was a professional boxer. His son, L.J. Mazzilli, began his minor league career in 2013.

Notable Achievements

• NL All-Star (1979)
• Won a World Series with the New York Mets in 1986

Preceded by Mike Hargrove

Baltimore Orioles Manager 2004-2005

Succeeded by Sam Perlozzo

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1997	Tampa Yankees	Florida State League	70-66	5th	New York Yankees
1998	Tampa Yankees	Florida State League	72-67	6th	New York Yankees	Lost League Finals
1999	Norwich Navigators	Eastern League	78-64	3rd	New York Yankees	Lost League Finals
2004	Baltimore Orioles	American League	78-84	3rd	Baltimore Orioles
2005	Baltimore Orioles	American League	51-56	--	Baltimore Orioles		replaced by Sam Perlozzo on August 4

Related Sites

• Lee Mazzilli at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Manager page
• Profile at Pittsburgh Lumber Co., part of the Most Valuable Network