Former Detroit Tigers All-Star Chet Lemon, who led the franchise to a World Series championship in 1984, has passed away at the age of 70.
Chet Lemon’s wife, Gigi Lemon, told the Detroit Free Press that he passed away at his home in Apopka, Florida. Gigi said her husband was sleeping on his reclining sofa and “just wasn’t responsive.”
The Detroit Tigers released a statement on Lemon’s passing on Thursday afternoon:
The Detroit Tigers join all of baseball in mourning the passing of Chet Lemon. While he was a World Series Champion and All-Star on the field, perhaps his biggest impact came off of it. That includes creating the Chet Lemon Foundation and dedicating much of his post-playing… pic.twitter.com/oXE4Om58RG
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 8, 2025
According to the Detroit Free Press, Chet Lemon had multiple blood clots and “at least 13 stores” after retiring in 1990. He wasn’t able to speak or walk and was diagnosed with a blood disorder called polycythemia vera.
The Oakland Athletics selected Lemon in the first round (22nd overall) in the 1972 Major League Baseball draft. That legendary class also featured Hall of Famers Gary Carter, Dennis Eckersley and future All-Stars that included Roy Howell, Scott McGregor, Bob Knepper and Rick Honeycutt.
Chet Lemon was traded to the Chicago White Sox during the 1975 season and made his MLB debut later that year, appearing in nine games. He earned his first All-Star selection in 1978 after batting .300 with 13 homers, 55 RBI, and an .887 OPS.
Detroit acquired Lemon in an 1981 offseason trade with the White Sox. He spent his final nine MLB seasons with the Tigers and finished with 215 career homers, 884 RBI and a .273 batting average.
Lemon had four children with his first wife, Valerie, and a daughter with Gigi. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lemon’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.
Chet Lemon Was A Pivotal Part Of The 1984 Tigers’ World Series Championship Team
The three-time All-Star proved to be one of the final pieces the Tigers needed to get over the hump. In Detroit’s 1984 World Series championship season, he batted .287 with 20 homers and 76 RBI, earning the last All-Star Nod of his career.