Underrated Star Players Volume 1: Derrek Lee

Derrek Lee. A pivotal part of a championship team, nearly 100 extra bases hit in another season, he was one of the least appreciated star hitters over the past 30 years. Here's to some love for the former 1st baseman of the Marlins, Cubs and 4 other teams he spent roughly a season with.

For Derrek, it all got started as an 18 year being drafted with the 14th overall pick in the 1993 MLB Amateur Draft by the San Diego Padres. He made his debut in 1997 playing 22 games, the only 22 games he'd play in a Padres uniform and hitting his first career home run on September 28th, 1997 on the final day of the season off of Cory Bailey in the top of the 11th inning. Less than 3 months later he was being packaged in a deal that would send star pitcher Kevin Brown to San Diego. The Florida Marlins were getting a young hitter with a lot of upside and became the everyday first baseman. In his first full season, Lee struggled to hit for average but showed flashes of power with 17 Home Runs and 74 RBIs. It was clear he was going to be apart of the rebuild after the Marlins tore the team down following the 1997 World Series.

1999 was a lost season for Lee as he only managed to play 70 games due to injury only logging 218 plate appearances batting .206, 5 home runs, 20 RBIs. It was also a lost season for the Marlins, by posting a 64-98 record and no sense of a light at the end of the tunnel. In 2000, the breakout began for Derrek, 28 home runs, 70 RBIs and an average that jumped to .281. It was clear Lee was starting to find his stride at the plate and continued into 2001 when he would hit .282 with 21 home runs and 75 RBIs. The consistency was starting to come to realization and it appeared the Marlins were ready to reap the benefits as the team started to improve. 2002 was the only season in which Lee played all 162 games and hit .270 with 27 home runs and 86 RBIs and his stardom was quickly rising. 

2003 was the true pinnacle in terms of team accomplishments for Lee and the Marlins. Derrek managed to hit .271 with 31 home runs and 92 RBIs and became an integral part of a team that went on to win the World Series and defeated the Yankees in 6 games. He also would be awarded the gold glove for the first time in his career. Overall it wasn't a particularly great postseason for Lee only managing 1 home run and 6 RBIs but I'm sure he will trade all of that for a trophy that will live on for a lifetime. 

    Following the 2003 World Series, On November 25th Derrek was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Hee-Seop Choi as the Marlins performed a post World Series tear down for the 2nd time in 6 years. The North Side of Chicago was about to get a star who was rising fast over the past few seasons and he did not disappoint. The 2004 season was a great one, .278 batting average 32 home runs and 98 RBIs in his new home. 

    2005 was a season for the ages. Nearly 100 extra base hits. 46 home runs, FIFTY doubles, 3 triples. He won his only career batting title batting .335 and also led the league in hits, doubles, slugging percentage and on base plus slugging percentage (OPS). He also recorded 107 RBIs and made his first career all star team and took home his 2nd gold glove at first base. He finished 3rd in the NL MVP voting behind winner Albert Pujols and runner up Andruw Jones who both had tremendous years.

    On April 10th, 2006 after his monster 2005 season, Lee and the Cubs agreed on a 5 year, $65 million deal that would keep him in the Windy City through the 2010 season. Unfortunately, less than 2 weeks later Lee suffered a broken wrist that would cost him 59 games and the Cubs season spiraled out of control.  He ended up only appearing in 50 games for the season, with 8 home runs and 35 RBIs. A bounce back was in the cards for 2007 as Lee returned to All Star form as he was selected to the midsummer classic for the 2nd time in 3 years. He posted a very respectable .317 average, launching 22 home runs and driving in 82 runs. 2007 would also mark a return to playoffs for Lee as he and the Cubs finished 85-77 and won the National League Central. However, despite Lee’s series of going 4 for 12, they lost to the Diamondbacks being swept 3 games to 0. 

    The Cubs success continued in 2008 as the team improved by 12 games, winning the Central division again this with a 97-65 record. Lee posted a .291 average with 20 home runs and 90 RBI’s as a huge force with Aramis Ramirez in the middle of the Cubs order. Again, despite a strong NLDS from Lee, the Cubs were swept for the second straight year, this time by the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Cubs World Series drought had now officially hit 100 years. In 2009, the power returned for Lee as he hit 35 home runs, drove in a career high 111 RBIs with a .306 average. However despite a 2nd place finish in the division, the Cubs failed to make the playoffs. 

    The 2010 season was very treacherous for Lee as his contract was set to expire and the Cubs were ready to tear the team down and start over. Derrek had turned 34, Alfonso Soriano was also 34, Aramis Ramirez was 32, the team was aging and they needed to get younger. Lee’s batting average had dipped to .251 in 109 games,  with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs before he was traded to the Atlanta Braves on August 18th. This was the third time in his career that he had been traded but being sent to Atlanta put him in the thick of a pennant race. He played 39 games for the Braves with 3 home runs and 24 RBIs as the Braves qualified for the postseason as a wild card team. Lee did not enjoy any success going 2 for 16 as the Braves were eliminated by the eventual champion San Francisco Giants.

    Lee hit free agency following the season for the first time and on January 6th, 2011 he agreed to a 1 year deal with the Baltimore Orioles. It was there where he appeared in 85 games posting a .241 average with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs. He was traded once again, this time to the Pittsburgh Pirates where in 28 games he hit .337 with 7 HR and 18 RBIs to end the year, he also missed significant time due to a second broken wrist. 

Following the end of the 2011 season, Derrek Lee announced his retirement from baseball after 15 seasons and 1 World Series title. Unfortunately he never got the recognition as one of the games best players but from 2002 to 2009 he was a force at the plate, showing consistency with his power and defense winning 3 gold gloves. Lee had a fantastic career in the big leagues.