Lee Handley

Infobox MLB retired
name=Lee Handley
position=Third Baseman


bgcolor1=#e1b81e
bgcolor2=black
textcolor1=black
textcolor2=white
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=July 31, 1913
city-state|Clarion|Iowa
deathdate=death date and age|1970|4|8|1913|7|31
city-state|Pittsburgh|Pennsylvania
debutdate= April 15
debutyear= 1936
debutteam= Cincinnati Reds
finaldate=September 28
finalyear=1947
finalteam= Philadelphia Phillies
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.269
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=902
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=298
teams=
* Cincinnati Reds (1936)
* Pittsburgh Pirates (1937-1941, 1944-1946)
* Philadelphia Phillies (1947)
highlights=
*National League stolen base champion: 1939

Lee Elmer Handley (July 13, 1913 - April 8, 1970) was a second baseman/third baseman who played in Major League Baseball between by|1936 and by|1947. Nicknamed "Jeep", Handley batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Clarion, Iowa. His younger brother, Gene, also played in major league from 1946-47.

Listed at 5' 7", 160 lb., Handley was a flashy infielder and a disciplinated hitter as well. He reached the majors in 1936 with the Cincinnati Reds, spending one year with them before moving to the Pittsburgh Pirates (1937-41, 1944-46) and Philadelphia Phillies (1947). He was a rookie Pirate regular at second base in 1937, and a full- or part-time third baseman from 1938 through 1941. His most productive season came in 1938, when he posted career-numbers in games played (139), runs (91), hits (153), doubles (25), home runs (6) and runs batted in (51). He also was considered in the Most Valuable Player vote.

In 1939 Handley hit a career-high average of .285 and tied for the National League lead in stolen bases (17), despite suffering a serious beaning that kept him out of the lineup for 52 games. He also was hurt in an automobile accident before the 1942 season, but returned in 1945 to hit .298 in 98 games.

In a 10-season career, Handley was a .269 hitter with 15 home runs and 297 RBI in 968 games, including a solid 1.31 walk-to-strikeout ratio (267-to-204).

An alumnus of Bradley University, Handley died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at age of 57.

ee also

*List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions

External links

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/H/Handley_Lee.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/handlle01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/H/Phandl101.htm Retrosheet]
* [http://thedeadballera.com/Obits/Handley.Lee.Obit.html The Deadball Era]
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