Chet Lemon is one of baseball’s true under-appreciated stars. A veteran of 16 big league seasons, Lemon’s career is best seen through the lens of WAR. He boasts eight 4-WAR seasons, four 5-WAR years, and two 6-WAR campaigns. His career total surpasses many Hall of Fame players.

Lemon began his time in the majors with the Chicago White Sox in 1975 and quickly established himself as an everyday player. Defensively, the fleet-footed centerfielder got to fly balls many others could not. Lemon was well above average in most facets of the game.

By 1977 the 22-year old made his first All Star team. Two years later he made the squad again. His final five years in the Windy City from 1977 to 1981 featured 24.8 WAR, an average of 4.96 per season.

In November of ’81, the White Sox traded him to Detroit for Steve Kemp. The trade paid dividends for the Tigers and their new acquisition.

After a solid season in ’82 Lemon put up back-to-back seasons of 6.2 WAR in ’83 and ’84. The ’84 campaign was especially sweet. In the first 9 games – all Tiger victories – Lemon hit .353 with 7 extra-base hits and 10 RBI. Detroit raced to a 35-5 record to start the season with Lemon driving in 50 runs in the first 40 contests.

Three Motown men started the ’84 All Star Game – Lemon in center, Lance Parish behind the plate, and Lou Whitaker at second. They were joined in the Mid Summer Classic by 1984 AL regular-season MVP Willie Hernandez out of the pen.

The Tigers led the division wire-to-wire and set the franchise record with 104 regular season wins. After a sweep of the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS, Detroit needed just five games to brush aside a tough San Diego squad in the Fall Classic.

Lemon remained productive in his 30s. In 1985 at age 30 he recorded his eighth campaign of 4+ WAR. Two years later he slugged 20 homers and put up a 130 OPS+. In 1988 the acquisition of five-time Gold Glove centerfielder Gary Pettis pushed Lemon to right field. Chet played through his age-35 season in 1990 when he posted a respectable 2.4 WAR.

Though his counting numbers are solid – 1,875 hits, 215 homers, and a .275 batting average – a deeper look shows Chet Lemon’s true value. His 55.6 career WAR ranks ahead of many Hall of Fame players including the legendary Hank Greenberg, 514-homer hitting David Ortiz, and triple crown winner Joe Medwick.

The only outfielder with five seasons of more than 400 outfield putouts, Lemon holds the American League single-season record in the category with 512. His career 4,993 putouts ranks 22nd in history among MLB outfielders. That comes despite playing 16 seasons, the fewest of anyone ranking in the top-35 in putouts.

Lemon’s top-flight work in center was complimented by a 121 OPS+. He also led the league in getting hit by pitches in four seasons, suffering double-digit plunkings seven times. During the 1980s only Don Baylor got beaned more.

When he appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot, Lemon received just one vote. Some believe the Veterans Committee should give him a second look.

In the collection is this Chet Lemon autographed Strat-O-Matic card from 1977. That’s the year Lemon established the AL mark for outfield putouts in a season. Nearly a half-century later his record still stands.

Bucknell University math major Hal Richman originated the Strat-O-Matic game in 1961. Advertised in Sports Illustrated and sold out of Richman’s basement, Strat-O-Matic gave its players the ability to make managerial decisions based on MLB statistics.

Centerfielder Chet Lemon closed his career in 1990 with 1,875 hits, 396 doubles and 215 home runs. At that point, only 47 players owned more two-base hits. His home run total ranked 134th all-time while his hit total sat 228th. Those numbers tell only part of the story.

During a ten-year prime from 1977 through 1986 Lemon produced at a steady, high level. He averaged 160 hits, 35 doubles, 20 homers and 5.7 WAR per 162 games.

Time has rewritten the lists. More than 150 men have passed him in each category of hits, doubles and home runs. Paul Molitor ranks among those who cleared all three thresholds.

A lineup card from June 5, 1996, captures the final hurdle. That night in Minnesota Molitor entered with 2,865 hits and 517 doubles. Those numbers already outpaced Lemon’s totals. Yet Molitor’s 215 home runs left him tied.

In his first at-bat of the game Molitor changed that. He launched a two-run blast in the first inning off Angels ace Mark Langston. The 216th home run of his career broke the tie with Lemon.

All 12 Twins players who appeared that evening signed the game-used piece, including Molitor himself.