Lester Strode

James Lester Strode (born June 17, 1958) is an American professional baseball coach. He was the bullpen coach for the Chicago Cubs from 2007 through 2019.

Lester Strode
Strode with the Chicago Cubs in 2008
Bullpen coach
Born: (1958-06-17) June 17, 1958
McMinnville, Tennessee
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Career

He was born and raised in McMinnville, Tennessee, often crediting McMinnville as his home. After attending Kentucky State University, Strode was selected as a pitcher by the Kansas City Royals in the 4th round of the 1980 amateur draft and played in the minors from 1980 to 1988.[1][2]

After his playing career ended, he was a longtime pitching coach in the Chicago Cubs farm system.[2] Strode was the pitching coach for the Rookie League Wytheville Cubs in 1989, the Single-A Peoria Chiefs from 1990 to 1991, the Winston-Salem Spirits in 1992, and the Daytona Cubs in 1993.[2] He was then the Cubs' minor league pitching coordinator from 1996 to 2006.[2] Following the 2006 season, he became the Cubs' bullpen coach.[3] Strode served as the Cubs bullpen coach from 2007 through 2019, under managers Lou Piniella, Mike Quade, Dale Sveum, Rick Rentería, and Joe Maddon. He was a member of the 2016 coaching staff for the Cubs that led the team winning the World Series.[4]

In December 2006, Strode was chosen as a member of the Warren County (TN) Sports Hall of Fame.[5]

He was inducted to the Kentucky State Thorobreds sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

References
  1. "Lester Strode Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  2. "Lester Strode #35". Chicago.cubs.mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  3. "Cubs Add Three Coaches". WSB-TV. 27 October 2006. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  4. Bastian, Jordan; Muskat, Carrie. "Chicago Cubs win 2016 World Series". MLB. Archived from the original on November 30, 2017. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  5. "Strode guest of honor at Cumberland Thursday". Southern Standard. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2011.


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