Lee Elia, Legendary Baseball Figure, Passes Away at 87

Lee Elia, a well-known figure in baseball, particularly remembered for his passionate rant in 1983, has died at the age of 87.

Elia played a total of 95 games in Major League Baseball, taking on managerial roles with both the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies. But it was one specific moment during his time with the Cubs that cemented his legacy.

On April 29, 1983, after a tough loss—where the Cubs fell 5-14 to the Los Angeles Dodgers—Elia confronted an irate crowd at Wrigley Field, which had reduced to about 9,391 fans. Frustrated supporters tossed trash at players Keith Moreland and Larry Bowa as they left the field.

In an unexpected, colorful outburst, Elia expressed his feelings about the Cubs’ fanbase, famously dropping multiple expletives. He launched into a tirade, saying, “I hope we get hotter than s,” and this was just the beginning of a rant that lasted over three minutes, recorded by a lone microphone in the clubhouse.

During his passionate speech, he noted, “85% of the world is at work, while the other 15% have come out here.” At the time, Wrigley Field lacked lights, meaning games were played only during the day.

Elia later reflected on his explosive comments, offering apologies in a post-game press conference, acknowledging the impact of his words.

The Philadelphia native holds a managerial record of 238-300, having led both the Cubs and Phillies. Before becoming a manager, he played as a shortstop, maintaining a batting average of .203 across 95 games with the White Sox and Cubs. Notably, he also served as a third-base coach when the Phillies won the 1980 World Series.

In addition to his time with the Cubs and Phillies, Elia worked for the Seattle Mariners in various capacities from 1993 to 2008, including as a hitting coach and a special assistant to field managers.