Post-professional Life
After the Expos released Lee in May 1982, he played for semi-professional teams, including the single-season Senior League in Florida, largely composed of retired major leaguers.
In 2007, Lee joined former major league players Dennis 'Oil Can' Boyd, Marquis Grissom, Delino DeShields and Ken Ryan on the Oil Can Boyd's Traveling All-Stars. In June 2008, Lee pitched for the Alaska Goldpanners during the annual "Midnight Sun" ball game played at night during the Summer Solstice.
In September 2010, The Spaceman pitched 5 2⁄3 innings for the Brockton Rox, picking up the win. The win made him the oldest pitcher to appear in or to win a professional baseball game.
On October 8, 2011, Lee participated in the 100 Innings of Baseball Game hosted by the Boston Amateur Baseball Network to raise money for ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease. On August 23, 2012, Bill pitched a nine inning complete game for the San Rafael Pacifics in San Rafael, California, beating the Maui Na Koa Ikaika 9-4. Using a homemade bat in the fifth inning he drove in the first run of the game for the Pacifics. The Pacifics are in their inaugural season in the North American Baseball League. Bill was signed to a one day contract by Pacifics President and General Manager, Mike Shapiro. Lee's bat and uniform were donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame following the game as the start gave him the record for the oldest pitcher to make a starting appearance, pitch a complete game and also to earn a win in a professional baseball game.
Bill lives in northern Vermont with his third wife and plays ball for the Burlington Cardinals. He is also a regular on Melnick in the Afternoon with Mitch Melnick at TSN 990 all sports radio in Montreal, discussing baseball & life on weekday afternoons at 4:35 ET in a segment called "Answers from Space". In 2007, Lee was featured in High Times, a counter-culture, pro-marijuana magazine. He also makes frequent appearances on Sports Overnight America, a nationally syndicated program, hosted by Chris Townsend, out of San Francisco. Townsend's producer, and co-host, Gerrie Burke, is a longtime friend of Lee's, and both have made it a point to allow Lee to expound upon any topic he wishes while on the air with them.
He is also a regular coach/pro at the annual Red Sox Baseball Fantasy Camp run by the Red Sox Organization in Florida at the teams Spring Training Facility.
Lee recently released his own wine label, "Spaceman Red" wine, a California syrah, cabernet and petite sirah blend, produced with winemaker friend Geoff Whitman, and distributed in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine & New Hampshire. In 2004 he released a beer in partnership with Vermont's Magic Hat Brewing Company. Called Spaceman Ale, it is no longer in production.
Read more about this topic: Bill Lee (left-handed Pitcher)
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