Carlos Lee

Carlos Lee Noriel was born in 1976 in Aguadulce, Panama and was scouted and signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1994. The big man known as ‘El Caballo’ started as a third baseman and essentially learned how to play outfield—his principal position in the majors—while with Chicago.

Lee made his big-league debut in 1999 and would play six seasons with the Pale Hose, smashing 152 homers in that timeframe. Lee was traded after the 2004 season to the Brewers, where he played in only 264 games for Milwaukee before getting traded in mid-2006 to the Texas Rangers. The Brewers wanted to sign Lee to a long-term contract, but the parties were too far apart. While in Milwaukee, Lee batted .273/.333/.511 with 60 homers in just over 1,000 at-bats. For a man who stood 6-foot-2 and weighed 270 pounds, Lee was a good baserunner and stole 25 bases for the Brewers and 125 in his 14-year-career. He was an NL All-Star in 2005 and 2006 and won a Silver Slugger Award in 2005.

Lee became a free agent after the 2006 campaign and signed a 6-year, $100 million contract with the Houston Astros. He hit 133 home runs for the Astros and was an All-Star and Silver Slugger winner in 2007. Lee was traded to the Miami Marlins in mid-2012 and finished the season with them. He was released afterwards and announced his retirement the following summer.

During his career, Lee slashed .285/.339/.483 across nearly 8,000 ABs and slugged 358 home runs.

• Hit 17 grand slams in his big-league career
• Lee raised Brahman cattle, one of which was a Grand Champion at the 2006 Houston Livestock Show
• Retired to spend more time with his family