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 (age 64) McMinnville, Tennessee | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
Teams | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
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.
Chicago Cubs 2016 World Series champions | |
---|---|
| |
| |
|
![]() | This biographical article relating to a baseball manager or coach is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |