15 Mar 2026 501 Hometown Hall of Famers: Cliff Lee

By David Grimes

Cliff Lee of Saline County, displayed big-time talent early on in life, and it led to a long Major League career, capped off by winning the Cy Young Award.

He was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) in 2011 as part of the 53rd class, along with Master H.U. Lee, Calvin Borel, Dick Bumpas, Jerry Carlton, Ben Cowins, Bill “Sleepy” Curtis, Quinn Grovey, Cliff Horton, Carolyn Moffatt and Forrest Wood.

Born and raised in Benton, Lee gained the attention of major league scouts while pitching at Benton High School. The Florida Marlins drafted him out of high school in 1997 in the eighth round, but Lee chose to enroll at Meridian Community College in Mississippi. Following his freshman year, he was drafted again but decided to return to Meridian. After two successful years in JUCO, Lee had his next step narrowed down to LSU or Arkansas. He picked the Razorbacks, coached by fellow ASHOF inductee Norm DeBriyn.

During his one season in Fayetteville, the lefty led the Hogs in strikeouts and tied for the team lead in wins. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2000 MLB draft by the Montreal Expos, and this time signed a professional contract.

Lee spent a couple of years in the Expos’ minor league farm system before being traded to the Cleveland Indians organization in 2002, and he made his Major League debut later that season, not long after his 24th birthday.

He broke into the Indians’ starting rotation in 2004, finishing with a record of 14-8. The following season, he went 18-5, leading the American League with a .783 winning percentage, finishing fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting. 

In 2008, Lee put together one of the greatest seasons by a pitcher in this century. He led the majors in wins, going 22-3. His .880 winning percentage was the third highest in Major League history for a pitcher with more than 20 wins. 

Lee appeared in the first of his four All-Star games, earning the coveted start for the American League.

Lee led the league with a 2.54 ERA and two shutouts. He also led AL pitchers in many of the new “advanced metrics” stats, including WAR, adjusted ERA+, fielding independent pitching, adjusted pitching runs, base-out runs saved and several others that old-timers like me have a hard time following.

Nonetheless, it all added up to Lee winning the 2008 Cy Young Award, which honors the league’s best pitcher. He also finished 12th in the AL MVP voting. He was also named AL Comeback Player of the Year.

During the 2009 season, Lee was traded from Cleveland to Philadelphia. He helped the Phillies advance to the World Series that year, where they fell to the New York Yankees in six games. Lee did his part, winning the two games he started in the Series. 

He was traded in the offseason to the Seattle Mariners, who then dealt Lee to the Texas Rangers in another midseason trade. With the Rangers, Lee made it back to another World Series, losing the 2010 fall classic to the San Francisco Giants.

In 2011, he turned down an offer to sign with the Yankees, instead rejoining the Phillies, where he would finish out his career. That season, he was again named an All-Star, finishing 17-8 with a National League-best six shutouts. Lee finished third in the NL Cy Young Award balloting. In 2013, he finished sixth in the Cy Young Award voting after going 14-8. Arm injuries interrupted his 2014 season, which would be his last in the big leagues.

Lee’s pitching was characterized more by accuracy and control as opposed to an overpowering fastball. Four times he led his league in fewest walks allowed per nine innings. During his career, Lee was named AL Pitcher of the Month in April 2008 and June 2010. He was named NL Pitcher of the Month in June 2011 and August 2011.

Lee finished his career with a record of 143-91, 1,824 strikeouts and a 3.52 ERA. His .611 career winning percentage ranks 106th all-time among qualified pitchers in baseball history.