- The Washington Times - Thursday, March 31, 2022

It’s been nearly 50 years since Bill Lee was an MLB All-Star, but the Spaceman’s still got it.

Video of Lee, now 75 years old, emerging from the crowd at a Savannah Bananas game, walking onto the field with a beer in hand and recording a strikeout went viral on Wednesday. The game, part of the Bananas’ world tour, took place last weekend. 

Lee, an All-Star as a left-handed pitcher in 1973 and a Red Sox Hall of Famer, warmed up to thunderous applause before using an eephus pitch to record the strikeout. Lee was nicknamed “Spaceman” for his sometimes strange behavior and odd comments — making him the perfect stunt man for the Bananas’ bananas promotion. 

The Bananas are a summer collegiate baseball team that is often doing strange and funny promotions to attract fans and social media attention. The team is currently on its tour, hosting weekend “Banana Ball” games in cities across the South and Midwest. 

Last week, the team went viral once again for instituting a rule that if a fan caught a foul ball the batter would be declared out. And it happened. 

Lee won 119 games in his 14-year career with Boston and Montreal. He won 17 games in three straight seasons with the Red Sox from 1973 to 1975. He started Games 2 and 7 of the 1975 World Series, which Boston lost to Cincinnati. 

• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.

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