Lee Tinsley, baseball player, 1993-1997

Lee Tinsley

Born: 3/4/1969 in Shelbyville, KY, USA

Died: 1/12/2023 in Scottsdale, AZ, USA

MLB Debut: 1993-04-06 | Final Game: 1997-09-28

Bats: B | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: Lee Owen Tinsley

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Biography

Lee Tinsley, born in 1969, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1993 to 1997. A versatile position player known for his speed and agility, Tinsley played primarily as an outfielder during his career. He appeared in 361 games, where he recorded 210 hits, 13 home runs, and 79 RBIs, finishing with a career batting average of .241. His ability to steal bases was a significant aspect of his game, as evidenced by his 41 stolen bases, showcasing his talent for creating opportunities on the basepaths. Tinsley played in an era marked by the emergence of power hitters and a shifting focus towards offensive production. Although he was not primarily known for his power at the plate, his contributions as a speedy, contact-oriented player added depth to the teams he played for, which included the Seattle Mariners and the Boston Red Sox. His career, while relatively brief, reflected the evolving dynamics of baseball during the 1990s, where the balance between speed and power was increasingly scrutinized. After retiring on September 28, 1997, Tinsley's legacy continued to influence the game, particularly in discussions surrounding the value of speed and defense in a sport often dominated by home run hitters.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
361 870 131 210 34 4 13 79 41 88 231 0.241 0.313 0.334 0.647 -2208.5

Career AVG .241 vs. league average .268 across their career seasons — 9.8% below league average.

Career OBP .313 vs. league average .337 across their career seasons — 7.2% below league average.

Career SLG .334 vs. league average .418 across their career seasons — 19.9% below league average.

Career OPS 0.647 vs. league average 0.755 across their career seasons — 14.2% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1993 SEA AL 11 19 2 3 1 0 1 2 0 2 9 0.158 — — — — 0.0
1994 BOS AL 78 144 27 32 4 0 2 14 13 19 36 0.222 .269 (-18%) .338 (-7%) .424 (-31%) .763 (-20%) -517.2
1995 BOS AL 100 341 61 97 17 1 7 41 18 39 74 0.284 .266 (+7%) .337 (+6%) .417 (-4%) .755 (+1%) 128.2
1996 PHI NL 31 52 1 7 0 0 0 2 2 4 22 0.135 .269 (-50%) .340 (-42%) .426 (-68%) .767 (-57%) -518.7
1996 BOS AL 92 192 28 47 6 1 3 14 6 13 56 0.245 .269 (-9%) .340 (-12%) .426 (-22%) .767 (-18%) -518.7
1997 SEA AL 49 122 12 24 6 2 0 6 2 11 34 0.197 .266 (-26%) .336 (-22%) .419 (-34%) .756 (-28%) -635.8

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0.000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1995 ALDS1 BOS 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0.000

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 309 208 574 15 9 5

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1993 SEA OF 6 2 9 0 1 0
1994 BOS OF 60 36 113 1 1 1
1995 BOS OF 97 83 228 4 5 1
1996 PHI OF 22 7 24 0 1 0
1996 BOS OF 83 49 132 8 1 1
1997 SEA OF 41 31 68 2 0 2

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Left Field 89
Center Field 215
Right Field 14
Designated Hitter 18

Salary History

Year Team League Salary
1997 SEA AL $400,000
1996 PHI NL $225,000
1995 BOS AL $140,000
1994 BOS AL $119,000
1993 SEA AL $109,000
Total Career Earnings $993,000