Lefebvre also played four seasons in Japan, from 1973 until 1976, for the Lotte Orions.[4] Lefebvre became only the second player, after Johnny Logan, to have won a World Series (1965 Dodgers) and a Japan Series with the 1974 Lotte Orions.
He was a big-league manager from 1989 to 1993, and briefly again in 1999, and was formerly the hitting coach with the Cincinnati Reds.
Managerial and coaching career
Lefebvre was first hired as a major league manager by the Seattle Mariners in November 1988, with a two-year contract at $150,000 annually, with incentives and a team option for a third year.[5] In his second season in 1990, Seattle won 77 games and drew over 1.5 million in home attendance at the Kingdome. In 1991, the Mariners posted their first-ever winning record at 83–79 (.512) and drew over 2.1 million, but Lefebvre's contract was not extended;[6] he was succeeded by assistant coach Bill Plummer.[7] Lefebvre finished with a record of 233 wins and 253 losses.[8] Lefebvre was soon hired by the Chicago Cubs in November,[9] and led them during the 1992 and 1993 seasons; he was released again after a posting a winning record, Chicago was 84–78 (.519) in the 1993 season.[10] With the Milwaukee Brewers, he was the interim manager for the final seven weeks of the 1999 season.[11]
Lefebvre had roles on several television shows including Gilligan's Island and Batman. His role in Batman was of a henchman for the Riddler.[12] He is also a spokesman for Vemma vitamin supplements.
Personal life
Lefebvre first married Jean Bakke from Waterford, WI and they had their son, Ryan, when Lefebvre was playing baseball in Japan after he was with the Dodgers, where he was rookie of the year in 1965. Lefebvre has a daughter, Brittany, who is currently working in Christian motion pictures. His son, Ryan, is the lead play-by-play announcer for the Royals on Bally Sports Kansas City. He has two other children, Bryce and Brianna Lefebvre.[12]