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{{short description|American baseball player (1958-2013)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Brad Lesley
|name=Brad Lesley
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|image=1983 Indianapolis Indians - Brad Lesley (cropped).jpg
|image=
|caption=Lesley with the [[Indianapolis Indians]] {{circa}} 1983
|bats=Right
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1958|9|11|mf=yes}}
|birth_date={{Birth date|1958|9|11|mf=yes}}
|birth_place=[[Turlock, California]]
|birth_place=[[Turlock, California]], U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2013|04|27|1958|9|11|mf=yes}}
|death_date = {{death date and age|2013|04|28|1958|9|11|mf=yes}}
|death_place = [[Marina del Rey, California]]
|death_place = [[Marina del Rey, California]], U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=July 31
|debutdate=July 31
Line 17: Line 20:
|finalyear=1985
|finalyear=1985
|finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers
|finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers
|debut2league =NPB
|debut2date=April 8
|debut2year=1986
|debut2team=Hankyu Braves
|final2league =NPB
|final2date=August 17
|final2year=1987
|final2team=Hankyu Braves
|statleague = MLB
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win (baseball)|Win-Loss Record]]
|stat1label=[[Win (baseball)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=1-3
|stat1value=1–3
|stat2label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat2value=46
|stat3value=46
|stat3label=[[Earned run average|ERA]]
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat3value=3.86
|stat2value=3.86
|stat2league = NPB
|stat21label=[[Win (baseball)|Win–loss record]]
|stat21value=7–5
|stat23label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat23value=58
|stat22label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat22value=3.00
|teams=
|teams=
*[[Cincinnati Reds]] (1982–84)
*[[Cincinnati Reds]] ({{mlby|1982}}–{{mlby|1984}})
*[[Milwaukee Brewers]] (1985)
*[[Milwaukee Brewers]] ({{mlby|1985}})
*[[Orix BlueWave|Hankyu Braves]] (1986–87)}}
*[[Hankyu Braves]] ({{npby|1986}}–{{npby|1987}})
}}


'''Bradley Jay "Brad" Lesley''' (September 11, 1958 – April 27, 2013) was an [[US|American]] [[professional baseball]] player-turned-actor and media personality. Lesley was an especially imposing physical figure, standing {{convert|6|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} and weighing {{convert|230|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref name=huff29 /><ref name=bref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leslebr01.shtml | title= Brad Lesley Statistics and History| publisher= Baseball-Reference.com| accessdate= 27 June 2013}}</ref> Nicknamed "The Animal", he was known for his aggressive style of self-motivation.
'''Bradley Jay Lesley''' (September 11, 1958 – April 28, 2013) was an American actor, media personality and former [[professional baseball]] [[pitcher]]. Lesley was an especially imposing physical figure, standing {{convert|6|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} and weighing {{convert|230|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=huff29 /><ref name=bref>{{cite web| url= https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leslebr01.shtml | title= Brad Lesley Statistics and History| publisher= Baseball-Reference.com| accessdate= 27 June 2013}}</ref> Nicknamed "The Animal", he was known for his aggressive style of self-motivation.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Line 35: Line 54:


==Career==
==Career==

=== Baseball ===
=== Baseball ===
He played professional baseball for two [[Major League Baseball]] teams.<ref name=bref /> He was drafted in the first round in 1978 by the [[Cincinnati Reds]], for whom he [[pitcher|pitched]]<ref name=huff29 /> parts of three seasons, from 1982 to 1984. He pitched in the Reds' minor-league system for five seasons before being called up to the majors. He made his big-league debut at age 23 on July 31, 1982 in a 5-4 Reds loss at [[Riverfront Stadium]], pitching a scoreless ninth inning against the [[San Diego Padres]].<ref>https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN198207311.shtml</ref> Overall in his rookie season, he pitched 28 games (all in relief) with an 0-2 record but a fine 2.58 [[earned run average]].<ref name="baseball-reference.com">https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leslebr01.shtml</ref> The following season he appeared in only five games for the Reds, going 0-0 with a 2.16 ERA, and in 1984 he pitched in 16 Reds' games, going 0-1 with a 5.12 ERA.<ref name="baseball-reference.com"/>
He played professional baseball for two [[Major League Baseball]] teams.<ref name=bref /> He was drafted in the first round in 1978 by the [[Cincinnati Reds]], for whom he [[pitcher|pitched]]<ref name=huff29 /> parts of three seasons, from 1982 to 1984. He pitched in the Reds' minor-league system for five seasons before being called up to the majors. He made his big-league debut at age 23 on July 31, 1982 in a 5-4 Reds loss at [[Riverfront Stadium]], pitching a scoreless ninth inning against the [[San Diego Padres]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN198207311.shtml|title=San Diego Padres at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, July 31, 1982}}</ref> Overall in his rookie season, he pitched 28 games (all in relief) with an 0-2 record but a fine 2.58 [[earned run average]].<ref name="baseball-reference.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leslebr01.shtml|title=Brad Lesley Stats}}</ref> The following season he appeared in only five games for the Reds, going 0-0 with a 2.16 ERA, and in 1984 he pitched in 16 Reds' games, going 0-1 with a 5.12 ERA.<ref name="baseball-reference.com"/>


On November 12, 1984 Lesley's contract was purchased by the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]. He pitched in five games for the Brewers, going 1-0 but with a 9.95 ERA. After the season, he was released, ending his Major League career.
On November 12, 1984 Lesley's contract was purchased by the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]. He pitched in five games for the Brewers, going 1-0 but with a 9.95 ERA. After the season, he was released, ending his Major League career.


Lesley then played two seasons in Japan for the [[Orix BlueWave|Hankyu Braves]]. His record in Japan was 7–5, with 24 saves in 60 games over two years.
Lesley then played two seasons in Japan for the [[Orix BlueWave|Hankyu Braves]]. His record in Japan was 7–5, with 24 saves in 60 games over two years.

Lesley had a distinctive celebration of strikeouts by putting his arms in a backwards motion behind him, causing his chest to stick out, while he would roar out. In one game against the Houston Astros, Astros pitcher [[Nolan Ryan]] famously mimicked Lesley's celebration after striking out a Reds player, which got the players from both teams' dugouts, including Lesley, laughing.


===Media personality===
===Media personality===
After retiring from baseball, he became a [[television personality]] in Japan, where he is probably best known for his role as Animaru Resuri "Animal Leslie" in the Japanese [[gameshow]] ''[[Takeshi's Castle]]''.<ref name=huff29>{{cite news| url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/brad-lesley-dead_n_3178022.html |title= Brad Lesley Dead: Former Baseball Player and 'Little Big League' Star Dies At Age 54| newspaper= [[Huffington Post]]| date= 29 April 2013}}</ref> He participated in games such as ''Devil's Domain'', ''Stuck Up'', and his own game, ''Animal Bang''. ''Takeshi's Castle'' would later be shown in the US on the cable network [[Spike TV]] as ''Most Extreme Elimination Challenge'', later shortened to ''[[MXC]]''.
After retiring from baseball, he became a [[television personality]] in Japan, where he is probably best known for his role as Animaru Resuri "Animal Leslie" in the Japanese [[game show]] ''[[Takeshi's Castle]]''.<ref name=huff29>{{cite news| url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/29/brad-lesley-dead_n_3178022.html |title= Brad Lesley Dead: Former Baseball Player and 'Little Big League' Star Dies At Age 54| newspaper= [[Huffington Post]]| date= 29 April 2013}}</ref> He participated in games such as ''Devil's Domain'', ''Stuck Up'', and his own game, ''Animal Bang''. ''Takeshi's Castle'' would later be shown in the US on the cable network [[Spike TV]] as ''Most Extreme Elimination Challenge'', later shortened to ''[[Most Extreme Elimination Challenge|MXC]]''.


===Actor===
===Actor===
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Lesley was married at one time to Chiho Svimonoff and they had one son,小川、健太郎. He is a very wild kid who can speak both Japanese and English. However, they divorced.<ref name=huff29 /><ref>http://www.modbee.com/2013/04/29/2692561/brad-lesley-former-major-league.html</ref>
Lesley was married at one time to Chiho Svimonoff and they had one son, Kentaro (健太郎), however, they divorced.<ref name=huff29 /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.modbee.com/2013/04/29/2692561/brad-lesley-former-major-league.html |title=Brad Lesley, former major league pitcher from Turlock, dies at 54 of kidney failure &#124; Sports &#124; Modesto Bee |access-date=2013-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710065808/http://www.modbee.com/2013/04/29/2692561/brad-lesley-former-major-league.html |archive-date=2013-07-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


== Death ==
== Death ==
By early 2013 Lesley had been suffering from [[kidney]] problems and had been living in a [[nursing home]] for many months, where he was receiving [[dialysis]].<ref name=huff29 /> On April 28, 2013, he was rushed to a hospital in [[Marina del Rey]], where he died.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.tmz.com/2013/04/29/brad-lesley-dead-little-big-league-mr-baseball-space-jam/ |title= Brad Lesley, 'Little Big League' Star, Dies at 54 |publisher= TMZ.com |date= 29 April 2013}}</ref>
By early 2013 Lesley had been suffering from [[kidney]] problems and had been living in a [[nursing home]] for many months, where he was receiving [[Kidney dialysis|dialysis]].<ref name=huff29 /> On April 28, 2013, he was rushed to a hospital in [[Marina del Rey]], where he died.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.tmz.com/2013/04/29/brad-lesley-dead-little-big-league-mr-baseball-space-jam/ |title= Brad Lesley, 'Little Big League' Star, Dies at 54 |publisher= TMZ.com |date= 29 April 2013}}</ref>


Celebrity entertainment show [[TMZ]] obtained Lesley's death certificate and reported that the actor died of a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] brought on by a case of [[coronary artery disease]] (not [[renal failure|kidney failure]] as previously reported).<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.tmz.com/2013/06/08/little-big-league-star-brad-lesley-died-of-a-heart-attack-not-kidney-failure/ |title= 'Little Big League' Star Brad Lesley Died Of a Heart Attack, NOT Kidney Failure |publisher= TMZ.com |date= 28 June 2013 |accessdate= 20 June 2014}}</ref>
Celebrity entertainment show [[TMZ]] obtained Lesley's death certificate and reported that he died of a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] brought on by a case of [[coronary artery disease]] (not [[renal failure|kidney failure]], as previously reported).<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.tmz.com/2013/06/08/little-big-league-star-brad-lesley-died-of-a-heart-attack-not-kidney-failure/ |title= 'Little Big League' Star Brad Lesley Died Of a Heart Attack, NOT Kidney Failure |publisher= TMZ.com |date= 28 June 2013 |accessdate= 20 June 2014}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan]]
[[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan]]
[[Category:Baseball players from California]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
⚫
[[Category:Baseball players from Turlock, California]]
[[Category:Cedar Rapids Reds players]]
[[Category:Cedar Rapids Reds players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Reds players]]
⚫
[[Category:Disease-related deaths in California]]
[[Category:Eugene Emeralds players]]
[[Category:Eugene Emeralds players]]
[[Category:Greensboro Hornets players]]
[[Category:Greensboro Hornets players]]
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[[Category:Merced College alumni]]
[[Category:Merced College alumni]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers players]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers players]]
[[Category:People from Turlock, California]]
[[Category:Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Turlock High School alumni]]
[[Category:Tampa Tarpons (1957–1987) players]]
[[Category:Tampa Tarpons (1957–1987) players]]
[[Category:Vancouver Canadians players]]
[[Category:Vancouver Canadians players]]

Latest revision as of 01:07, 29 October 2024

Brad Lesley
Lesley with the Indianapolis Indians c. 1983
Pitcher
Born: (1958-09-11)September 11, 1958
Turlock, California, U.S.
Died: April 28, 2013(2013-04-28) (aged 54)
Marina del Rey, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: July 31, 1982, for the Cincinnati Reds
NPB: April 8, 1986, for the Hankyu Braves
Last appearance
MLB: October 4, 1985, for the Milwaukee Brewers
NPB: August 17, 1987, for the Hankyu Braves
MLB statistics
Win–loss record1–3
Earned run average3.86
Strikeouts46
NPB statistics
Win–loss record7–5
Earned run average3.00
Strikeouts58
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Bradley Jay Lesley (September 11, 1958 – April 28, 2013) was an American actor, media personality and former professional baseball pitcher. Lesley was an especially imposing physical figure, standing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and weighing 230 lb (104 kg).[1][2] Nicknamed "The Animal", he was known for his aggressive style of self-motivation.

Early life

[edit]

Bradley Lesley was born in Turlock, California, and he attended Turlock High School.[2] Later, he attended Merced College in Merced, California.[2]

Career

[edit]

Baseball

[edit]

He played professional baseball for two Major League Baseball teams.[2] He was drafted in the first round in 1978 by the Cincinnati Reds, for whom he pitched[1] parts of three seasons, from 1982 to 1984. He pitched in the Reds' minor-league system for five seasons before being called up to the majors. He made his big-league debut at age 23 on July 31, 1982 in a 5-4 Reds loss at Riverfront Stadium, pitching a scoreless ninth inning against the San Diego Padres.[3] Overall in his rookie season, he pitched 28 games (all in relief) with an 0-2 record but a fine 2.58 earned run average.[4] The following season he appeared in only five games for the Reds, going 0-0 with a 2.16 ERA, and in 1984 he pitched in 16 Reds' games, going 0-1 with a 5.12 ERA.[4]

On November 12, 1984 Lesley's contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched in five games for the Brewers, going 1-0 but with a 9.95 ERA. After the season, he was released, ending his Major League career.

Lesley then played two seasons in Japan for the Hankyu Braves. His record in Japan was 7–5, with 24 saves in 60 games over two years.

Lesley had a distinctive celebration of strikeouts by putting his arms in a backwards motion behind him, causing his chest to stick out, while he would roar out. In one game against the Houston Astros, Astros pitcher Nolan Ryan famously mimicked Lesley's celebration after striking out a Reds player, which got the players from both teams' dugouts, including Lesley, laughing.

Media personality

[edit]

After retiring from baseball, he became a television personality in Japan, where he is probably best known for his role as Animaru Resuri "Animal Leslie" in the Japanese game show Takeshi's Castle.[1] He participated in games such as Devil's Domain, Stuck Up, and his own game, Animal Bang. Takeshi's Castle would later be shown in the US on the cable network Spike TV as Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, later shortened to MXC.

Actor

[edit]

Lesley appeared in several feature films, including Brother (2000) (as Moose), Big Monster on Campus (2000) (as Arnie), Buddy (1997) (as Ali Baba), A Boy Called Hate (1996) (as the Moving Truck Driver), Little Big League (1994) (as John 'Blackout' Gatling) and Mr. Baseball (1992) (as Niven).

Personal life

[edit]

Lesley was married at one time to Chiho Svimonoff and they had one son, Kentaro (健太郎), however, they divorced.[1][5]

Death

[edit]

By early 2013 Lesley had been suffering from kidney problems and had been living in a nursing home for many months, where he was receiving dialysis.[1] On April 28, 2013, he was rushed to a hospital in Marina del Rey, where he died.[6]

Celebrity entertainment show TMZ obtained Lesley's death certificate and reported that he died of a heart attack brought on by a case of coronary artery disease (not kidney failure, as previously reported).[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Brad Lesley Dead: Former Baseball Player and 'Little Big League' Star Dies At Age 54". Huffington Post. April 29, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "Brad Lesley Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  3. ^ "San Diego Padres at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, July 31, 1982".
  4. ^ a b "Brad Lesley Stats".
  5. ^ "Brad Lesley, former major league pitcher from Turlock, dies at 54 of kidney failure | Sports | Modesto Bee". Archived from the original on July 10, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  6. ^ "Brad Lesley, 'Little Big League' Star, Dies at 54". TMZ.com. April 29, 2013.
  7. ^ "'Little Big League' Star Brad Lesley Died Of a Heart Attack, NOT Kidney Failure". TMZ.com. June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
[edit]
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