Former Expo Bill Lee recovering after "cardiac episode"

Former Montreal Expos left-hander Bill Lee is recovering after he had to be revived following a cardiac episode while throwing in the Savannah Bananas' bullpen Friday night. Photo: RDS.ca

August 20, 2022

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Expos legend Bill Lee is recovering after he had to be revived following a cardiac episode while throwing in the Savannah Bananas' bullpen Friday night.

Lee was found unresponsive and not breathing but his life was saved by paramedics and fire department officials in the Georgia municipality.

Lee was able to get up off the ground with the help of medical personnel and taken to hospital.

"I would say without immediate intervention, that person would not be alive right now," said Town of Thunderbolt Administrator Bob Millie, also a firefighter, told Nathan Dominitz of the Savannah Morning News.

"He is back, he's talking, he's okay, he's feeling strong,'' Bananas president Jared Orton told the Bananas crowd last night after Lee was taken to Memorial Health University Medical Centre.

"I talked to the hospital around midnight and they didn't want to tell me anything but did confirm that Bill Lee was there and getting treatment. He probably got to the hospital around 9:30 p.m., if not sooner,'' Dominitz said in an email exchange with the Canadian Baseball Network. "The Bananas told me after the game that they heard he was fine.''

Lee, 75, who pitched for the Expos from 1978-82, has been playing for the Bananas for most of this season and is providing comic relief for a team that relies on crazy antics along with baseball ability to draw fans. Former major-leaguer Eric Byrnes is the team's manager.

Tonight's game against the Party Animals is sold out but Lee was not expected in the lineup.