Print, Photographic

Photograph

-

Shanaman Sports Museum

Name/Title

Print, Photographic

Entry/Object ID

2008.04.3

Description

Bellarmine Prep, Puyallup native and Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester smiles on a trading card for the 2007 World Series in which Boston won. Lester was a standout on the diamond for Bellarmine. Lester was named a three-time MVP and three-time All-Area honoree, and the Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2000. Lester was drafted in the second round of the MLB Draft in 2002 by the Red Sox, the 57th overall selection. He moved up the organization quickly and was one of Boston’s top-rated prospects in the minors. Lester made his MLB debut on June 10, 2006, against the Texas Rangers and went on to post a 7-2 record and a 4.76 ERA in 81 1/3 innings pitched his rookie year. Lester was pulled from his scheduled start in August for a sore back and later testing revealed he had enraged lymph nodes and was diagnosed with anapestic large cell lymphoma. He was treated during the off-season with chemotherapy in Seattle and returned to spring training in 2007. Lester pitched against the Colorado Rockies in the series-clinching Game Four of the World Series, pitching 5 2/3 shutout innings, scattering three hits, three walks and three strikeouts. Lester was the third pitcher in World Series history to win a series-clinching game in his first postseason start. In honor of Lester’s comeback from cancer, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voted him the 2007 Tony Conigliaro Award. Lester pitched for the Red Sox until 2014 when he was traded to Oakland after being selected to his third All-Star Game the previous season. Lester agreed to a six-year deal with the Chicago Cubs in December of 2014 and was named the Opening Day starter for the team in 2019. Photo donated by John and Kathie Lester.

Made/Created

Date made

2007

Lexicon

Search Terms

Baseball, High School, Professional/Semi-Pro

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Lester, Jon

Person or Organization

Boston Red Sox

Person or Organization

Puyallup High School

Person or Organization

Bellarmine Prep

Person or Organization

baseball

Person or Organization

Major League Baseball

Person or Organization

Seattle

Person or Organization

World Series

Person or Organization

Texas Rangers

Person or Organization

Gatorade State Player of the Year

Person or Organization

Conigliaro, Tony

Person or Organization

Colorado Rockies

Person or Organization

Baseball Writers Association of America

Person or Organization

All-Star Game

Person or Organization

Chicago Cubs

Person or Organization

Lester, John

Person or Organization

Lester, Kathie