Lefebvre (pronounced “luh-FAY”) was a promising power hitter who homered in his first two major league games for the Yankees, tying a record. After being traded to the Padres, he was unsuccessfully converted to third base (and even caught some games). On September 13, 1982 he had six hits in a 16-inning game.
Lefebvre seemed finally ready to fulfill his promise after hitting .310 following a May 1983 trade to the Phillies, finishing at .306 for the year with eight HR and 20 doubles in 278 at-bats and helping Philadelphia win the NL pennant. But he was felled by back trouble in June 1984 and missed all of 1985 too; a comeback attempt in 1986 failed.
