Athletes - Lee Weyer

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	Athletes - Lee Weyer

Lee Howard Weyer (September 3, 1936 – July 4, 1988) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1963 to 1988. In a 1987 Sports Illustrated poll of NL catchers, Weyer was rated the best at calling balls and strikes. He was the home plate umpire on September 11, 1985 in Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium when Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's career hits record.

Born in Imlay City, Michigan, Weyer was first placed under contract with the NL in 1959 while he was in the Army. After working a few NL games in 1961, he was scheduled to join the league's regular staff for the 1962 season until a December car accident which also took his mother's life. His recuperation from injuries delayed his joining the staff by a full season, but he gradually gained a reputation as one of the league's best officials. Weyer umpired in the World Series in 1969, 1976, 1982 and 1987, serving as crew chief in 1976 and 1982. He also officiated in the 5 National League Championship Series (1971, 1974, 1978, 1983, 1986) and 4 All-Star games (1965, 1972, 1979, 1984), calling balls and strikes for the last of these.

In 1980, Weyer was diagnosed as having Guillan-barre syndrome, a potentially life-threatening disorder that affects muscle control and can cause blindness. He rebounded and also returned from a bout with diabetes in 1982. He died in San Francisco, California of a heart attack at the age of 51, during the 1988 season.

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