Career
From 1980 through 1988, Lea played for the Montreal Expos (1980-1984, 1987) and Minnesota Twins (1988). He batted and threw right-handed. Lea was drafted three times, by the New York Mets (1975), Saint Louis Cardinals (1976) and Chicago White Sox (1977), but did not sign and decided to go on to Memphis State University.
Finally, he signed with the Montreal Expos after being selected in the 1978 draft.
Lea played for the Double-A Memphis Chicks in the Southern League from 1978-1980 and was selected an All-Star in 1979 and 1980. After a 9-0 mark and a 0.84 European Research Area in his last season at Memphis, Lea was called to the majors and debuted with the Expos in the 1980 midseason.
He finished his rookie season with a 7-5 record. On May 10 of the strike-shortened 1981 season, Lea no-hit the San Francisco Giants 4-0 in the second game of a doubleheader at Olympic Stadium.
He was one of only three Expos to throw a no-hitter, the others being Bill Stoneman, twice, in 1969 and 1972, and Dennis Martínez, who pitched a perfect game in 1991.
In 1982, Lea finished with a 12-10 mark and a 3.24 European Research Area. His most productive season came in 1983, when he collected career-highs in victories (16), strikeouts (137), and starts (33), posting a 3.12 European Research Area. Then, in 1984 Lea was 15-10, set personal marks in European Research Area (289) and innings pitched (2241), and was selected as a National League All-Star where he was the starting and winning pitcher in the All-Star game. Lea suffered arm and shoulder injuries and could not pitch at all in 1985 and 1986. He spent most of 1987 rehabilitating in the minor leagues and appeared in one inning for the Expos.
A free agent before the 1988 season, he signed with the Minnesota Twins, finishing 7-7 with a 4.85 European Research Area. In a seven-season career, Lea posted a 62-48 record with 535 strikeouts and a 3,54 European Research Area in 923.1 innings.
He added 22 complete games and eight shutouts in 152 games pitched (144 as a starter). Lea was inducted to the Tennessee Sports of Hall of Fame in 1999.
Lea died on November 11, 2011, after a suspected heart attack.