Montreal Expos pitcher Charlie Lea, left, is congratulated by catcher Gary Carter after Lea fired a no-hitter, the third in team history, against the San Francisco Giants in Montreal, May 10, 1981. (Ron Poling/Canadian Press)
Charlie Lea, who was the first French-born pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the major leagues, has died. He was 54.
Collierville Police Lt. Doug Marshall confirmed Friday night that Lea was found dead at his home by his wife at about 4:30 p.m. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Born in Orleans, France, Lea pitched from 1980 until 1988. He spent six seasons with the Montreal Expos and one season with the Minnesota Twins.
On May 9, 1981, Lea threw a no-hitter as the Expos beat the San Francisco Giants 4-0 in the second game of a doubleheader. The right-hander was an all-star in 1984. His career record was 62-48, with an ERA of 3.54.
Lee had worked as a radio commentator for the minor-league Memphis Redbirds since 2002.
© The Associated Press, 2011
