Phillies History

Who remembers Jorge Lebron? He made a splashy entrance on Philadelphia’s sports stage 47 years ago. Here’s his story.

By Bob Warrington

In July, 1974, the Philadelphia Phillies created a stir by making 14-year-old Jorge Lebron the youngest player ever to sign a professional baseball contract. The shortstop — who came from Patillas, Puerto Rico — was inked to a contract for a reported $30,000 by Ruben Amaro Sr., then director of the Phillies’ Latin American scouting department.

The club assigned Lebron to the Auburn Phillies — Philadelphia’s short-season-A affiliate — in the New York-Penn League. Television crews, photographers, and several noted baseball writers from major newspapers were at Falcon Park — where Auburn played — for the arrival of the Spanish-speaking athlete.

Auburn’s manager Larry Rojas and general manager Bill Graney accompanied the young athlete to the clubhouse. Rojas spoke excellent Spanish and acted as Lebron’s interpreter when training with other team members and for newsmen during interviews. Rojas kept Lebron out of the regular lineup for three weeks while he and other Phillies’ instructors worked with the teenager.

The photo accompanying this posting shows Lebron (left) and Rojas at Falcon Park after Lebron had been outfitted in his first Phillies’ uniform and was being introduced to the media. The July 20, 1964 news service caption: “Young Rookie Jorge Lebron, just 14 and out of Puerto Rico, was greeted by new manager Larry Rojas when he reported to the Auburn Phillies in the New York-Penn League. Lebron signed Monday with the Philadelphia team as one of the youngest to ever sign a professional baseball contract.”

Lebron finally made his debut with Auburn on August 10, 1974. He took infield practice as the three major TV networks and scores of reporters watched from the sidelines. An overflow crowd packed Falcon Park — even though Lebron’s first appearance was not publicized — and he delivered a surprising performance with good moves and a couple of stellar plays. Lebron’s stay with Auburn in 1974 was brief, appearing in just two games. He then returned to Puerto Rico to finish junior high school.

Lebron began 1975 by reporting to the Phillies’ instructional camp in Clearwater, FL. He then started the season with the Pulaski Phillies of the rookie Appalachian League. Lebron played in 33 games with the team and notched a .253 batting average. Not bad for a 15-year-old teenager. He appeared at the plate 91 times while with Pulaski that year, smacking 23 hits, scoring eight runs, recording nine RBIs, earning 13 walks and striking out 19 times.

1976 saw Lebron back with the Auburn Phillies of the New York-Penn League. In 43 games with the club, he had 129 at-bats and finished with a .248 batting average. Lebron’s performance at the plate included 32 hits, 20 runs scored, 13 RBIs, 33 walks and 25 strikeouts.

Lebron’s baseball career was short-lived, although the circumstances surrounding its end are somewhat murky. According to one account, he had contract problems (unspecified) with the Phillies and was suspended by the club. Lebron went back to Puerto Rico and never returned to the playing field. His professional baseball career was over at the age of 17.

Today, Jorge Lebron is 61 years old and still lives in Puerto Rico.

(Bob Warrington is a native Philadelphian who writes about the city’s baseball history. His latest article, “The Nationally Televised Major League Baseball Game That Wasn’t,” appears in the Spring 2022 edition of SABR’s Baseball Research Journal).