According to a witness at the scene, paramedics and two shocks with a defibrillar helped resuscitate the 75-year-old pitcher after he collapsed in the middle of a game.
"I don't think he'd be here today if it weren't for immediate intervention," Bob Milie, administrator of the Town of Thunderbolt, told The Associated Press on Saturday.
"He was not breathing," said Milie, who is a firefighter in Georgia. It was very bad.
The Bananas manager posted a picture of himself with Lee at the hospital.
Bill "Spaceman" Lee feeling FRESH 🙏 pic.twitter.com/DT40kyJWjI
— Eric Byrnes (@byrnes22) August 20, 2022
One of Lee's daughters arrived in town and was at the hospital with him.
"She said he's in good spirits and continues to be evaluated for next steps in recovery, but is definitely acting like himself," he said.
A member of the Bananas' front office spent the night with Lee at the hospital.
The Bananas, an entertaining team known for its bright yellow uniform and clowning antics, was the subject of Milie's visit. The game was on the air.
Lee had previously pitched for the Bananas and was affectionately dubbed "Spaceman" for his irreverent approach. Some people in the ballpark thought that it was part of their team's act when he went down.
You don't know with the bananas. It was like, "is this?" This is definitely not part of the show.
The EMTs, police, firefighters and rescue personnel who responded to the scene were praised by Milie.
According to Milie, Lee was shocked twice with the device.
He said that the second one seemed to work.
The game resumed after Lee left the field with help.
Lee was with Boston and Montreal for over a decade. In 1975, the left-handed pitcher started Game 7 of the World Series for Boston. Boston lost to Cincinnati 4-3 after Lee left the game.
The AP contributed to the story.
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