His real name was Bill Lee, and he was a great pitcher for the Cubs, winning 130 games, and having a few dominant seasons including the World Series years of 1935 and 1938. His teammates nicknamed him after the Confederate general from the Civil War because of his last name, but also because he truly was a Southern gentleman.

In 1940, Lee developed eye problems and had difficulty seeing the catcher's signs. He eventually got thick glasses, which helped a bit, but he was never the same. After he retired, he underwent delicate surgery for two detached retinas and eventually lost his sight.