Former Red Sox Pitcher Bill Lee Wants To Be Vermont’s Next Governor

Most people probably aren’t up to speed with Vermont’s upcoming gubernatorial election, but plenty of people in New England will recognize at least one of the candidate’s names.

Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee is running for Vermont governor for the Liberty Union party, which is the party presidential candidate Bernie Sanders broke into politics with. Lee says he’s quite similar to the Vermont senator.

“You get what you pay for, if you want change, you vote for Sanders or me,” Lee said, per Burlington, Vt.’s, WCAX-TV. “I’m Bernie-heavy, I’m not Bernie-light. My ideas were before Bernie. If you want to see money come down from the two percent, we’re going to need umbrellas when I’m elected, because it’s going to be raining dollars.”

The 69-year-old “Spaceman” still plays baseball in Vermont’s 35-plus league, but he’s dabbled in politics on the side. Lee ran for president in 1988 under Canada’s satirical Rhinoceros Party, and it sounds as though he might head to the Great White North depending on how the presidential election goes.

“If things don’t go our way, if we get (Donald) Trump as president, I’m out of here and I’ll take Vermont with us,” Lee said.

Lee will find out if he’s Vermont’s next governor this Election Day on Nov. 8.

Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images