When it came to the Major League’s “Blue Book”, which is full of rules and regulations, Lee Pelekoudas knew it like the back of his hand. Nothing got past him, and that’s one of the reasons he remained with the organization during the numerous general manager changes.

Going into the 995 American League Playoff Series against the Indians, he knew the rule that allowed a team to replace an injured pitcher with a healthy one, even if the healthy one had not been on the roster on August 31 — the usual deadline for post-season rosters. Because left-hander Greg Hibbard was on the disabled list, the Mariners were able to put him on the ALCS roster and then replace him with right-hander Bob Wolcott, who started Game 1 of the ALCS and defeated the Tribe.

Pelekoudas’ 30th year with the Mariners ended on Tuesday when he announced that he was leaving the organization to “pursue other career opportunties.”

He got a taste of what the life of a General Manager is like midway through last season, when Bill Bavasi was dismissed and Pelekoudas took over the GM duties on an interim basis. He made a couple of trades, sending lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes to the Marlins; dismissed then-manager John McLaren and — in perhaps his best move — released first baseman Richie Sexson.

I have known and worked with Lee for the past 23 years and he was among the most loyal employees in the building, both at the Kingdome and Safeco Field. That never changed. And neither did his hair — and that always amazed me. Same color, same shape, same lenghth as the day I met him.

Good luck down the road, wherever it leads.

— Jim Street