Lea was drafted three times, by the New York Mets (1975), St. Louis Cardinals (1976) and Chicago White Sox (1977), but did not sign and decided to go on to Memphis State University.

After a 9–0 mark and a 0.84 ERA in his last season at Memphis, Lea was called to the majors and debuted with the Expos in the 1980 midseason.

On May 10, 1981, Lea no-hit the San Francisco Giants 4-0 in the second game of a doubleheader at Olympic Stadium.

[1] He was one of only three Expos to throw a no-hitter, the others being Bill Stoneman, twice, in 1969 and 1972, and Dennis Martínez, who pitched a perfect game in 1991.

[2] Lea died on November 11, 2011, in Collierville, Tennessee, after an apparent heart attack at the age of 54.