Lemongello was raised in Hazlet, New Jersey, and signed as a free agent out of Raritan High School by the Detroit Tigers a week and a half before his 18th birthday in 1973.

"[3] His tenure with Toronto was little short of disastrous, as Lemongello spent half a season with the club going 1–9.

Lemongello continued making occasional relief appearances until late July, when he was sent down to the minors after a screaming match with Hartsfield.

When informed he was being sent down to the Syracuse Chiefs, he threw an ashtray at the head of Blue Jays general manager Peter Bavasi, barely missing him.

Sold to the Chicago Cubs in 1980, his playing career ended that same year with the Triple-A Wichita Aeros.