JohnTV

Byron 'Lee' Tunnell

10/29/09 (updated 11/2/09) – OKC, OK — A former MLB pitcher who once wore the uniform for the Pirates, Cardinals and Twins was arrested last night after reportedly trying to run the bases with an Internet prostitute.

According to the Oklahoma County jail blotter, Byron “Lee” Tunnell, 49, was booked into the Oklahoma County Jail early this morning on a complaint of offering to engage in an act of prostitution.

Sources close to the case tell JohnTV.com that Tunnell responded to an online ad for “adult services.” What Tunnell didn’t realize is that the ‘hooker’ behind the ad was the originator of the BYOH party (Bring Your Own Handcuffs).

According to the police report (see end of story), Tunnell drove to the Extended Stay America at 2720 NW Expressway #329 per the instructions of the would-be prostitute.

Once there Tunnell reportedly offered $110 for “specific sexual contact.”

At this point we here at JohnTV imagine the faux-hoe produced a teeny-tiny badge from beneath her g-string and proclaimed “you’re out!”

Tunnell was placed under arrest and transported to jail. Tunnell reportedly posted a $500 bond and was released pending prosecution/persecution (take your pick).

Adding insult to hypocrisy, a little Googling (not the type Tunnell was apparently seeking) shows Tunnell is the inspiration behind the Oklahoma City non-profit, the Ambassadors – no, not the guys in the spiffy yellow ball caps who roam around downtown OKC – the ministry baseball team from Oklahoma that is focused on “impacting the lives of people … in the baseball community.”

According to the Ambassadors Web site; Tunnell, who’s been married since 1984 and has 4 children, gave his life to Christ at the age of 9, surrendered to ministry in 1981 (and proved himself a complete hypocrite October 28 of 2009) *Okay, we were adlibbing a bit there at the end.

When Tunnell isn’t spreading other things, he apparently spreads “the gospel” as seen in this YouTube video and this one.

JohnTV.com will be following this story and bringing you updates as available.

*NOTE: Appears the Tunnell PR damage control people are quick at work erasing his existence from the Web. The Ambassadors Web site link above now points nowhere. Fortunately, nothing is ever truly gone from the web and you can see a cached version of the page here. As for the YouTube links – the first has already been unpublished and I’m sure the second will be soon. JohnTV.com has already made copies and will post in the future.