José Rafael Santiago Alfonso

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For other Major League pitchers of this name, see José Santiago

Jose Rafael Santiago Alfonso (born August 15, 1940, in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico) is a retired righthanded pitcher in American Major League Baseball.

Possessor of an outstanding curveball, Santiago was a key member of the pitching staff of the 1967 Boston Red Sox, appearing in 50 games, winning 12 games, losing four, with an earned run average of 3.59. He was largely a middle relief pitcher that season, starting only 11 games, and compiled an 8-3 mark in relief with five saves. However, he also made several important starts, including Game 1 of the 1967 World Series, which he lost to Hall of Famer Bob Gibson, 2-1, accounting for the only Boston run with a home run.

Although Santiago lost both of his World Series decisions to the St. Louis Cardinals and compiled an ERA of 5.59, he began the 1968 campaign in the Boston rotation, starting 18 games, compiling a 9-4 record and an ERA of 2.25 before an elbow injury ended his season. The injury effectively ruined his major league career. He appeared in only 18 more games during 1969 and 1970, and never won another MLB game.

Santiago ended his career with 163 appearances, 34 victories and 29 losses and an ERA of 3.74. He had reached the American League in 1963 with the Kansas City Athletics. His contract was sold to the Red Sox after the 1965 season.

In 1979, Santiago managed in a short-lived Class AAA circuit, the Inter-American League, as skipper of the Puerto Rico Boricuas. Santiago's club won 16 of 55 games (.291), sixth and last in the six-team league, and folded June 17. Thirteen days later, the entire league shut down.