César Gerónimo
| César Gerónimo | |
|---|---|
| Center fielder | |
|
Born: March 11, 1948 El Seibo, Dominican Republic | |
| Batted: Left | Threw: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| April 16, 1969 for the Houston Astros | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 28, 1983 for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .258 |
| Hits | 977 |
| Runs batted in | 392 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
César Francisco Gerónimo Zorrilla (born March 11, 1948), known as César Gerónimo, is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball, who was a member of the famed Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s. He batted and threw left-handed.
In 1967, Gerónimo was signed by the New York Yankees, who unsuccessfully tried to make him a pitcher. Two years later he made his major league debut with the Houston Astros at age 21 on April 16, 1969.[1] He notched his first career hit five days later in the ninth inning when, pinch-hitting for Jack Billingham, Gerónimo doubled off the Reds' Wayne Granger.[2]
After the 1971 season, he went to the Cincinnati Reds in a blockbuster, eight-player deal along with, among others, Joe Morgan and Billingham. A winner of four consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1974 to 1977, Gerónimo was an outstanding all-around defensive center fielder who combined speed and great range with a powerful arm. He was the starting centerfielder of Reds teams that won five divisional championships, three National League pennants and the 1975-76 World Series Champion. In the 1975 World Series, he hit .280 with two home runs, but is best known for the iconic image of catching Carl Yastrzemski's fly ball for the final out of the World Series.[3]
He played the last three seasons of his career (1981-1983) with the Kansas City Royals.
In his 15 seasons, Gerónimo batted .258, with 51 home runs and 392 RBI, 460 runs scored, 977 hits, 161 doubles, 50 triples and 82 stolen bases.
He also held the dubious distinction of being the 3,000th strikeout victim of both Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan.[4] "I was just in the right place at the right time," he joked.[5]
After retiring, he worked for the Japanese Hiroshima Carp, as a coach in their Dominican baseball academy, and he has been on the board of trustees of the Dominican Republic Sports & Education Academy.[6] He currently resides with his family in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
In July 2008 he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.[7] He continues to return to Cincinnati for the annual RedsFest, Big Red Machine reunions and other appearances.[8][9][10]
See also
- Players from Dominican Republic in MLB
References
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU196904160.shtml
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU196904210.shtml
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/geronce01.shtml
- ↑ Unknown (2000-09-11). "CNNSI.com - MLB Baseball". CNN SI.
- ↑ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1123647/index.htm
- ↑ http://drsea.org/dr/leadership/cesar-geronimo/
- ↑ Russel, Shannon (2008-07-20). "Reds hail HOF inductees". Cincinnati Enquirer.
- ↑ http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20071207&content_id=2321245&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin
- ↑ http://westchesterbuzz.com/2012/04/13/reds-legend-cesar-geronimo-stops-by-west-chester/
- ↑ http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=AB&Dato=20081115&Kategori=SPT04&Lopenr=811150805&Ref=PH%94%20%20target=
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
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