Marty Castillo
Marty Castillo | ||
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Runs batted in | 32 | |
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Martin Horace Castillo (born January 16, 1957) is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman and catcher. Castillo, who is of Mexican descent,[1] is an alumnus of Savanna High School in Anaheim, California.
Drafted by the
Castillo had his best statistical season as a member of the Tigers team that defeated the
Castillo played well in the post-season. He had two RBIs in the 1984 American League Championship Series, including the game-winning, pennant-clinching RBI in Game 3, knocking in Chet Lemon for a 1–0 victory, sending the Tigers to the World Series. Castillo also caught the ball at third base for the final out of the pennant-clinching game in 1984.[4] An article in The Detroit News several years ago questioned whether Castillo still had the ball.[5]
Castillo continued his strong hitting in the 1984 World Series, batting .333 with a .455 on-base percentage and a .667 slugging percentage. He had nine at bats in the World Series and had three hits, two runs scored, two walks, two RBIs, and a home run. What Castillo called "the greatest feeling of my life" came in Game 3 of the World Series, when he hit a two-run home run.[6] With a count of one ball and two strikes, Castillo hit a fastball into the left field upper deck. He said of his reaction that "I wanted to do a couple of cartwheels, a backflip and a roundoff."[7] Castillo was also on base in Game 5 (the final game) when Kirk Gibson hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning off Goose Gossage.
In a 1984 Sports Illustrated article, Castillo was described as "an outgoing practical joker" and "one of the more popular Tigers."
Castillo played his last major league game with the Tigers on October 5, 1985.
References
- ^ "They all flock to 'cuz' Marty". Spokane Chronicle. January 22, 1986. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ a b "Marty Castillo". Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ "Lemon's Slam Sparks Tigers In 12–6 Victory Over Angels". Schenectady Gazette. United Press International. August 27, 1984. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ Downey, Mike (October 7, 1984). "Castillo refused Bair's dare, squeezed ball that won title". The Day. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ "Reunion of '84: Tigers is chance to catch up with some old friends". The Detroit News. July 22, 1999.
- ^ "Castillo was in the right place at the right time for the Tigers". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. October 13, 1984. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
- ^ a b c d Wulf, Steve (October 22, 1984). "Detroit Jumped All Over 'Em". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference