Roberto Rodríguez (baseball)
| Roberto Rodríguez | |
|---|---|
Caracas, Venezuela | |
| Died: September 24, 2012 (aged 71) Maracay, Venezuela | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 13, 1967, for the Kansas City Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 26, 1970, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 4–3 |
| Earned run average | 4.81 |
| Strikeouts | 91 |
| Teams | |
| Member of the Venezuelan | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2011 |
Roberto Muñoz Rodríguez (February 5, 1941 – September 24, 2012) was a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Chicago Cubs. He played in the United States under the name of Roberto Rodriguez.[1]
Born in
Once considered one of the best prospects in the
Rodríguez was signed by the Athletics as an amateur free agent in 1963, spending seven minor league seasons from 1964–1970. He posted a 42–28 record and a 3.15 earned run average in 124 pitching appearances before being promoted to the big team in May 1967. He returned to the minors in early June and was recalled two months later.[3]
He went 1–1 with a 3.57 ERA and two
After that, Rodríguez would remain in the organization after the team was renamed the
In a three-season career, he compiled a 4–3 record with a 4.81 ERA and seven saves in 57 games.[1] Over the course of his 11-year minor league career from 1964–1974, he went 61–43 with a 3.60 ERA in 904 games.[3]
In addition, Rodríguez played in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League during 17 seasons (1961–62/1978–79). ″Pluto″, as his teammates nicknamed him, went 64–49 with a 3.04 ERA and 59 saves in 168 games (97 starts), to become the first pitcher in VPBL history to top both 50 wins and 50 saves.[5] The mark was later matched by Luis Aponte (1973–74/1996–97) and Giovanni Carrara (1990–91/2009–10).[6]
After retiring he worked as a pitching coach in his Venezuelan homeland. He also served as an instructor in the baseball academy operated by Carlos Guillén in Maracay. In 2011, he gained induction into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame.[6]
Rodríguez died in Maracay in 2012, at the age of 71, after suffering a heart failure.[6]
See also
- List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball
References
- ^ a b c d "Baseball Reference – major league profile".
- ^ Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela – 1895–2006 – Daniel Gutiérrez, Efraim Alvarez, Daniel Gutiérrez (h). Publisher: Fondo Editorial Cárdenas Lares, Caracas, Venezuela, 1997. Format: Softcover, 557pp. Language: Spanish. Library of Congress GV863.41.A1 G88 1997 (Open Library) [1]
- ^ a b c "Baseball Reference – minor league career".
- ^ Retrosheet.org – Kansas City Athletics 2, Detroit Tigers 1. Game Played on Sunday, August 27, 1967 (D) at Municipal Stadium
- ^ Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela
- ^ a b c "ElNacional.com – Roberto Muñoz murió en Maracay (Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2012-09-25.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet, or Venezuelan Winter League