René Valdés
René Valdés | |
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Pitcher | |
Born: Rene Gutierrez Valdes[1][2] June 2, 1929 Guanabacoa, Cuba | |
Died: March 15, 2008 Miami, Florida | (aged 78)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 21, 1957, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 28, 1957, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
MLB statistics | |
Record | 1–1 |
Earned run average | 5.54 |
Strikeouts | 10 |
Teams | |
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René Valdés (born René Gutiérrez Valdés,[a] June 2, 1929 – March 15, 2008) was a Cuban-born professional baseball player.
Early life and career
The right-handed pitcher, born in Guanabacoa near Havana, appeared in five games in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957 during his 13-year pro career. He stood 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg).
Valdés was acquired by Brooklyn in 1954 after spending his first two seasons in the minor leagues with the unaffiliated Indios de Ciudad Juárez of the Class C Arizona–Texas League, winning 19 games during each year. Primarily a starting pitcher, he was a prolific winner during his minor league tenure, reaching double digits in victories for ten consecutive seasons (1952–1961).[3] He posted an 18–4 mark in the Class C California League in 1954. Then, two years later, Valdés led the Open-Classification Pacific Coast League in games won, with 22 triumphs.
In 1957, Valdés worked in four early-season games for the Brooklyn Dodgers. In his début April 21 at Ebbets Field, he held the Pittsburgh Pirates without a hit over 32⁄3 innings pitched in relief of Dodger ace Don Newcombe.[4] Three days later, against the New York Giants, he entered the game in the fifth inning in relief of starter Sandy Koufax and allowed three hits and one earned run in three full innings to get credit for a 4–3 Dodger victory.[5] Two poor outings followed, resulting in Valdés' demotion to the Triple-A Montreal Royals, where he won 11 games and posted a 2.87 earned run average. He was recalled in September and started what would be the Brooklyn Dodgers' penultimate game, on the 28th against the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. He did not earn a decision when he exited the game in the fifth inning, even though he held an 8–3 lead at the time.[6] After the Dodgers' season-ending game the next day, the franchise transferred to Los Angeles for the 1958 campaign.
As a major leaguer, Valdés split two decisions; he allowed 13 hits, seven bases on balls and eight earned runs in 13 full innings of work, with ten strikeouts, posting an earned run average of 5.54. He toiled at the Triple-A level in the Dodger organization from 1958 through 1961, then finished his career with three seasons in the Mexican League. He died in Miami, Florida, at age 78 in 2008.
Notes
References
- ^ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61105724/rene-gutierrez-valdes : accessed 28 February 2022), memorial page for Rene Gutierrez Valdes (2 Jun 1929–15 Mar 2008), Find a Grave Memorial ID 61105724, ; Maintained by Carol Tessein (contributor 46853728) Cremated, Location of ashes is unknown.
- ^ a b Associated Negro Press (April 18, 1957). "How Rene Valdes Became a Bum". Los Angeles Sentinel.
- ^ Baseball Reference: Minor league and Mexican League statistics
- ^ Retrosheet box score: 1957-04-21 (1)
- ^ Retrosheet box score: 1957-04-24
- ^ Retrosheet box score: 1957-09-28
Further reading
- Associated Press Wirephotos (April 22, 1957). "Showing Slides". Binghamton Press.
- Associated Press (April 22, 1957). "Caution: Cutie at Work". Chicago Tribune.
- United Press (April 22, 1957). "Thomas Fails to Rattle This Rookie". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 22
- Lacy, Sam (April 27, 1957). "From A to Z". Baltimore Afro-American. p. 14
- "Dodgers Buy Kennedy". The Pittsburgh Press. May 21, 1957. p. 28
- Nunn, Bill, Jr. (May 28, 1957). "Change of Pace". The Pittsburgh Courier. p. 27
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Lot 43: SALAS, Osvaldo (Cuban, 1914-1992). A large group of sports photographs. Circa 1950s. at Invaluable.com
- Articles with short description
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Articles without Wikidata item
- 1929 births
- 2008 deaths
- Bakersfield Indians players
- Brooklyn Dodgers players
- Indios de Ciudad Juárez (minor league) players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Major League Baseball players from Cuba
- Cuban expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Mexican League baseball pitchers
- Montreal Royals players
- Portland Beavers players
- Pueblo Dodgers players
- St. Paul Saints (AA) players
- Spokane Indians players
- Sultanes de Monterrey players
- Venados de Yucatán (minor league) players
- All stub articles
- Cuban baseball pitcher stubs