Aurelio López
Encyclopedia
Aurelio Alejandro López (September 21, 1948 – September 22, 1992) was a Mexican relief pitcher
. Over the course of an eleven year Major League career , he acquired the nickname "Señor Smoke" in Detroit due to his Mexican heritage and his overpowering fastball, which had been measured as high as 93 mph.
, Puebla
, Mexico
, López began his career in Mexico. He debuted with Las Choapas (Mexican League minor league affiliate of the Mexico City Reds) in , and was promoted to the parent club in at 19 years old. After starting the season with Mexico City, López joined the Minatitlan Red Devils. In , López rejoined Mexico City and played with this team until . In his final Mexican League season, he went 19-3 with a 2.01 earned run average
and 165 strikeouts over 157 innings in 73 games. Despite being a closer
, he was fifth in the league in wins, and set a new save record with 30 to be named the league's MVP for his dominating work.
During his time with the Reds López also played in Major League Baseball
. López made his Major League debut in 1974, appearing eight games with the Kansas City Royals
. He spent the entire season with the Waterloo Diamonds
of the class-A Midwest League
in . López's contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals
from Mexico City on October 26, 1977. López then joined the Springfield Redbirds of the class-AAA American Association
for 1978.
. After playing one season in St. Louis, López was traded to for the Detroit Tigers
with Jerry Morales
for Jack Murphy and Bob Sykes
. López posted some of his best individual statistics in the season, when he had a 10–5 win–loss record
, 106 strikeouts, and a 2.41 ERA (an Adjusted ERA+
of 181). He was third in the AL in saves (21) and seventh in the Cy Young Award
voting. López remained with the Tigers through , and is perhaps best known for his role as the set-up reliever for the Tigers during their championship season, when he finished with a 10-1 record, 14 saves, and a 2.94 ERA. López was 1-0 in both the 1984 American League Championship Series
and 1984 World Series
, and did not give up an earned run in over a combined six innings pitched.
López reached the post season again with the Houston Astros
, and ended his major league career in Houston the following season. With the Astros, Lopez complied a 5-4 record with eight saves while posting a 3.80 ERA.
López was killed in an auto accident a day after his 44th birthday in Matehuala, San Luis Potosí. The car that López drove overturned, and he was thrown from the vehicle. Coincidentally, there have been three players in Major League Baseball history named Aurelio, and all three were killed in car accidents between the ages of 44 and 53 (Aurelio Rodríguez
and Aurelio Monteagudo
were the others).
López also had a reputation as being a friendly player who got along well with other members of the team. Former Astros teammate Terry Puhl
described López as "always upbeat," while fellow Astro Craig Reynolds noted that López was "everybody's friend."
Detroit rock
band Electric Six
named their second album, Señor Smoke
in his honor.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. Over the course of an eleven year Major League career , he acquired the nickname "Señor Smoke" in Detroit due to his Mexican heritage and his overpowering fastball, which had been measured as high as 93 mph.
Early career
Born in TecamachalcoTecamachalco
Tecamachalco is a municipality in the state of Puebla, Mexico....
, Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, López began his career in Mexico. He debuted with Las Choapas (Mexican League minor league affiliate of the Mexico City Reds) in , and was promoted to the parent club in at 19 years old. After starting the season with Mexico City, López joined the Minatitlan Red Devils. In , López rejoined Mexico City and played with this team until . In his final Mexican League season, he went 19-3 with a 2.01 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 165 strikeouts over 157 innings in 73 games. Despite being a closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
, he was fifth in the league in wins, and set a new save record with 30 to be named the league's MVP for his dominating work.
During his time with the Reds López also played in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. López made his Major League debut in 1974, appearing eight games with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. He spent the entire season with the Waterloo Diamonds
Waterloo Diamonds
Located in Waterloo, Iowa, the Waterloo Diamonds were a baseball team that formed in 1989 and lasted until 1993. A member of the Midwest League, they were affiliated with two teams in 1989-the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres. From 1990 to 1993, they were affiliated solely with the Padres....
of the class-A Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
in . López's contract was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
from Mexico City on October 26, 1977. López then joined the Springfield Redbirds of the class-AAA American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
for 1978.
MLB career
López also saw playing time in the major leagues in 1978, appearing in 25 games with the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. After playing one season in St. Louis, López was traded to for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
with Jerry Morales
Jerry Morales
Julio Ruben "Jerry" Morales Torres is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from -.-Career:Morales was originally signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent at the age of 17 in 1966...
for Jack Murphy and Bob Sykes
Bob Sykes
Robert Eugene Sykes is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at San Jose State University....
. López posted some of his best individual statistics in the season, when he had a 10–5 win–loss record
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
, 106 strikeouts, and a 2.41 ERA (an Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
of 181). He was third in the AL in saves (21) and seventh in the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting. López remained with the Tigers through , and is perhaps best known for his role as the set-up reliever for the Tigers during their championship season, when he finished with a 10-1 record, 14 saves, and a 2.94 ERA. López was 1-0 in both the 1984 American League Championship Series
1984 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 2, 1984 at Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriGame 1 was a blowout in Kansas City, as Jack Morris pitched seven innings and allowed a single run, with Willie Hernandez pitching the final two innings. The Tigers scored eight runs...
and 1984 World Series
1984 World Series
The 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
, and did not give up an earned run in over a combined six innings pitched.
López reached the post season again with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, and ended his major league career in Houston the following season. With the Astros, Lopez complied a 5-4 record with eight saves while posting a 3.80 ERA.
Death
After retiring from baseball, López moved back to his hometown of Tecamachalco. He was elected municipal president of the city in , a position that he held until his death.López was killed in an auto accident a day after his 44th birthday in Matehuala, San Luis Potosí. The car that López drove overturned, and he was thrown from the vehicle. Coincidentally, there have been three players in Major League Baseball history named Aurelio, and all three were killed in car accidents between the ages of 44 and 53 (Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. , was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles...
and Aurelio Monteagudo
Aurelio Monteagudo
Aurelio Faustino Monteagudo Cintra , nicknamed "Monty", was a right-handed screwball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball. He was the son of former big-leaguer René Monteagudo.-Career:Monteagudo was born in Caibarién, Villa Clara Province, Cuba...
were the others).
López also had a reputation as being a friendly player who got along well with other members of the team. Former Astros teammate Terry Puhl
Terry Puhl
-See also:*List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases*List of Major League Baseball players from Canada*UHV Jaguars-External links:...
described López as "always upbeat," while fellow Astro Craig Reynolds noted that López was "everybody's friend."
Detroit rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band Electric Six
Electric Six
Electric Six is a six-piece metro Detroit-based band that plays what has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of "garage, disco, punk, new wave, and metal." The band met recognition in 2003 with the singles "Danger! High Voltage" and "Gay Bar", and subsequently recorded...
named their second album, Señor Smoke
Señor Smoke
Señor Smoke is the second album from Electric Six, following Fire in 2003. It was released in the UK February 14, 2005 by Warner Music imprint Rushmore Records...
in his honor.
See also
- Best pitching seasons by a Detroit Tiger
- List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders