Carlos López (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Carlos Antonio Morales López (born September 27, 1948, in Mazatlán
, Mexico
) is a retired professional baseball
player. López spent seven seasons in professional baseball, including three seasons in Major League Baseball
with the California Angels (1976), Seattle Mariners
(1979), and the Baltimore Orioles
(1978). Over his major league career, López batted
.260 with 61 runs
, 130 hits
, 24 doubles
, one triples
, 12 home runs, 54 runs batted in (RBIs), and 23 stolen bases in 237 games played
. On the defensive side, López has played 181 games in right field and 49 games in center fieldDied in 2006
.
López began his professional career in 1969 with the minor league
Class-A Aguascalientes Tigres of the Mexican Center League. Later that season, he played for the Triple-A Mexico City Tigres of the Mexican League. López was purchased from the Tigers by the California Angels from the Tigres in 1973. He then played for the Double-A El Paso Diablos
(1974–1975) Triple-A Salt Lake City Gulls
(1975–1976) in the California organization; and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
(1979) in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Over his minor league career in the United States
, López batted .316 with 511 hits, 72 doubles, 31 triples, and 39 home runs. In all but one game where he played first base, López played in the outfield
.
, he played 116 games. López also played with the non-affiliated Triple-A Mexico City Tigres in the Mexican League. He played six games with Mexico City that season. Until 1973, López played with Mexico City, although statistics were not kept.
with the Double-A El Paso Diablos
of the Texas League
in 1974. With the Diablos, López batted
.295 with 136 hits
, 21 doubles
, seven triples
, and 14 home runs in 128 games. In 1975, López split the season with the Double-A El Paso Diablos and the Triple-A Salt Lake City Gulls
. With the Diablos, he batted .327 with 77 runs
, 140 hits, 22 doubles, 10 triples, nine home runs, 78 runs batted in (RBIs), and 11 stolen bases in 112 games. López was first in the Texas League in triples, and fifth in the league in hits. That season, he also played 15 games with the Triple-A Gulls and batted .250 with three runs, 12 hits, two doubles, one home run, five RBIs, and two stolen bases. López spent the 1976 season with the Triple-A Salt Lake City Gulls, and later made the California Angels' roster as a September call-up. With the Gulls, he batted .350 with 95 runs, 157 hits, 19 doubles, 12 triples, nine home runs, 88 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 123 games. López was tied for second in the Pacific Coast League
in triples, and was third in batting average. López made his major league debut that season against the Minnesota Twins
on September 17. In that games, López walked
in his one plate appearance
. On the season, López went hitless with one run and two stolen bases in nine games in the majors.
in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft. At the age of 26, it was noted by The Associated Press that López and fellow teammate Dick Pole
were "the old men" on the Mariners' roster. The Associated Press also noted that fellow players and managers
"rave" about López's speed, but also asserted that he had a throwing arm that was as good. He got his first major league hit against the California Angels on April 10. López hit his first major league home run against the Boston Red Sox
on May 3. On May 30, López hit two home runs in the same game against the Texas Rangers
. On the season, López batted .283 with 39 runs, 84 hits, 18 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 34 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 99 games.
with pitcher
Tommy Moore
in exchange for pitcher Mike Parrott
. In 1978, López spent the entire season with the Orioles. He batted .238 with 21 runs, 46 hits, six doubles, four home runs, 20 RBIs, five stolen baseball, and seven caught stealing
in 129 games. López was demoted to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
in 1979, his final professional season. With the Red Wings, he batted .282 with 38 runs, 66 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 30 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases in 62 games. López led the International League
in stolen bases and caught stealing (7).
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
, 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...
) is a retired professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. López spent seven seasons in professional baseball, including three seasons 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...
with the California Angels (1976), Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
(1979), and the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1978). Over his major league career, López batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.260 with 61 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 130 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 24 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, one triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 12 home runs, 54 runs batted in (RBIs), and 23 stolen bases in 237 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
. On the defensive side, López has played 181 games in right field and 49 games in center fieldDied in 2006
.
López began his professional career in 1969 with the minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Class-A Aguascalientes Tigres of the Mexican Center League. Later that season, he played for the Triple-A Mexico City Tigres of the Mexican League. López was purchased from the Tigers by the California Angels from the Tigres in 1973. He then played for the Double-A El Paso Diablos
El Paso Diablos
The El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
(1974–1975) Triple-A Salt Lake City Gulls
Salt Lake City Gulls
leftThe Salt Lake City Gulls, a former member of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, were based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were a minor league affiliate of the California Angels from 1975 to 1981, and of the Seattle Mariners from 1982 to 1984...
(1975–1976) in the California organization; and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
(1979) in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Over his minor league career in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, López batted .316 with 511 hits, 72 doubles, 31 triples, and 39 home runs. In all but one game where he played first base, López played in the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
.
Early career
In 1969, López began his professional career in the Mexican Center League. With the non-affiliated Class-A Aguascalientes Tigres, a team based in Aguascalientes, MexicoAguascalientes, Aguascalientes
The city of Aguascalientes is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes in western central Mexico. It stands on the banks of the Río Aguascalientes, 1880 meters above sea level, at...
, he played 116 games. López also played with the non-affiliated Triple-A Mexico City Tigres in the Mexican League. He played six games with Mexico City that season. Until 1973, López played with Mexico City, although statistics were not kept.
California Angels
The California Angels purchased López from the Mexico City club from the Mexican League on December 3, 1973. He started his career in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with the Double-A El Paso Diablos
El Paso Diablos
The El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in 1974. With the Diablos, López batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.295 with 136 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, 21 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, seven triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 14 home runs in 128 games. In 1975, López split the season with the Double-A El Paso Diablos and the Triple-A Salt Lake City Gulls
Salt Lake City Gulls
leftThe Salt Lake City Gulls, a former member of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, were based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were a minor league affiliate of the California Angels from 1975 to 1981, and of the Seattle Mariners from 1982 to 1984...
. With the Diablos, he batted .327 with 77 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 140 hits, 22 doubles, 10 triples, nine home runs, 78 runs batted in (RBIs), and 11 stolen bases in 112 games. López was first in the Texas League in triples, and fifth in the league in hits. That season, he also played 15 games with the Triple-A Gulls and batted .250 with three runs, 12 hits, two doubles, one home run, five RBIs, and two stolen bases. López spent the 1976 season with the Triple-A Salt Lake City Gulls, and later made the California Angels' roster as a September call-up. With the Gulls, he batted .350 with 95 runs, 157 hits, 19 doubles, 12 triples, nine home runs, 88 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 123 games. López was tied for second in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
in triples, and was third in batting average. López made his major league debut that season against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
on September 17. In that games, López walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
in his one plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
. On the season, López went hitless with one run and two stolen bases in nine games in the majors.
Seattle Mariners
López was selected by the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft. At the age of 26, it was noted by The Associated Press that López and fellow teammate Dick Pole
Dick Pole
Richard Henry Pole is a retired Major League Baseball player and a former Cincinnati Reds pitching coach. A right-handed pitcher, Pole was tall and weighed during his playing career.-Playing career:...
were "the old men" on the Mariners' roster. The Associated Press also noted that fellow players and managers
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
"rave" about López's speed, but also asserted that he had a throwing arm that was as good. He got his first major league hit against the California Angels on April 10. López hit his first major league home run against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
on May 3. On May 30, López hit two home runs in the same game against the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. On the season, López batted .283 with 39 runs, 84 hits, 18 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 34 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in 99 games.
Baltimore Orioles
On December 7, 1977, the Seattle Mariners traded López to the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
with pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Tommy Moore
Tommy Moore (baseball)
Tommy Joe Moore is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Mets , St. Louis Cardinals , Texas Rangers , and Seattle Mariners .-External links:...
in exchange for pitcher Mike Parrott
Mike Parrott
Michael Everett Arch Parrott , nicknamed "Bird", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Parrott graduated from Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo, California in 1973. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round, 15th pick, of the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft...
. In 1978, López spent the entire season with the Orioles. He batted .238 with 21 runs, 46 hits, six doubles, four home runs, 20 RBIs, five stolen baseball, and seven caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
in 129 games. López was demoted to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
in 1979, his final professional season. With the Red Wings, he batted .282 with 38 runs, 66 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 30 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases in 62 games. López led the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
in stolen bases and caught stealing (7).