Germán Rivera
Encyclopedia
Germán Rivera Diaz is a third baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 1980s.
Rivera was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers
on December 20, 1977. He played in the minors for the Lethbridge Dodgers (1978), Clinton Dodgers (1978–1979), Lodi Dodgers (1979, 1981), Vero Beach Dodgers (1980), San Antonio Dodgers (1982) and Albuquerque Dukes
(1982–1985).
He was selected by the Oakland Athletics
in the rule 5 draft
in 1983, but returned to the Dodgers at the end of spring training when he failed to make the Athletics roster.
Rivera made his major league debut as a defensive replacement on September 2, 1983 against the Montreal Expos
and made his first start the next day. He was the Dodgers opening day starter at third base in 1984, playing in 94 games that season and finishing with a .260 batting average.
On July 15, 1985 he was traded to the Houston Astros
(with Rafael Montalvo
) in exchange for Enos Cabell
. Spent most of the season with the Astros AAA team, the Tucson Toros
and only appeared in 13 games for the Astros.
Rivera bounced around the minors for a few years after that, playing with the Nashville Sounds
& Toledo Mud Hens
(Detroit Tigers
organization -1986-1987), Denver Zephyrs (Milwaukee Brewers
organization -1988), Richmond Braves
(Atlanta Braves
organization -1989), Indianapolis Indians
(Montreal Expos
organization-1990). After that he played in Japan (Kintetsu Buffaloes
) for a year.
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
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...
who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in the 1980s.
Rivera was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on December 20, 1977. He played in the minors for the Lethbridge Dodgers (1978), Clinton Dodgers (1978–1979), Lodi Dodgers (1979, 1981), Vero Beach Dodgers (1980), San Antonio Dodgers (1982) and Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
(1982–1985).
He was selected by the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in the rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
in 1983, but returned to the Dodgers at the end of spring training when he failed to make the Athletics roster.
Rivera made his major league debut as a defensive replacement on September 2, 1983 against the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
and made his first start the next day. He was the Dodgers opening day starter at third base in 1984, playing in 94 games that season and finishing with a .260 batting average.
On July 15, 1985 he was traded to 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...
(with Rafael Montalvo
Rafael Montalvo
Rafael Edgardo Montalvo Torres is a former Major League Baseball pitcher whose time in the big leagues consisted of only one inning in one game at the age of 22. He holds the record with several other pitchers for having the shortest career. His one appearance came on Sunday, April 13, as a...
) in exchange for Enos Cabell
Enos Cabell
Enos Milton Cabell, Jr. is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played 15 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, the Houston Astros, the San Francisco Giants, the Detroit Tigers, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cabell is a cousin of center fielder Ken Landreaux.Cabell was...
. Spent most of the season with the Astros AAA team, the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
and only appeared in 13 games for the Astros.
Rivera bounced around the minors for a few years after that, playing with the Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
& Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
(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...
organization -1986-1987), Denver Zephyrs (Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
organization -1988), Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
(Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
organization -1989), Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
(Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
organization-1990). After that he played in Japan (Kintetsu Buffaloes
Kintetsu Buffaloes
The was a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Osaka, Japan, which were in the Pacific League. The team was owned by Kinki Nippon Railway Co. and later sold to the Orix Group, the owner of the Orix BlueWave baseball team, in 2004...
) for a year.