Kenneth Raymond Suarez is a former right-handed 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...

 catcher who played from 1966 to 1973 for the Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...

 and 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...

. He was 5'9" tall and he weighed 175 pounds.

Prior to playing professional baseball, Suarez attended Jesuit High School in Tampa, and then Florida State University

Florida State University

The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...

. In 1964, he played with the US amateur team that toured the Orient.He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Kansas City Athletics before the 1965 season. His first professional hit was a grand slam, while playing for the Lewiston Broncs.

On April 14, 1966, he made his big league debut at the age of 23 against pitcher Jim Kaat

Jim Kaat

James Lee "Jim" Kaat , nicknamed "Kitty", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins , Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Phillies , New York Yankees , and St...

 of 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...

. He went 0-2 in his first big league game. Overall, he appeared in 35 games in his first season, hitting .145 in 69 at-bats.

The following season, Suarez hit .238 in 39 games (63 at-bats). He hit the first home run of his career that season, on April 16 against Mickey Lolich

Mickey Lolich

Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...

 of 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...

. He hit the second home run of his career in his next game, on April 19, against his future teammate Sonny Siebert

Sonny Siebert

Wilfred Charles Siebert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1964 to 1975. He finished with a record of 140-114 and a 3.21 ERA. He threw a no-hitter on June 10, 1966 against the Washington Senators. He was originally drafted simultaneously by the Cleveland Indians and the St...

 of the Indians. On November 28, he was drafted by the Indians from the Athletics via 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...

.

He appeared in only 17 games in 1968, hitting .100 in 10 at-bats. His hitting improved markedly in 1969 as he batted .294 with nine RBI in 85 at-bats. He did not play in the big leagues in 1970. Given a more regular role in 1971, Suarez appeared in 50 games for the Indians, hitting only .203 in 123 at-bats. On December 2, 1971, he was traded to the Rangers with Roy Foster, Rich Hand

Rich Hand

Richard Allen Hand . He graduated from Lincoln High School in Seattle and attended University of Puget Sound. He is a retired professional baseball player who played four seasons for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and California Angels of Major League Baseball...

, and Mike Paul

Mike Paul

Michael George Paul is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1968 to 1974 for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs....

 for Del Unser

Del Unser

Delbert Bernard Unser is a retired Major League Baseball center fielder and utility player who had a 15-year career from 1968 to 1982. Unser played for the Washington Senators from 1968 to 1971 and the Cleveland Indians in 1972...

, Denny Riddleberger

Denny Riddleberger

Dennis Michael Riddleberger is a retired American professional baseball player. A pitcher, he was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1967, but never saw playing time in the major leagues until he was traded to the Washington Senators with money for George Brunet...

, Terry Ley

Terry Ley

Terrence Richard Ley is a retired baseball pitcher who began his career in the season for the New York Yankees. He was a student of University of Oregon before he was drafted in the 3rd round of the January 1967 draft and was 24 when he made his major league debut on August 20, 1971 for the...

, and Gary Jones

Gary Jones (baseball)

Gareth Howell "Gary" Jones is a former left-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played in 1970 and 1971 for the New York Yankees. The brother of fellow MLB player Steve Jones, Gary was 6'0" and 191 pounds.Prior to playing professional baseball, Jones attended Whittier College...

.

Suarez had 33 games in 25 at-bats in 1972, hitting .152. Although 1973 would end up being his final season in the big leagues, it would also be the year in which he received the most action. He appeared in 93 games for the Rangers, hitting .248 with one home run and 27 RBI in 278 at-bats. On June 16, he broke up a Jim Palmer

Jim Palmer

James Alvin "Jim" Palmer , nicknamed "Cakes", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in .As of 2008, Palmer and his wife Susan have homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and...

 perfect game. Palmer had retired the first 25 batters, however Suarez singled with one out in the ninth inning.

He played in his final big league game on September 22.

Although he didn't play in the majors after the 1973 season, he was still active in the minor leagues. On February 12, 1974, he was traded back to the Indians for Leo Cardenas

Leo Cárdenas

Leonardo Lazaro Cárdenas Alfonso was a prominent shortstop in American Major League Baseball for 16 years...

, and on September 12, 1974 he was traded to the California Angels with Rusty Torres

Rusty Torres

Rosando "Rusty" Torres Hernández is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of nine season in Major League Baseball for five different teams...

 for Frank Robinson

Frank Robinson

Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...

.

Overall, Suarez hit .227 with five home runs and 60 RBI in 295 games (661 at-bats). He walked 99 times and struck out 97 times.