Orlando Cabrera
Encyclopedia
Orlando Luis Cabrera, nicknamed "O-Cab" and "The OC", (born November 2, 1974) is a Colombian-American baseball infielder.
He won a World Series
championship in 2004
with the Boston Red Sox
. He has played for the Montreal Expos
, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
, Chicago White Sox
, Oakland Athletics
, Minnesota Twins
, Cincinnati Reds
, Cleveland Indians
and San Francisco Giants
. Cabrera is the younger brother of former major leaguer Jolbert Cabrera
.
Cabrera won the Gold Glove Award
in 2001 and in 2007.
.
In 2002, he led all major league ballplayers in errors, with 29.
In 2003, he finished second among the league shortstops in batting average
(.297), slugging percentage (.415), runs batted in
(80), and stolen base percentage (24-to-26). In addition, he was one of four Montreal Expos
players to have played all 162 games in a season, and the first to do it twice. Also, his 17 home run
s that season were the most ever by a shortstop in Expos history.
Since the Expos traded Cabrera to the Red Sox in 2004, he appeared in six of the seven MLB postseasons, and at least once with every team he spent the end of the season with (2004 with Boston
, 2005 and 2007 with Los Angeles
, 2008 with Chicago
, 2009 with Minnesota
, and 2010 with Cincinnati
).
Doug Mientkiewicz
from the Twins
, shored up Boston's infield
defense and energized the team, which went 42–19 after the deal to win the American League
's wild card (56–45 before the trade). "He is a game-changer in the field for me," Curt Schilling
said. He hit a home run on his first at-bat
with the Red Sox on August 1, becoming the eighth Boston player to accomplish the feat. In Game 2 of the 2004 ALDS, he hit a bases-clearing double, as the Red Sox went on to sweep the 3 game series from the Los Angeles Angels. Boston went on to win its first World Series
title since 1918 with a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals
.
with the Los Angeles Angels. He replaced fan favorite David Eckstein
at shortstop.
In 2007, Cabrera led qualified AL shortstops with a .983 fielding percentage and a league-low 11 errors, earning him the American League Gold Glove
for shortstop, the first by an Angel shortstop since Jim Fregosi
in 1967. Also, he stole 20 bases for the third straight year and the fifth time overall.
Cabrera had a 63-game on-base streak in early-through-mid 2006, which was among the top five streaks of all time. Ted Williams
holds the Major League record with 84 straight games reaching base by a hit
, walk
, or hit-by-pitch
. Cabrera also had a straight steal of home plate
on July 2, 2006, the first such time it had happened by an Angels player since 1997. Cabrera scored without a throw.
along with cash considerations for Jon Garland
. Cabrera's one season with White Sox was marred with controversy: arguing with manager Ozzie Guillén
, leaving the clubhouse early to avoid the media, calling the press box to have errors overturned, questioning his team's attitude, and kicking dirt at Tampa Bay Rays
pitcher Grant Balfour
during an at-bat in Game 1 of the AL Divisional Series.
.
with cash considerations for SS Tyler Ladendorf.
In 2009, Cabrera led all major league players in errors, with 25. He had a solid offensive year, finishing the season batting .284, with 186 hits (4th among all shortstops), and 77 RBIs (1st among AL shortstops and 4th out of all shortstops). His seventh-inning, two-run home run in the American League Central Division's tiebreaker game on October 6, 2009, kept the Twins in the game, which they later won, 6–5, in the 12th inning, to advance to post-season play.
. Cabrera spent the season as the Reds shortstop and posted a .263 average with four home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .303 on-base percentage. Cabrera played in only 123 games due to a strained oblique muscle that kept him on the DL from August 3 to September 3. The injury continued to bother him in September and into the playoffs, culminating with Dusty Baker giving him the start in game three of the NLDS despite Cabrera mentioning pain. In the first inning Cabrera made a high throw to first that allowed a run to score. While on the disabled list, Cabrera spent one game in full batboy
uniform, bringing balls to the umpire and collecting bats.
The Reds declined the option for 2011 on his contract with a $1 million buyout. Reds GM Walt Jocketty expressed that he wanted to bring back Cabrera at a price lower than the $4 million option.
. With Asdrubal Cabrera
in place at shortstop, Cabrera switched to playing second base. On June 12, 2011, Cabrera got his 2,000th hit in Yankee Stadium off of pitcher Freddy Garcia
.
With the 36-year-old Cabrera showing signs of wearing down and hitting .172 in the month of July and .244/.275/.323 for the season, the Indians called up rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis
in late July.
for minor league outfielder Thomas Neal
. He was originally given the number 6, but opted to wear number 43, out of respect for J.T. Snow.
He won a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
championship in 2004
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
with 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"...
. He has played for 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...
, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, 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....
, 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...
, Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, 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 San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. Cabrera is the younger brother of former major leaguer Jolbert Cabrera
Jolbert Cabrera
Jolbert Alexis Cabrera [HOLE-bert kah-BRER-rah] is a Major League Baseball Utility player who is currently playing in the Mexican League. Cabrera played with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Japan's Pacific League for two years...
.
Cabrera won the Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
in 2001 and in 2007.
Montreal Expos (1997–2004)
On July 18, 1999, Cabrera popped up to end David Cone's perfect gameDavid Cone's perfect game
David Cone's perfect game occurred on July 18, 1999 against the Montreal Expos at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.-Background:Before the game began, Don Larsen, who himself had thrown a perfect game in the 1956 World Series, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Yogi Berra, who caught that game...
.
In 2002, he led all major league ballplayers in errors, with 29.
In 2003, he finished second among the league shortstops in batting average
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 :...
(.297), slugging percentage (.415), runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(80), and stolen base percentage (24-to-26). In addition, he was one of four 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...
players to have played all 162 games in a season, and the first to do it twice. Also, his 17 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s that season were the most ever by a shortstop in Expos history.
Since the Expos traded Cabrera to the Red Sox in 2004, he appeared in six of the seven MLB postseasons, and at least once with every team he spent the end of the season with (2004 with Boston
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"...
, 2005 and 2007 with Los Angeles
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, 2008 with Chicago
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, 2009 with Minnesota
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...
, and 2010 with Cincinnati
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
).
Boston Red Sox (2004)
Cabrera was traded by Montreal to the Boston Red Sox in the summer of 2004, on the last day of the July trading deadline. Cabrera batted .294 with six home runs and 31 RBIs in 58 games with the Red Sox. He also brought stability to the shortstop position. The trade, which also netted first basemanFirst baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Doug Mientkiewicz
Doug Mientkiewicz
Douglas Andrew Mientkiewicz is a first baseman who last appeared in the majors in with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed...
from the 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...
, shored up Boston's infield
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
defense and energized the team, which went 42–19 after the deal to win the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
's wild card (56–45 before the trade). "He is a game-changer in the field for me," Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
said. He hit a home run on his first at-bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
with the Red Sox on August 1, becoming the eighth Boston player to accomplish the feat. In Game 2 of the 2004 ALDS, he hit a bases-clearing double, as the Red Sox went on to sweep the 3 game series from the Los Angeles Angels. Boston went on to win its first World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
title since 1918 with a four-game sweep of 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...
.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2005–07)
Following his 2004 World Series victory with the Red Sox, Cabrera signed as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Los Angeles Angels. He replaced fan favorite David Eckstein
David Eckstein
David Mark Eckstein is a former American professional baseball player who was an infielder in Major League Baseball for ten seasons. He played college baseball for the University of Florida, and has played professionally for the Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona...
at shortstop.
In 2007, Cabrera led qualified AL shortstops with a .983 fielding percentage and a league-low 11 errors, earning him the American League Gold Glove
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
for shortstop, the first by an Angel shortstop since Jim Fregosi
Jim Fregosi
James Louis Fregosi is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played from 1961–1978 for four different teams, primarily the Los Angeles and California Angels. In that franchise's first eleven years of play, he became its first star as the team's...
in 1967. Also, he stole 20 bases for the third straight year and the fifth time overall.
Cabrera had a 63-game on-base streak in early-through-mid 2006, which was among the top five streaks of all time. Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
holds the Major League record with 84 straight games reaching base by a hit
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....
, walk
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...
, or hit-by-pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
. Cabrera also had a straight steal of home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
on July 2, 2006, the first such time it had happened by an Angels player since 1997. Cabrera scored without a throw.
Chicago White Sox (2008)
On November 19, 2007, he was traded to the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
along with cash considerations for Jon Garland
Jon Garland
Jon Steven Garland is a right-handed starting pitcher, who is currently a free agent.-High school career:At John F...
. Cabrera's one season with White Sox was marred with controversy: arguing with manager Ozzie Guillén
Ozzie Guillén
Oswaldo José "Ozzie" Guillén Barrios is a Venezuelan-American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Miami Marlins. He managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011 before asking for his release at the end of the 2011 season....
, leaving the clubhouse early to avoid the media, calling the press box to have errors overturned, questioning his team's attitude, and kicking dirt at Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
pitcher Grant Balfour
Grant Balfour
Grant Robert Balfour is a relief pitcher who plays for the Oakland Athletics. He has previously played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers.-Early life:...
during an at-bat in Game 1 of the AL Divisional Series.
Oakland Athletics (2009)
On March 6, 2009, Cabrera signed a one-year deal and played middle infield with the Oakland AthleticsOakland 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....
.
Minnesota Twins (2009)
On July 31, 2009, Cabrera was traded to the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota 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...
with cash considerations for SS Tyler Ladendorf.
In 2009, Cabrera led all major league players in errors, with 25. He had a solid offensive year, finishing the season batting .284, with 186 hits (4th among all shortstops), and 77 RBIs (1st among AL shortstops and 4th out of all shortstops). His seventh-inning, two-run home run in the American League Central Division's tiebreaker game on October 6, 2009, kept the Twins in the game, which they later won, 6–5, in the 12th inning, to advance to post-season play.
Cincinnati Reds (2010)
On February 1, 2010, Cabrera signed a 1-year contract with the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Cabrera spent the season as the Reds shortstop and posted a .263 average with four home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .303 on-base percentage. Cabrera played in only 123 games due to a strained oblique muscle that kept him on the DL from August 3 to September 3. The injury continued to bother him in September and into the playoffs, culminating with Dusty Baker giving him the start in game three of the NLDS despite Cabrera mentioning pain. In the first inning Cabrera made a high throw to first that allowed a run to score. While on the disabled list, Cabrera spent one game in full batboy
Batboy
A batboy is an individual who carries the baseball bats around to a baseball team. A batboy may also lay out the equipment and mud the baseballs to be used in the game.Mascots and batboys had both been part of baseball since the 1880s....
uniform, bringing balls to the umpire and collecting bats.
The Reds declined the option for 2011 on his contract with a $1 million buyout. Reds GM Walt Jocketty expressed that he wanted to bring back Cabrera at a price lower than the $4 million option.
Cleveland Indians (2011)
On February 10, 2011, Cabrera signed a one-year contract for $1 million with the Cleveland IndiansCleveland 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...
. With Asdrubal Cabrera
Asdrúbal Cabrera
Asdrúbal José Cabrera is a switch-hitting infielder for the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball.After coming up through the Seattle Mariners organization, he was acquired by the Indians on June 30, 2006, in exchange for Eduardo Perez...
in place at shortstop, Cabrera switched to playing second base. On June 12, 2011, Cabrera got his 2,000th hit in Yankee Stadium off of pitcher Freddy Garcia
Freddy García
Freddy Antonio García , nicknamed "The Chief", is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent...
.
With the 36-year-old Cabrera showing signs of wearing down and hitting .172 in the month of July and .244/.275/.323 for the season, the Indians called up rookie second baseman Jason Kipnis
Jason Kipnis
Jason Michael Kipnis is an American baseball player who plays second base for the Cleveland Indians. He was called up from the minor leagues to the Indians on July 22, 2011....
in late July.
San Francisco Giants (2011)
On July 30, 2011, Cabrera was traded to the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for minor league outfielder Thomas Neal
Thomas Neal
Thomas Neal is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Cleveland Indians organization....
. He was originally given the number 6, but opted to wear number 43, out of respect for J.T. Snow.