Ossie Alvarez
Encyclopedia
Oswaldo Álvarez González (October 19, 1933 — March 8, 2008) was a Cuba
n professional baseball
player. He played two seasons in Major League Baseball
, 1958 and 1959, for the Washington Senators
and Detroit Tigers
.
Álvarez made his major league debut as an infielder for the Senators in 1958. In 196 at bats spanning 87 games, he batted .209 with five runs batted in. He was traded twice before the start of the 1959 season, first to the Cleveland Indians
for veteran utility man Jay Porter
. He then was part of a major trade involving the Indians and the Detroit Tigers
in which he and two top pitchers, Don Mossi
and Ray Narleski
, were sent to the Tigers for Billy Martin
and Al Cicotte
. He appeared in eight games for the Tigers, singling in two at bats for his only other major league experience.
The 5' 10", 165 pound right-hander was primarily known for his speed, having twice led baseball's minor leagues in stolen base
s and, after leaving the major leagues, leading the Mexican League in stolen bases with 27 at age 32 in 1965. He retired from baseball after two games with the Charros de Jalisco
(Jalisco Charros) in 1966. Alvarez died in Guadalajara, Mexico on March 8, 2008.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n 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. He played two 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...
, 1958 and 1959, for the Washington Senators
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 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...
.
Álvarez made his major league debut as an infielder for the Senators in 1958. In 196 at bats spanning 87 games, he batted .209 with five runs batted in. He was traded twice before the start of the 1959 season, first to the 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...
for veteran utility man Jay Porter
Jay Porter
J. W. "Jay" Porter is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , and St. Louis Cardinals . Porter played in 229 major league games, 91 as a catcher, 62 as an outfielder, 16 as a first baseman, and 3 at...
. He then was part of a major trade involving the Indians and 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...
in which he and two top pitchers, Don Mossi
Don Mossi
Donald Louis Mossi, , was an American major league pitcher from 1954 to 1965. He was a left-handed control pitcher whose strikeout-to-walk ratio was regularly amongst the league leaders . He retired with a career earned run average of 3.43, 101 wins, and 50 saves.- Biography :Mossi was born in St...
and Ray Narleski
Ray Narleski
Raymond Edmond Narleski is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers . He batted and threw right-handed...
, were sent to the Tigers for Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
and Al Cicotte
Al Cicotte
Alva Warren Cicotte , , nicknamed "Bozo," was a Major League Baseball player....
. He appeared in eight games for the Tigers, singling in two at bats for his only other major league experience.
The 5' 10", 165 pound right-hander was primarily known for his speed, having twice led baseball's minor leagues in stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s and, after leaving the major leagues, leading the Mexican League in stolen bases with 27 at age 32 in 1965. He retired from baseball after two games with the Charros de Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
(Jalisco Charros) in 1966. Alvarez died in Guadalajara, Mexico on March 8, 2008.
External links
- Obituary, Sports Collectors Digest, Krause Publications, August 8, 2008.