Pedro Guerrero
Encyclopedia
Pedro Guerrero is a former professional baseball
player. He played all or part of fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball
from 1978–92 with the Los Angeles Dodgers
and St. Louis Cardinals
.
called Guerrero "the best hitter God has made in a long time."
In the minors, he made all-star teams at both first base and third base.
at second base.
Guerrero had five RBIs in the final game of the 1981 World Series
, which earned him a piece of the first three-way Series MVP
award (sharing the award with Ron Cey
and Steve Yeager
). In somewhat of a symbol of the insufficient attention he received during his impressive career, he was the only one of the three not to be interviewed during the nationally televised post-game celebration. In 1982
, he became the first Dodger to hit 30 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season, and he did it again the following year.
In 1985
, Guerrero tied a major league record with 15 home runs in June, and also tied the Los Angeles season record of 33. He reached base 14 consecutive times that year, two short of the record set by Ted Williams
, and led the league in slugging, on-base and home run percentage.
Guerrero was an aggressive baserunner but a poor slider. He ruptured a tendon sliding in spring training and missed most of the 1986 season
, after which he ran less frequently. But in 1987
he batted .338 and won the UPI's Comeback Player of the Year award. His batting average that year was the highest by any Dodger since the .346 recorded by Tommy Davis
in 1962
.
The Dodgers shifted him from the outfield to a starter at third base as a replacement for the departing Ron Cey
. He also played sporadically at first base as the need arose. Although he gained a reputation for being shaky at third, he was statistically
as good as anyone in the league at getting to the ball.
, he was traded to the Cardinals
for pitcher John Tudor.
In 1989
, Guerrero earned serious MVP consideration, batting .311 with 17 home runs, a career-high 117 RBIs and a league-high 42 doubles. His production fell off sharply afterwards. In 1992
a shoulder injury limited him to 43 games, and he finished his major league career batting just .219 with one home run.
of the Northern League. He split the season between the Canaries and the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League. He returned to the Canaries in 1994, then made one more attempt at a comeback in 1995 with the Midland Angels, the Double-A farm team of the California Angels
before retiring.
from an undercover agent. In June 2002, he was acquitted of drug conspiracy charges after his attorney argued his low IQ prevented him from understanding that he had agreed to a drug deal.
Later in 1999, O.J. Simpson claimed in a call to 911 that his then girlfriend, Christie Prody, was missing and had been using drugs for two days with Guerrero.
In 2011, Guerrero joined the Arizona Winter League as a hitting instructor.
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 all or part of fifteen 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...
from 1978–92 with 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...
and 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...
.
Career
Writer Bill JamesBill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
called Guerrero "the best hitter God has made in a long time."
In the minors, he made all-star teams at both first base and third base.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Originally signed as a free agent by the Indians, Guerrero was acquired by the Dodgers in exchange for pitcher Bruce Ellingsen. He broke into the Dodger lineup as a replacement for the injured Davey LopesDavey Lopes
David Earle Lopes is a former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.He is of Cape Verdean descent.-Playing:...
at second base.
Guerrero had five RBIs in the final game of the 1981 World Series
1981 World Series
The 1981 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking their third meeting in the Series in five years as well as a record eleventh Series meeting overall and last Series meeting to date...
, which earned him a piece of the first three-way Series MVP
World Series MVP Award
The World Series Most Valuable Player Award is given to the player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the World Series, which is the final round of the Major League Baseball postseason...
award (sharing the award with Ron Cey
Ron Cey
Ronald Charles Cey |Washington]]) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics . Cey batted and threw right-handed...
and Steve Yeager
Steve Yeager
Stephen Wayne "Steve" Yeager is an American right-handed former major league baseball catcher. Yeager spent 14 of the 15 seasons of his Major League Baseball career, from through , with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His last year, , he played for the Seattle Mariners...
). In somewhat of a symbol of the insufficient attention he received during his impressive career, he was the only one of the three not to be interviewed during the nationally televised post-game celebration. In 1982
1982 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers were in contention all season but lost to the Atlanta Braves by one game in the National League Western Division race. This was the final L.A. season for longtime cornerstones Steve Garvey and Ron Cey, who would move on to new teams next season...
, he became the first Dodger to hit 30 home runs and steal 20 bases in a season, and he did it again the following year.
In 1985
1985 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1985 Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. Fernando Valenzuela set a major league record for most consecutive innings at the start of a season without allowing an earned run .-Offseason:*January 3,...
, Guerrero tied a major league record with 15 home runs in June, and also tied the Los Angeles season record of 33. He reached base 14 consecutive times that year, two short of the record set by 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...
, and led the league in slugging, on-base and home run percentage.
Guerrero was an aggressive baserunner but a poor slider. He ruptured a tendon sliding in spring training and missed most of the 1986 season
1986 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1986 Los Angeles Dodgers finished the season in fifth place in the Western Division of the National League.-Offseason:*January 14, 1986:1986 Major League Baseball Draft notable picks:-Notable transactions:...
, after which he ran less frequently. But in 1987
1987 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1987 Dodgers finished the season in fourth place in the Western Division of the National League.-Offseason:*December 10, 1986: Acquired Matt Young from the Seattle Mariners for Dennis Powell and...
he batted .338 and won the UPI's Comeback Player of the Year award. His batting average that year was the highest by any Dodger since the .346 recorded by Tommy Davis
Tommy Davis
Herman Thomas Davis, Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder and third baseman. He played from 1959-1976 for ten different teams, but he is best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During an 18-year baseball career, Davis batted .294 with 153 home runs, 2,121...
in 1962
1962 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers season was the fifth for the team in Southern California, and the 73rd for the franchise in the National League. After spending the previous four seasons at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, they began the season by opening Dodger Stadium, the team's new ballpark. The...
.
The Dodgers shifted him from the outfield to a starter at third base as a replacement for the departing Ron Cey
Ron Cey
Ronald Charles Cey |Washington]]) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics . Cey batted and threw right-handed...
. He also played sporadically at first base as the need arose. Although he gained a reputation for being shaky at third, he was statistically
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
as good as anyone in the league at getting to the ball.
St. Louis Cardinals
During Los Angeles' 1988 championship season1988 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1988 season was a memorable one for the Dodgers as a squad that was picked to finish fourth wound up winning the World Series, beating the heavily favored New York Mets and Oakland Athletics on the way. Kirk Gibson carried the Dodger offense, winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award...
, he was traded to the Cardinals
1988 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1988 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 107th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 97th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 76-86 during the season and finished 5th in the National League East division.-Offseason:...
for pitcher John Tudor.
In 1989
1989 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 1989 season was the team's 108th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 98th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 86-76 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League East division....
, Guerrero earned serious MVP consideration, batting .311 with 17 home runs, a career-high 117 RBIs and a league-high 42 doubles. His production fell off sharply afterwards. In 1992
1992 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1992 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 111th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 101st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 83-79 during the season and finished third in the National League East division.-Offseason:...
a shoulder injury limited him to 43 games, and he finished his major league career batting just .219 with one home run.
Independent leagues and Mexico
In 1993, after becoming a free agent and not finding a new major league team, Guerrero signed with the independent Sioux Falls CanariesSioux Falls Canaries
The Sioux Falls Pheasants are a professional baseball team based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA. The Pheasants are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1993 season, the...
of the Northern League. He split the season between the Canaries and the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League. He returned to the Canaries in 1994, then made one more attempt at a comeback in 1995 with the Midland Angels, the Double-A farm team of the California Angels
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...
before retiring.
Post-baseball
In September 1999, Guerrero was arrested for trying to buy 33 pounds of cocaineCocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
from an undercover agent. In June 2002, he was acquitted of drug conspiracy charges after his attorney argued his low IQ prevented him from understanding that he had agreed to a drug deal.
Later in 1999, O.J. Simpson claimed in a call to 911 that his then girlfriend, Christie Prody, was missing and had been using drugs for two days with Guerrero.
In 2011, Guerrero joined the Arizona Winter League as a hitting instructor.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters