Puchy Delgado
Encyclopedia
Luis Felipe "Puchy" Delgado Robles (born February 2, 1954 in Hatillo, Puerto Rico
) is a retired professional baseball
player who spent seven seasons in professional baseball, including part of a season (1977) in Major League Baseball
with the Seattle Mariners
. He played 13 games in his one-year major league career, and had hits
in 22 at-bats, with two runs batted in (RBIs). Over his minor league
career, Delgado played for the Class-A Winter Haven Red Sox
, the Class-A Winston-Salem Red Sox, the Triple-A Rhode Island Red Sox
, and the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
in the Boston Red Sox
organization; the Triple-A San Jose Missions
in the Seattle Mariners organization; the Triple-A Omaha Royals
in the Kansas City Royals
organization; and the Triple-A Wichita Aeros
in the Chicago Cubs
organization. In 765 career minor league games, Delgado batted
.261 with 729 hits, 89 doubles
, 33 triples
, and 17 home runs.
with the Boston Red Sox
. He was assigned to the Class-A Winter Haven Red Sox
at the start of the 1973 season. With Winter Haven, he batted
.264 with 73 hits
, six doubles
, and four triples
in 99 games. In 1974, Delgado continued to play for the Winter Haven Red Sox. In 111 games, he batted .264 with 44 runs
, 96 hits, one doubles, five triples, and 27 runs batted in (RBIs). Delgado was tied for first on the Red Sox in triples. Delgado continued at the Class-A level in 1975, this time with the Winston-Salem Red Sox of the Carolina League
. He batted .257 with 100 hits, 11 doubles, four triples, and one home run
in 104 games. Delgado split the 1976 season between the Class-A Winston-Salem Red Sox and the Triple-A Rhode Island Red Sox
. With Winston-Salem, he batted .294 with 143 hits, 21 doubles, six triples, and seven home runs in 122 games. He led the Carolina League in hits, and was fifth in batting average. That season, he also played two games with the Rhode Island Red Sox and got one hit (a double) in two at-bats.
in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft. In 1977, Delgado began the season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
. He batted .281 with 73 runs, 132 hits, 20 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 53 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, and 12 caught stealing
in 119 games. Delgado led the Red Sox in runs, stolen bases, and caught stealing. After spring training
in 1977, Delgado was optioned to the minor leagues. He made his major league debut that season on September 6. In that game against the Kansas City Royals
he struck out in his first at-bat. Delgado's first hit, a single
, came against the Texas Rangers
on September 9. He finished his first and last major league season with four hits, four runs, in 23 at-bats. In 1978, Delgado continued playing in the Seattle Mariners organization. With the Triple-A San Jose Missions
, Delgado batted .252 with 83 runs, 136 hits, 19 doubles, seven triples, two home runs, 49 RBIs, and 49 stolen bases in 136 games. He led the Missions in games played, triples, and stolen bases that season.
for Larry Cox. Delgado was assigned to the Triple-A Wichita Aeros
in the Cubs organization. With the Aeros, he batted .159 with 13 hits, four doubles, and one triple in 19 games. Delgado then joined the Kansas City Royals
organization later that season and was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Royals
. In 17 games with the Omaha club, he batted .224 with 11 hits, and one double. 1979 would prove to be Delgado's final season in professional baseball.
Hatillo, Puerto Rico
Hatillo is a municipality located on Puerto Rico's north coast, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Lares and Utuado to the south, Camuy to the west, and Arecibo to the east. According to the 2000 US Census Hatillo is spread over 9 wards and Hatillo Pueblo...
) is a retired 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 who spent seven seasons in professional baseball, including part of a season (1977) 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...
with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He played 13 games in his one-year major league career, and had hits
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....
in 22 at-bats, with two runs batted in (RBIs). Over his minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
career, Delgado played for the Class-A Winter Haven Red Sox
Winter Haven Red Sox
The Winter Haven Red Sox is a former minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Boston Red Sox from 1969 to 1992.*Location: Winter Haven, FL*League: Florida State League *Affiliation: Boston Red Sox...
, the Class-A Winston-Salem Red Sox, the Triple-A Rhode Island Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
, and the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
in 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"...
organization; the Triple-A San Jose Missions
San Jose Missions
The San Jose Missions were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League in 1977 and 1978. The team had been known as the Sacramento Solons prior to 1977, and played its home games in a football stadium there...
in the Seattle Mariners organization; the Triple-A Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
in the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
organization; and the Triple-A Wichita Aeros
Wichita Aeros
The Wichita Aeros was a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the AAA American Association from 1970 through 1984....
in the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
organization. In 765 career minor league games, Delgado batted
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 :...
.261 with 729 hits, 89 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 33 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 17 home runs.
Boston Red Sox
Before the 1973 season, Delgado signed as an amateur 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 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 was assigned to the Class-A Winter Haven Red Sox
Winter Haven Red Sox
The Winter Haven Red Sox is a former minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Boston Red Sox from 1969 to 1992.*Location: Winter Haven, FL*League: Florida State League *Affiliation: Boston Red Sox...
at the start of the 1973 season. With Winter Haven, he batted
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 :...
.264 with 73 hits
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....
, six doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and four triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in 99 games. In 1974, Delgado continued to play for the Winter Haven Red Sox. In 111 games, he batted .264 with 44 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 96 hits, one doubles, five triples, and 27 runs batted in (RBIs). Delgado was tied for first on the Red Sox in triples. Delgado continued at the Class-A level in 1975, this time with the Winston-Salem Red Sox of the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. He batted .257 with 100 hits, 11 doubles, four triples, and one 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...
in 104 games. Delgado split the 1976 season between the Class-A Winston-Salem Red Sox and the Triple-A Rhode Island Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
. With Winston-Salem, he batted .294 with 143 hits, 21 doubles, six triples, and seven home runs in 122 games. He led the Carolina League in hits, and was fifth in batting average. That season, he also played two games with the Rhode Island Red Sox and got one hit (a double) in two at-bats.
Seattle Mariners
Despite playing in the Boston Red Sox organization in 1977, he was selected by the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the 1976 Major League Baseball expansion draft. In 1977, Delgado began the season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
. He batted .281 with 73 runs, 132 hits, 20 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 53 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, and 12 caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
in 119 games. Delgado led the Red Sox in runs, stolen bases, and caught stealing. After spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1977, Delgado was optioned to the minor leagues. He made his major league debut that season on September 6. In that game against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
he struck out in his first at-bat. Delgado's first hit, a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
, came against the 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...
on September 9. He finished his first and last major league season with four hits, four runs, in 23 at-bats. In 1978, Delgado continued playing in the Seattle Mariners organization. With the Triple-A San Jose Missions
San Jose Missions
The San Jose Missions were a minor league baseball team which played in the Pacific Coast League in 1977 and 1978. The team had been known as the Sacramento Solons prior to 1977, and played its home games in a football stadium there...
, Delgado batted .252 with 83 runs, 136 hits, 19 doubles, seven triples, two home runs, 49 RBIs, and 49 stolen bases in 136 games. He led the Missions in games played, triples, and stolen bases that season.
Later career
In Delgado's final season, 1979, he played for two different organizations. On March 20, 1979, Delgado was traded to the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for Larry Cox. Delgado was assigned to the Triple-A Wichita Aeros
Wichita Aeros
The Wichita Aeros was a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the AAA American Association from 1970 through 1984....
in the Cubs organization. With the Aeros, he batted .159 with 13 hits, four doubles, and one triple in 19 games. Delgado then joined the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
organization later that season and was assigned to the Triple-A Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
. In 17 games with the Omaha club, he batted .224 with 11 hits, and one double. 1979 would prove to be Delgado's final season in professional baseball.