Vince Gonzales
Encyclopedia
Wenceslao Gonzales O'Reilly (September 28, 1925 — March 11, 1981) was a Cuban-born
professional baseball
player during the 1950s and 1960s. A left-handed
pitcher
who stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 165 pounds (74.8 kg), Gonzales appeared in one Major League Baseball
game in 1955 as a member of the Washington Senators
.
Gonzales entered pro baseball in 1951 as a member of the Ciudad Juárez Indios and in his first season, he led the Class C Southwest International League
with 32 victories
. He followed that by winning 25 and 22 games for the Indios.
In 1955
, Gonzales was a member of the Senators' early season roster and appeared in the second game of the campaign, a road contest against the New York Yankees
. Called into the game in the seventh inning with Washington already losing 13–1, he worked the final two frames, allowing six hits
, six earned runs and three bases on balls
in an eventual 19–1 rout.
Gonzales spent the rest of the season in the Arizona-Mexico League and the Mexican League and the rest of his career pitching in Mexico, appearing in a game as late as in 1969.
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...
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 during the 1950s and 1960s. A left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 165 pounds (74.8 kg), Gonzales appeared in one 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...
game in 1955 as a member of 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...
.
Gonzales entered pro baseball in 1951 as a member of the Ciudad Juárez Indios and in his first season, he led the Class C Southwest International League
Southwest International League
The Southwest International League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1951 through 1952. The league was formed through the merger of the Sunset League and Arizona-Texas League in 1951.- Former :...
with 32 victories
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
. He followed that by winning 25 and 22 games for the Indios.
In 1955
1955 Washington Senators season
The 1955 Washington Senators season was a season in American baseball. The team won 53 games, lost 101, and finished in eighth place in the American League...
, Gonzales was a member of the Senators' early season roster and appeared in the second game of the campaign, a road contest against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. Called into the game in the seventh inning with Washington already losing 13–1, he worked the final two frames, allowing six 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 earned runs and three bases on balls
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...
in an eventual 19–1 rout.
Gonzales spent the rest of the season in the Arizona-Mexico League and the Mexican League and the rest of his career pitching in Mexico, appearing in a game as late as in 1969.