Bo Diaz
Encyclopedia
Baudilio José Díaz Seijas (March 23, 1953 – November 23, 1990) was a Venezuelan professional
baseball
player. He played in Major League Baseball
as a catcher
for the Boston Red Sox
, Cleveland Indians
, Philadelphia Phillies
and the Cincinnati Reds
between and . Díaz was the first Venezuelan to play regularly as a catcher in Major League Baseball.
, Miranda, Venezuela
. At the age of 14, he played on a national champion Little League
team that missed a trip to the 1967 Little League World Series
when an earthquake
devastated Caracas
. In December , he was signed by Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent
.
Díaz spent seven seasons playing in the Red Sox minor league
system. While playing for the Pawtucket Red Sox
in , he posted a .263 batting average
with 14 doubles
, 7 home run
s and 54 runs batted in before being called up late in the season to make his major league debut with the Red Sox on September 6, 1977
at the age of 24. Díaz appeared in only two games for the Red Sox, being struck out
by Dennis Martinez
in his only at-bat.
, Díaz was traded along with Ted Cox
, Mike Paxton
and Rick Wise
to the Cleveland Indians for Dennis Eckersley
and Fred Kendall
. He played as the Indians' backup catcher, working behind Gary Alexander
in 1978 however, lost his job to Ron Hassey
the following season, and played most of the year in the minor leagues with the Tacoma Tugs
in the Pacific Coast League
, before returning to play for the Indians in September 1979
. In 1980
, he hit for a .227 average in 76 games but, provided solid defense, committing ony 4 errors
in 356 total chances
, while serving as backup catcher behind Hassey.
After Hassey was injured early in the strike-shortened 1981
season, Cleveland manager Dave Garcia
began using Díaz in a platoon
role alongside the left-hand hitting Hassey. By June, he was hitting for a .356 batting average with 4 home runs and 25 runs batted in to earn a place as a reserve player for the American League
in the 1981 All-Star Game
. He ended the season with a .313 batting average in 63 games.
, replacing Bob Boone
who had been traded to the California Angels. Díaz set career highs in batting average
(.288), home runs (18) and runs batted in (85). Although Díaz led National League catchers in stolen bases allowed, his pitch-calling skills helped pitcher Steve Carlton
become the league's only twenty-game winner of the season. Carlton also led the league in strikeout
s and shutout
s and, was named the National League Cy Young Award
winner. In a 1982 computer ranking of major league players that used offensive
and defensive statistics, Díaz was ranked second among National League catchers behind only Gary Carter
.
Díaz was a member of the 1983
Phillies team that became known as The Wheeze Kids, due to the average age of the team being over thirty. The moniker was a whimsical reference to the Whiz Kids
Phillies team that won the National League pennant in 1950
. In a game against the New York Mets
on April 13, 1983
, Díaz performed a feat that has only been accomplished by 11 other players in the history of Major League Baseball. The Phillies were trailing by a score of 9 to 6 and with two outs
in the ninth inning, when Díaz hit a grand slam home run
off Neil Allen
to win the game for the Phillies by a score of 10 to 9. On September 23, Díaz was the Phillies catcher when Steve Carlton won the 300th game of his career. With the Phillies leading the game by a score of 3 to 2 in the fifth inning, Díaz sealed the victory with a two-run single
.
The Phillies won 12 out of the final 14 games of the season to win the National League Eastern Division title. Díaz contributed by hitting .360 in the final week of the season, including a game on September 28 against the Chicago Cubs
in which he had 5 hits in 5 at-bats including 2 home runs. Although he led National League catchers in errors, he led the league in range factor
and finished second in putout
s, assists
and in baserunners caught stealing
. After defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 1983 National League Championship Series
, the Phillies lost the 1983 World Series
against the Baltimore Orioles
in five games. In the only World Series
appearance of his career, Díaz was the leading hitter for the Phillies with a .333 batting average.
In 1984
, Díaz went on the disabled list
twice due to knee problems and played in only 27 games. After the season ended, he underwent two knee surgeries to restore his mobility. Díaz broke his right wrist at the beginning of the 1985
season and was on the disabled list for a month and a half. During his absence, his replacement, Ozzie Virgil
hit above the .300 mark, relegating Díaz to the backup catcher's role upon his return. On August 8, 1985, the Phillies traded Díaz to the Cincinnati Reds.
season with a .245 average overall along with 5 home runs and 31 runs batted in. Díaz remained healthy in 1986
, appearing in 134 games and posted a .272 average with 10 home runs and 56 runs batted in. Although he committed 13 errors, he finished fourth among catchers in assists with 80 and, fourth in baserunners caught stealing with 55.
On June 27, , Díaz was part of an unusual occurrence when San Francisco Giants
second baseman, Robby Thompson
, became the first player in major league history to be caught stealing four times in one game. Thompson was thrown out
at second base by Díaz in the 4th, 6th and 9th innings and was picked off
by pitcher John Franco in the 11th inning. Three of the outs occurred during attempted hit and run
plays and were recorded as stolen base attempts.
In 1987
Díaz was hitting for a .292 average at mid-season, earning his second All-Star selection as a reserve player, this time for the National League
in the 1987 All-Star Game
. He was named Player of the Month for the month of July during which he produced a .351 batting average with 5 home runs and 23 runs batted in, including a game on July 7 when he had 6 runs batted in. His heavy workload continued as he played in 140 games, ending the season with a respectable .270 average with 15 home runs and 82 runs batted in. Díaz also led National League catchers in baserunners caught stealing and finished third in fielding percentage
, committing only 7 errors in 137 games played as a catcher.
Reds' manager Pete Rose
continued to play Díaz almost every day in the 1988
season. Díaz was the Reds catcher on June 6, 1988
, when pitcher Tom Browning
almost threw a no-hitter
against the San Diego Padres
. Browning held the Padres hitless through eight innings before Tony Gwynn
hit a single with one out in the ninth inning. Eventually, the heavy workload began to catch up with Díaz. In mid-June, a shoulder injury put him on the disabled list and then in September, Díaz had to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, which ended his season. He shared catching duties with Jeff Reed in 1989
but, in July Díaz had to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee for a second time, which ended his season. Díaz decided to retire, playing his final major league game on July 9, at the age of 36.
, accumulating 834 hits
in 3,274 at bats for a .255 career batting average along with 87 home runs, 452 runs batted in and a .297 on base percentage
. A two-time All-Star, he finished his career with a .986 fielding percentage.
team in the Venezuelan Winter League ( - ), forming a fiery offensive combo along with slugger Tony Armas
. During his time in the league, Díaz batted .281, with 265 runs scored, 290 runs batted in, 79 doubles, 7 triples, and 57 home runs, in 537 games played. In , he set a Venezuelan League single-season record for home runs with 20, a record that still stands. Díaz was the leading hitter in the 1982 Caribbean Series
with a .412 batting average and 2 home runs.
Díaz was part of an extremely unlikely event spanning thirteen years. On January 6, 1973, he caught for minor league pitcher Urbano Lugo, in a no-hit-no-run
game when the Leones del Caracas defeated the Tiburones de La Guaira
, 6–0. Thirteen years later, on January 24, 1986, Díaz was the catcher for another no-hitter in a 4-0 Caracas' victory over La Guaira. This time, the pitcher was major leaguer Urbano Lugo
, Jr., son of the elder Lugo.
that he was adjusting on the roof of his home fell on him and crushed his neck and head against the base of the dish. He was only 37 years old.
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....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played 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...
as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for 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"...
, 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...
, Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
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....
between and . Díaz was the first Venezuelan to play regularly as a catcher in Major League Baseball.
Minor leagues
Díaz was born in CúaCúa
Cúa is a small city capital of the Urdaneta Municipality, located in the Miranda State in the north of Venezuela with an altitude of 490 m...
, Miranda, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. At the age of 14, he played on a national champion Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
team that missed a trip to the 1967 Little League World Series
1967 Little League World Series
-Winners Bracket:-Consolation Bracket:Both Games C and D were cancelled-External links:**...
when an earthquake
1967 Caracas earthquake
The 1967 Caracas earthquake occurred on 29 July 1967 at 20:00 local time, and was centered near the coast about 30 miles west of Caracas, capital of Venezuela with a magnitude of 6.5. When the earth stopped shaking, about 240 inhabitants were dead and hundreds injured and buried in the rubble where...
devastated Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
. In December , he was signed by Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent
Free 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....
.
Díaz spent seven seasons playing in the Red Sox 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...
system. While playing for the 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 , he posted a .263 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 :...
with 14 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....
, 7 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 and 54 runs batted in before being called up late in the season to make his major league debut with the Red Sox on September 6, 1977
1977 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing second in the American League East with a record of 97 wins and 64 losses.- Regular season :...
at the age of 24. Díaz appeared in only two games for the Red Sox, being struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
by Dennis Martinez
Dennis Martínez
José Dennis Martínez Emilia , nicknamed "El Presidente" , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher...
in his only at-bat.
Cleveland Indians
On March 30, 19781978 Cleveland Indians season
- Offseason :* December 5, 1977: Bruce Compton and Norm Churchill were traded by the Indians to the Chicago Cubs for Dave Rosello....
, Díaz was traded along with Ted Cox
Ted Cox (baseball)
William Ted Cox is a former shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from through for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays . He batted and threw right-handed.Cox was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first-round of the 1973 draft ahead of Fred...
, Mike Paxton
Mike Paxton
Michael De Wayne Paxton is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed....
and Rick Wise
Rick Wise
Richard Charles Wise is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
to the Cleveland Indians for Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck", is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
and Fred Kendall
Fred Kendall
Fred Kendall was a catcher for parts of 12 seasons in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, and Boston Red Sox....
. He played as the Indians' backup catcher, working behind Gary Alexander
Gary Alexander (baseball)
Gary Wayne Alexander is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants , Oakland Athletics , Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates...
in 1978 however, lost his job to Ron Hassey
Ron Hassey
Ronald William Hassey is a retired Major League Baseball catcher. Hassey began his career with the Cleveland Indians after the Indians drafted him in the 18th round of the 1976 MLB amateur draft...
the following season, and played most of the year in the minor leagues with the Tacoma Tugs
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, before returning to play for the Indians in September 1979
1979 Cleveland Indians season
- Offseason :* October 3, 1978: Larvell Blanks and Jim Kern were traded by the Indians to the Texas Rangers for Len Barker and Bobby Bonds.* December 5, 1978: Carmen Castillo was drafted by the Indians from the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1978 minor league draft....
. In 1980
1980 Cleveland Indians season
- Offseason :* October 24, 1979: Paul Reuschel was released by the Indians.* January 4, 1980: David Clyde and Jim Norris were traded by the Indians to the Texas Rangers for Gary Gray and Mike Bucci ....
, he hit for a .227 average in 76 games but, provided solid defense, committing ony 4 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 356 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
, while serving as backup catcher behind Hassey.
After Hassey was injured early in the strike-shortened 1981
1981 Cleveland Indians season
- Offseason :* December 8, 1980: Dan Spillner was signed as a free agent by the Indians. * December 9, 1980: Gary Alexander, Víctor Cruz, Rafael Vásquez, and Bob Owchinko were traded by the Indians to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Bert Blyleven and Manny Sanguillen....
season, Cleveland manager Dave Garcia
Dave Garcia
David Garcia is an American retired coach, scout and manager in Major League Baseball who spent over 65 years in the game...
began using Díaz in a platoon
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
role alongside the left-hand hitting Hassey. By June, he was hitting for a .356 batting average with 4 home runs and 25 runs batted in to earn a place as a reserve player for 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...
in the 1981 All-Star Game
1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 52nd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on August 9, 1981, at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, the home of...
. He ended the season with a .313 batting average in 63 games.
Philadelphia Phillies
In November , Díaz was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of a three-team trade. He became the Phillies starting catcher in 19821982 Philadelphia Phillies season
The 1982 season was the 100th season in Philadelphia Phillies franchise history. During the season, Steve Carlton would be the last pitcher to win at least 20 games in one season for the Phillies in the 20th century. He would also become the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards in a career...
, replacing Bob Boone
Bob Boone
Robert Raymond Boone is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and...
who had been traded to the California Angels. Díaz set career highs 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 :...
(.288), home runs (18) and runs batted in (85). Although Díaz led National League catchers in stolen bases allowed, his pitch-calling skills helped pitcher Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
become the league's only twenty-game winner of the season. Carlton also led the league in strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s and, was named the National League Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner. In a 1982 computer ranking of major league players that used offensive
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
and defensive statistics, Díaz was ranked second among National League catchers behind only Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
.
Díaz was a member of the 1983
1983 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season involved the Phillies winning the National League East Division title with a record of 90-72, six games over the Pittsburgh Pirates...
Phillies team that became known as The Wheeze Kids, due to the average age of the team being over thirty. The moniker was a whimsical reference to the Whiz Kids
Whiz Kids (baseball)
The Whiz Kids was a nickname given to the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball. This team, averaging only 26.4 years of age, won the National League pennant during that season.After owner R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr...
Phillies team that won the National League pennant in 1950
1950 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League pennant by two games over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Nicknamed the "Whiz Kids" because of the youth of their roster, they went on to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees in four straight games....
. In a game against the New York Mets
1983 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 1983 season was the 22nd regular season for the Mets. They went 68-94 and finished 6th in the National League East. They were managed by George Bamberger and Frank Howard...
on April 13, 1983
1983 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season involved the Phillies winning the National League East Division title with a record of 90-72, six games over the Pittsburgh Pirates...
, Díaz performed a feat that has only been accomplished by 11 other players in the history of Major League Baseball. The Phillies were trailing by a score of 9 to 6 and with two outs
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
in the ninth inning, when Díaz hit a grand slam home run
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
off Neil Allen
Neil Allen
Neil Patrick Allen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher currently serving as pitching coach for the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, the Durham Bulls.-New York Mets:...
to win the game for the Phillies by a score of 10 to 9. On September 23, Díaz was the Phillies catcher when Steve Carlton won the 300th game of his career. With the Phillies leading the game by a score of 3 to 2 in the fifth inning, Díaz sealed the victory with a two-run 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...
.
The Phillies won 12 out of the final 14 games of the season to win the National League Eastern Division title. Díaz contributed by hitting .360 in the final week of the season, including a game on September 28 against the Chicago Cubs
1983 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was the 112th season in franchise history.- Offseason :* October 15, 1982: Herman Segelke was traded by the Cubs to the San Francisco Giants for Alan Hargesheimer....
in which he had 5 hits in 5 at-bats including 2 home runs. Although he led National League catchers in errors, he led the league in range factor
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...
and finished second in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and in baserunners 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...
. After defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers
1983 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League Western Division but lost in the National League Championship Series to the Philadelphia Phillies 3 games to 1.- Offseason :* December 28, 1982: Acquired Pat Zachry from the New York Mets for Jorge Orta...
in the 1983 National League Championship Series
1983 National League Championship Series
The National League Championship Series was a best-of-five matchup between the Western Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the Eastern Division champion Philadelphia Phillies...
, the Phillies lost the 1983 World Series
1983 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 11, 1983 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, MarylandJohn Denver, whose Thank God I'm a Country Boy was played at the seventh-inning stretch of each Orioles home game, sang the National Anthem prior to this game....
against the Baltimore Orioles
1983 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 1st in the American League East with a record of 98 wins and 64 losses...
in five games. In the only 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...
appearance of his career, Díaz was the leading hitter for the Phillies with a .333 batting average.
In 1984
1984 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies are a National League Basketball team based in Philadelphia in the United States of America. Below are details about their 1984 playing season.- Offseason :* October 19, 1983: Pete Rose was released by the Phillies....
, Díaz went on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
twice due to knee problems and played in only 27 games. After the season ended, he underwent two knee surgeries to restore his mobility. Díaz broke his right wrist at the beginning of the 1985
1985 Philadelphia Phillies season
The 1985 season was the Philadelphia Phillies 103rd season. The Phillies finished in fifth place in the National League East with a record of 75 wins and 87 losses...
season and was on the disabled list for a month and a half. During his absence, his replacement, Ozzie Virgil
Ozzie Virgil, Jr.
Osvaldo José Virgil, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played with the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, and Toronto Blue Jays from 1980 to 1990. He was elected to the National League All-Star team twice in 1985 and 1987...
hit above the .300 mark, relegating Díaz to the backup catcher's role upon his return. On August 8, 1985, the Phillies traded Díaz to the Cincinnati Reds.
Cincinnati Reds
Díaz immediately became the Reds' starting catcher. He had been hitting for a .211 average at the time of the trade but, hit .261 in 51 games for the Reds, ending the 19851985 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1985 season consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West. The Reds finished in second place, 5½ games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. This year, the Reds adopted an alternate uniform...
season with a .245 average overall along with 5 home runs and 31 runs batted in. Díaz remained healthy in 1986
1986 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1986 season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West, although falling short in second place behind the Houston Astros.-Offseason:...
, appearing in 134 games and posted a .272 average with 10 home runs and 56 runs batted in. Although he committed 13 errors, he finished fourth among catchers in assists with 80 and, fourth in baserunners caught stealing with 55.
On June 27, , Díaz was part of an unusual occurrence when San Francisco Giants
1986 San Francisco Giants season
-Offseason:* October 24, 1985: George Riley and Alonzo Powell were traded by the Giants to the Montreal Expos for Bill Laskey.* December 11, 1985: Manny Trillo was traded by the Giants to the Chicago Cubs for Dave Owen....
second baseman, Robby Thompson
Robby Thompson
Robert Randall "Robby" Thompson is an American professional baseball coach and former college and professional player. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball as the second baseman for the San Francisco Giants from to . Thompson is the current bench coach for the Seattle Mariners...
, became the first player in major league history to be caught stealing four times in one game. Thompson was thrown out
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
at second base by Díaz in the 4th, 6th and 9th innings and was picked off
Pickoff
In baseball, a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or a catcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base....
by pitcher John Franco in the 11th inning. Three of the outs occurred during attempted hit and run
Hit and run (baseball)
A hit and run is a high risk/high reward offensive strategy used in baseball.When the offense has a baserunner on first base , the runner on first breaks for second as the pitch is thrown...
plays and were recorded as stolen base attempts.
In 1987
1987 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1987 season consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West. The Reds finished in 2nd place with a record of 84-78.-Offseason:*November 11, 1986: Chris Welsh was released by the Cincinnati Reds....
Díaz was hitting for a .292 average at mid-season, earning his second All-Star selection as a reserve player, this time for the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in the 1987 All-Star Game
1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 58th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 1987 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland,...
. He was named Player of the Month for the month of July during which he produced a .351 batting average with 5 home runs and 23 runs batted in, including a game on July 7 when he had 6 runs batted in. His heavy workload continued as he played in 140 games, ending the season with a respectable .270 average with 15 home runs and 82 runs batted in. Díaz also led National League catchers in baserunners caught stealing and finished third in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
, committing only 7 errors in 137 games played as a catcher.
Reds' manager Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
continued to play Díaz almost every day in the 1988
1988 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1988 season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West. Led by manager Pete Rose, the Reds had a record of 87 wins and 74 losses, finishing seven games back of the eventual world champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
season. Díaz was the Reds catcher on June 6, 1988
1988 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1988 season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West. Led by manager Pete Rose, the Reds had a record of 87 wins and 74 losses, finishing seven games back of the eventual world champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
, when pitcher Tom Browning
Tom Browning
Thomas Leo Browning is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 12-year baseball career, he pitched for the Cincinnati Reds and the Kansas City Royals...
almost threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against the San Diego Padres
1988 San Diego Padres season
The 1988 season was the 20th season in Padres history. Tony Gwynn set a National League record by having the lowest batting average to win a batting title...
. Browning held the Padres hitless through eight innings before Tony Gwynn
Tony Gwynn
Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Sr. , nicknamed Mr. Padre and Captain Video, is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the San Diego Padres...
hit a single with one out in the ninth inning. Eventually, the heavy workload began to catch up with Díaz. In mid-June, a shoulder injury put him on the disabled list and then in September, Díaz had to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, which ended his season. He shared catching duties with Jeff Reed in 1989
1989 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1989 season consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West for the first time since 1979. The season was defined by allegations of gambling by Pete Rose. Before the end of the season, Rose was banned from baseball by commissioner A...
but, in July Díaz had to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee for a second time, which ended his season. Díaz decided to retire, playing his final major league game on July 9, at the age of 36.
Career statistics
In a 13 year major league career, Díaz played in 993 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 834 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 3,274 at bats for a .255 career batting average along with 87 home runs, 452 runs batted in and a .297 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
. A two-time All-Star, he finished his career with a .986 fielding percentage.
Leones del Caracas
Díaz played exclusively for the Leones del CaracasLeones del Caracas
The Leones del Caracas is a Venezuelan baseball team that plays in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Since its inception, the team has played in the Estadio Universitario in Caracas...
team in the Venezuelan Winter League ( - ), forming a fiery offensive combo along with slugger Tony Armas
Tony Armas
Antonio Rafael Armas Machado is a former Venezuelan professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was one of the top sluggers in the American League in the early 1980s. Twice Armas led the league in home runs, and led all of Major League Baseball in RBIs in...
. During his time in the league, Díaz batted .281, with 265 runs scored, 290 runs batted in, 79 doubles, 7 triples, and 57 home runs, in 537 games played. In , he set a Venezuelan League single-season record for home runs with 20, a record that still stands. Díaz was the leading hitter in the 1982 Caribbean Series
1982 Caribbean Series
After a year of absence, the XXIV edition of Baseball's Caribbean Series finally took place in 1982. It was held from February 4 through February 9 with the champions teams from Dominican Republic, Leones del Escogido; Mexico, Naranjeros de Hermosillo; Puerto Rico, Leones de Ponce and Venezuela,...
with a .412 batting average and 2 home runs.
Díaz was part of an extremely unlikely event spanning thirteen years. On January 6, 1973, he caught for minor league pitcher Urbano Lugo, in a no-hit-no-run
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
game when the Leones del Caracas defeated the Tiburones de La Guaira
Tiburones de La Guaira
The Tiburones de La Guaira are a baseball team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Based in the city of La Guaira, the Tiburones have won seven national championships since their founding in 1962.-History:...
, 6–0. Thirteen years later, on January 24, 1986, Díaz was the catcher for another no-hitter in a 4-0 Caracas' victory over La Guaira. This time, the pitcher was major leaguer Urbano Lugo
Urbano Lugo
Rafael Urbano Lugo Colina is a former pitcher for Major League Baseball.Lugo was signed by the California Angels as an amateur free agent in 1982. During his career, Colina played for the Angels from 1985–1988, the Montreal Expos in 1989 and the Detroit Tigers in 1990...
, Jr., son of the elder Lugo.
Death
On November 23, , Díaz was killed at his home in Caracas when, a satellite dishSatellite dish
A satellite dish is a dish-shaped type of parabolic antenna designed to receive microwaves from communications satellites, which transmit data transmissions or broadcasts, such as satellite television.-Principle of operation:...
that he was adjusting on the roof of his home fell on him and crushed his neck and head against the base of the dish. He was only 37 years old.
See also
- Players from Venezuela in MLB
- Leones del CaracasLeones del CaracasThe Leones del Caracas is a Venezuelan baseball team that plays in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Since its inception, the team has played in the Estadio Universitario in Caracas...
- In Spanish http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leones_del_Caracas