Raúl Sánchez (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Raúl Guadalupe Sánchez Rodríguez (December 12, 1930 - June 30, 2002) was a middle relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for two different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 0", 150 lb., Sánchez batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Marianao
, Cuba
.
The skinny, hard thrower Sánchez was 21 years old when he entered the majors in 1952 with the Washington Senators
, playing for them one year before joining the Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds
(1957/1960). His most productive season came in 1957, when he posted career-highs in games (38), wins
(3), saves
(5), strikeout
s (37) and innings pitched
(62.1). He also pitched for the 1954 Havana Sugar Kings
of the International League
.
His nickname in Spanish was "Salivita", which translates roughly as "a little saliva", a reference to Sanchez's reputation for throwing a spitball.
In a three-season career, Sánchez posted a 5-3 record with a 4.62 ERA
and five saves in 49 appearances, including two starts
and one shutout
, giving up 46 earned runs on 86 hits and 43 walks
while striking out
48 in 89 ⅔ innings of work.
Sánchez died in Pembroke Pines, Florida
, at the age of 71.
Middle relief pitcher
In baseball, middle relief pitchers are relief pitchers who commonly pitch in the 6th or 7th innings or in situations where several innings worth of work is required . In the National League, a middle reliever often comes in after the starting pitcher has been pulled for a pinch hitter...
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...
who played for two different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 0", 150 lb., Sánchez batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Marianao
Marianao
Marianao is a town and municipality in the province of the city of Havana, Cuba, 6 miles southwest of the original city of Havana, with which it is connected by the Marianao railway. , the municipality had a population of 133,016. Marianao is on a range of hills about 1500 ft. above sea level,...
, Cuba
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...
.
The skinny, hard thrower Sánchez was 21 years old when he entered the majors in 1952 with 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...
, playing for them one year before joining the Cincinnati Redlegs/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....
(1957/1960). His most productive season came in 1957, when he posted career-highs in games (38), wins
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...
(3), saves
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
(5), 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 (37) and innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
(62.1). He also pitched for the 1954 Havana Sugar Kings
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
.
His nickname in Spanish was "Salivita", which translates roughly as "a little saliva", a reference to Sanchez's reputation for throwing a spitball.
In a three-season career, Sánchez posted a 5-3 record with a 4.62 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and five saves in 49 appearances, including two starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
and one 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....
, giving up 46 earned runs on 86 hits and 43 walks
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...
while striking 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....
48 in 89 ⅔ innings of work.
Sánchez died in Pembroke Pines, Florida
Pembroke Pines, Florida
Pembroke Pines is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city had a population of 154,750 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous city in Broward County, the tenth most populous in Florida, and the 150th most populous in the United States...
, at the age of 71.