Reno Bertoia
Encyclopedia
Reno Peter Bertoia was an Italian-Canadian professional baseball player, playing infield
for the Detroit Tigers
(1953–58 and 1961–62), Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins
(1959–61) and Kansas City Athletics (1961).
Born as Pietro, Bertoia moved with his family to Canada from Italy at the age of one and grew up in Windsor, Ontario
. His next-door neighbour and role model was Hank Biasatti
. Bertoia attended Assumption College High School
in Windsor and was signed by the Detroit Tigers
in 1953. He went on to attend Assumption University in 1958 while a member of the Tigers. Bertoia also became close friends with Hall of Fame outfielder Al Kaline
while with Detroit, and was an important part of Kaline's early years with the Tigers.
In 10 major league seasons he played in 612 games and had 1,745 at bats, 204 runs, 425 hits, 60 doubles, 10 triples, 27 home runs, 171 RBI, 16 stolen bases, 142 walks, .244 batting average, .303 on-base percentage, .336 slugging percentage, 586 total bases and 31 sacrifice hits.
In January 1964, Bertoia signed to play in the Japanese Central League
with the Hanshin Tigers
. He asked for his release a few weeks into the season because his son had been ill during most of the family's stay in Japan.
After his retirement as a player, Bertoia received his full high school teaching credentials and returned to Windsor, where he worked as a teacher for 30 years with the Windsor Catholic School Board
. He was inducted into the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in 1982, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
in 1988 and the University of Windsor
Alumni Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
Bertoia died on April 15, 2011, of lymphoma
in Windsor.
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1953–58 and 1961–62), Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins
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...
(1959–61) and Kansas City Athletics (1961).
Born as Pietro, Bertoia moved with his family to Canada from Italy at the age of one and grew up in Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
. His next-door neighbour and role model was Hank Biasatti
Hank Biasatti
Henry Arcado Biasatti was a Canadian National Basketball Association player and a Major League Baseball first baseman...
. Bertoia attended Assumption College High School
Assumption College School
Assumption College Catholic High School is an International Baccalaureate authorized catholic high school in Windsor, Ontario.- History :Assumption was founded by the Basilian Fathers in 1870 as part of Assumption University, which is now part of the University of Windsor...
in Windsor and was signed by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in 1953. He went on to attend Assumption University in 1958 while a member of the Tigers. Bertoia also became close friends with Hall of Fame outfielder Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
while with Detroit, and was an important part of Kaline's early years with the Tigers.
In 10 major league seasons he played in 612 games and had 1,745 at bats, 204 runs, 425 hits, 60 doubles, 10 triples, 27 home runs, 171 RBI, 16 stolen bases, 142 walks, .244 batting average, .303 on-base percentage, .336 slugging percentage, 586 total bases and 31 sacrifice hits.
In January 1964, Bertoia signed to play in the Japanese Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
with the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
. He asked for his release a few weeks into the season because his son had been ill during most of the family's stay in Japan.
After his retirement as a player, Bertoia received his full high school teaching credentials and returned to Windsor, where he worked as a teacher for 30 years with the Windsor Catholic School Board
Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board
The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board oversees Catholic education in Windsor and the surrounding County of Essex, in Ontario, Canada...
. He was inducted into the Windsor/Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in 1982, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museums commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada.-History:...
in 1988 and the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
Alumni Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
Bertoia died on April 15, 2011, of lymphoma
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system. Typically, lymphomas present as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage...
in Windsor.