Vic Davalillo
Encyclopedia
Víctor José Davalillo Romero [da-va-LEE-yo] (July 31, 1936 in Cabimas
, Zulia), is a former Venezuela
n professional
baseball
player. He played in Major League Baseball
as an outfielder
for the Cleveland Indians
(1963–68), California Angels
(1968
-69
), St. Louis Cardinals
(1969
-70
), Pittsburgh Pirates
(1971
-73
), Oakland Athletics
(1973
-74
) and Los Angeles Dodgers
(1977
-80
). Davalillo batted and threw left-handed. He was a leadoff hitter
known for his speedy baserunning and capable defensive ability. Later in his career, he became a valuable utility player
and a record-setting pinch hitter
. Davalillo also had an exceptional career in the Venezuelan Winter League
where he is the all-time leader in total base hits and in career batting average.
. His family moved to Cabimas a few days after he was born where he grew up in Venezuela's oil producing region on the eastern shores of Lake Maracaibo
. His older brother, Pompeyo Davalillo played briefly for the Washington Senators
in 1953
. Davalillo began his professional baseball career as a pitcher
when he signed a contract as an amateur free agent
with the Cinncinnati Reds in . He was sold to the Indians organisation in 1961
where he quickly moved up the ladder to their Triple-A
club in Jacksonville. Davalillo won the first batting title in the Jacksonville Suns
history with a .346 batting average
in 1962
.
as their leadoff hitter and center fielder
. By mid-June, he was hitting for a .304 batting average and was receiving consideration for the American League
Rookie of the Year Award when, he was hit by a pitch by Hank Aguirre
and suffered a broken wrist. He returned from the injury to lead the Indians in hitting
with a .292 along with a career-high 7 home run
s in 90 games however, after the injury, he was never the same hitter against left handed pitching. In October, he was named to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team
. The following season, Davalillo finished second in the league in fielding percentage
among center fielders and was named as a recipient of the American League Gold Glove Award
.
In 1965
, Davalillo led the league in batting
at mid-season with a .345 batting average, earning him a place as the starting center fielder for the American League team in the 1965 All-Star Game
. He ended the season with a .301 batting average, third-best in the American League behind Tony Oliva
and Carl Yastrzemski
, the only other players to break the .300 mark that year. Davalillo had an off year in 1966
and, the Indians began to use him in a platoon
role, playing him when they faced right handed pitchers. In 1967
, he hit for a .302 average against right handed pitchers but, only managed a .188 average against left handers, for a .287 average overall.
Davalillo had dipped to a .239 average on June 15, 1968
when, the Indians traded him to the California Angels for former All-Star Jimmie Hall
. He rebounded to lead the Angels with a .298 batting average after the trade, finishing the season with a .277 average overall, the sixth highest average in the American League. In an era dominated by pitching
, Yastrzemski was the only player in the American League to hit for an average higher than .300 in .
In January , Davalillo suffered a nervous breakdown while he was in Venezuela to play in the Venezuelan Winter League. He began the 1969
season hitting for only a .155 average in 33 games and on May 30, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Jim Hicks
. In his first National League
at bat
on June 1, 1969
, Davalillo hit a three-run
home run. He also made two appearances as a relief pitcher
for the Cardinals in 1969 but, failed to retire any batters. Davalillo became a utility player
and highly effective pinch hitter
with the Cardinals in 1970
. His 24 pinch hits in broke the National League single-season record for pinch hits at the time, and tied the Major League record set by Dave Philley
in . One of the previous National League record holders was also his manager
in 1970: Red Schoendienst
. Davalillo ended the season with a .311 average and 33 runs batted in.
The Cardinals traded Davalillo along with Nelson Briles
to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Matty Alou
and George Brunet
in January . He continued in his role as a utility player, facing mostly right handed pitchers and playing all three outfield
positions and as a first baseman
. Davalillo ended the year with a .285 batting average, helping the Pirates clinch the National League Eastern Division title. The Pirates went on to defeat the San Francisco Giants
in the 1971 National League Championship Series
before winning the 1971 World Series
against the Baltimore Orioles
. In 1972
, he continued to be a valuable role player, hitting for a career-high .318 batting average in 117 games, helping the Pirates win the Eastern Division pennant, before they lost to the Cincinnati Reds
in the 1972 National League Championship Series
.
In July 1973
, the Pirates sold Davalillo to the Oakland Athletics who were in the midst of a pennant race with the Kansas City Royals
. The Athletics eventually won the American League West
Division and faced the Baltimore Orioles
in the 1973 American League Championship Series
. Davalillo had 5 hits in 8 at bats for a .625 batting average during the championship series, including a crucial RBI triple
in the deciding Game 5. The Athletics then went on to defeat the New York Mets
in the 1973 World Series
. After appearing in 17 games for the Athletics in the 1974
season, Davalillo was released on May 30.
Afterwards, Davalillo played three seasons in the Mexican League where, he was a lifetime .300 hitter. Davalillo was the league's top hitter with a .384 batting average in , when he was called up by the Los Angeles Dodgers in August. As a pinch hitter and a defensive substitute, he posted a .313 batting average in 24 games for the Dodgers in 1977
, helping them win the National League West
Division crown. Davalillo is remembered for his clutch
, pinch hit performance against the Philadelphia Phillies
in Game 3 of the 1977 National League Championship Series
. Trailing the Phillies 5-3 with 2 outs
in the 9th inning
, he spearheaded a 3-run rally, when he surprised the Phillies by executing a two-strike drag bunt and beating the throw to first base. Manny Mota
drove Davalillo home with a double
, then scored on a single
by Davey Lopes
to tie the game. The Dodgers eventually won the game and went on to win Game 4 to clinch the National League championship. In the 1977 World Series
against the New York Yankees
, Davalillo made three pinch hit appearances, driving home one run with a single as the Dodgers lost the series in six games.
At the age of 41 in 1978
, Davalillo hit for a .312 average as a pinch hitter for the Dodgers as they once again claimed the National League pennant before, losing to the New York Yankees
for a second consecutive year in the 1978 World Series
. Davalillo finished out his major league career as a utility player and pinch hitter for the Dodgers. For the last four seasons of his career, he was the oldest player in the National League until retiring at the end of the 1980
season at the age of 43. Davalillo returned to play in the Mexican League well into his late 40s.
, accumulating 1,122 hits
in 4,017 at bats for a .279 career batting average along with 36 home run
s, 329 runs batted in, 509 runs, 160 doubles
, 37 triples
, and 125 stolen base
s. He finished his career with a .984 fielding percentage
, ranking him 49th among major league center fielders since .
Davalillo's record for pinch hits in a season was broken in by José Morales. He was a fan favorite during his years with the Indians, and became a valuable role player later in his career. Davalillo played in four World Series
and was the first major league player to play for three different teams in the League Championship Series
(Pittsburgh Pirates in -, Oakland Athletics in and the Los Angeles Dodgers in ).
(1957–74, 1987), Portuguesa (1975) and the Tigres de Aragua
(1976–85). He set lifetime league records that still stand in batting average (.325), hits (1505), games played (1280), at-bats (4633), runs (668), doubles (196), runs batted in (483) and career seasons (30). Beside this, he won four batting titles and set record in hits (100) in a season. Davalillo retired at 50 years of age after appearing in the 1987 Caribbean Series.
Cabimas
Cabimas is a town on the shore of Maracaibo Lake in Zulia State in northwestern Venezuela. Its current population is around 200,859 .Before 1900, Venezuela was known to possess commercial quantities of petroleum. One major find was the 'Zumaque 1' well in 1914, in the area of Mene Grande, about 50...
, Zulia), is a former 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...
n professional
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 an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the 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...
(1963–68), California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(1968
1968 California Angels season
The California Angels season involved the Angels finishing 8th in the American League with a record of 67 wins and 95 losses.-Offseason:* October 9, 1967: Bill Skowron was released by the Angels....
-69
1969 California Angels season
The California Angels season was a season in American baseball. In the first season following the split of the American League into two divisions, the Angels finished third in the newly-established American League West with a record of 71 wins and 91 losses....
), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1969
1969 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1969 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 88th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 78th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 87-75 during the season and finished fourth in the newly-established National League East, 13 games behind the eventual NL pennant and World Series...
-70
1970 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 89th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 79th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 76-86 during the season and finished fourth in the National League East, 13 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates...
), Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
(1971
1971 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The Pittsburgh Pirates season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Pirates finishing first in the National League East with a record of 97 wins and 65 losses. They defeated the San Francisco Giants three games to one in the National League Championship Series and beat the Baltimore...
-73
1973 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Notable transactions :* May 4, 1973: Jerry McNertney was purchased by the Pirates from the Oakland Athletics.* June 17, 1973: Rick Langford was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.* July 5, 1973: Jerry McNertney was released by the Pirates....
), Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1973
1973 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their third consecutive American League West title with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses...
-74
1974 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their fourth consecutive American League West title with a record of 90 wins and 72 losses...
) and Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1977
1977 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers season saw Tommy Lasorda take over the reins as Manager from longtime skipper Walter Alston. The Dodgers coasted to a 10-game victory in the National League West and beat the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the NLCS, only to lose to the New York Yankees in the World...
-80
1980 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1980 Los Angeles Dodgers finished the season in second place in the Western Division of the National League, one game behind the Houston Astros...
). Davalillo batted and threw left-handed. He was a leadoff hitter
Leadoff hitter
In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. It can also refer to any batter who bats first in an inning.- Strategy :...
known for his speedy baserunning and capable defensive ability. Later in his career, he became a valuable utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
and a record-setting pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. Davalillo also had an exceptional career in the Venezuelan Winter League
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League or Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional is the highest level baseball league in Venezuela.-Brief history:Baseball exploded in Venezuela in 1941, following the world championship in Havana....
where he is the all-time leader in total base hits and in career batting average.
Minor League career
Although many baseball references show Davalillo’s birthplace as Cabimas, Venezuela, in 2006, he told a biographer that he was actually born in Churuguara, FalcónFalcón
Falcón State is one of the 23 states into which Venezuela is divided. The state capital is Coro.-Demographics and geography:Falcón State covers a total surface area of 24,800 km² and, in 2010, had an estimated population of 950,057. The Paraguaná Peninsula is connected to the rest of the...
. His family moved to Cabimas a few days after he was born where he grew up in Venezuela's oil producing region on the eastern shores of Lake Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo is a large brackish bay in Venezuela at . It is connected to the Gulf of Venezuela by Tablazo Strait at the northern end, and fed by numerous rivers, the largest being the Catatumbo. It is commonly considered a lake rather than a bay or lagoon, and at 13,210 km² it would be the...
. His older brother, Pompeyo Davalillo played briefly for 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...
in 1953
1953 Washington Senators season
The Washington Senators won 76 games, lost 76, and finished in fifth place in the American League. They were managed by Bucky Harris and played home games at Griffith Stadium.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
. Davalillo began his professional baseball career as a 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...
when he signed a contract 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....
with the Cinncinnati Reds in . He was sold to the Indians organisation in 1961
1961 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Cincinnati Reds ; Whitey Ford, MVP*All-Star Game , July 11 at Candlestick Park: National League, 5-4 *All-Star Game , July 31 at Fenway Park: 1–1 tie...
where he quickly moved up the ladder to their Triple-A
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
club in Jacksonville. Davalillo won the first batting title in the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
history with a .346 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 :...
in 1962
1962 in baseball
The 1962 season is perhaps most notable for the dismal 40–120 record of the New York Mets, the third-worst winning percentage and the record for most games lost since 1900.-Major League Baseball:...
.
Major league career
Davalillo became the eighth Venezuelan to play in Major League Baseball when he joined the Indians in 19631963 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished tied for fifth in the American League with a record of 79-83, 25½ games behind the New York Yankees.- Offseason :...
as their leadoff hitter and center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
. By mid-June, he was hitting for a .304 batting average and was receiving consideration 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...
Rookie of the Year Award when, he was hit by a pitch by Hank Aguirre
Hank Aguirre
Henry John "Hank" Aguirre was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played with the Cleveland Indians , Detroit Tigers , Los Angeles Dodgers , and Chicago Cubs...
and suffered a broken wrist. He returned from the injury to lead the Indians in hitting
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...
with a .292 along with a career-high 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 in 90 games however, after the injury, he was never the same hitter against left handed pitching. In October, he was named to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team
Topps All-Star Rookie Rosters
This is a year-by-year list of the Topps All-Star Rookie teams. Note that players selected for a particular team appear in the following year's set release...
. The following season, Davalillo finished second in the league 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...
among center fielders and was named as a recipient of the American League Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
.
In 1965
1965 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League with a record of 87-75, 15 games behind the Minnesota Twins.- Offseason :...
, Davalillo led the league in batting
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...
at mid-season with a .345 batting average, earning him a place as the starting center fielder for the American League team in the 1965 All-Star Game
1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 36th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 13, 1965 at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota...
. He ended the season with a .301 batting average, third-best in the American League behind Tony Oliva
Tony Oliva
Tony Pedro Oliva is a former Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter. He played his entire 15-year baseball career for the Minnesota Twins . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
and Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
, the only other players to break the .300 mark that year. Davalillo had an off year in 1966
1966 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League with a record of 81-81, 17 games behind the Baltimore Orioles.- Offseason :...
and, the Indians began to use him 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, playing him when they faced right handed pitchers. In 1967
1967 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished eighth in the American League with a record of 75-87, 17 games behind the Boston Red Sox.- Offseason :...
, he hit for a .302 average against right handed pitchers but, only managed a .188 average against left handers, for a .287 average overall.
Davalillo had dipped to a .239 average on June 15, 1968
1968 Cleveland Indians season
- Offseason :* October 17, 1967: Jim King was released by the Indians.* October 26, 1967: Marv Staehle was sent to the Indians by the Chicago White Sox to complete an earlier deal made on July 29, 1967.* November 28, 1967: Darrell Sutherland was drafted by the Indians from the New York Mets in the...
when, the Indians traded him to the California Angels for former All-Star Jimmie Hall
Jimmie Hall
Jimmie Randolph Hall is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves .-Minor league career:After attending Belmont High School and playing...
. He rebounded to lead the Angels with a .298 batting average after the trade, finishing the season with a .277 average overall, the sixth highest average in the American League. In an era dominated by pitching
Pitch (baseball)
In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed until 1884.The biomechanics of...
, Yastrzemski was the only player in the American League to hit for an average higher than .300 in .
In January , Davalillo suffered a nervous breakdown while he was in Venezuela to play in the Venezuelan Winter League. He began the 1969
1969 California Angels season
The California Angels season was a season in American baseball. In the first season following the split of the American League into two divisions, the Angels finished third in the newly-established American League West with a record of 71 wins and 91 losses....
season hitting for only a .155 average in 33 games and on May 30, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Jim Hicks
Jim Hicks
James Edward Hicks is a former professional baseball player who played five seasons for the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and California Angels of Major League Baseball...
. In his first 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...
at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
on June 1, 1969
1969 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1969 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 88th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 78th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 87-75 during the season and finished fourth in the newly-established National League East, 13 games behind the eventual NL pennant and World Series...
, Davalillo hit a three-run
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...
home run. He also made two appearances as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Cardinals in 1969 but, failed to retire any batters. Davalillo became a utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
and highly effective pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
with the Cardinals in 1970
1970 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 89th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 79th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 76-86 during the season and finished fourth in the National League East, 13 games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates...
. His 24 pinch hits in broke the National League single-season record for pinch hits at the time, and tied the Major League record set by Dave Philley
Dave Philley
David Earl Philley is a former outfielder who played in Major League Baseball. A switch-hitter who threw right-handed, he debuted on September 6, and played his final game on August 6, . He was born in Paris, Texas....
in . One of the previous National League record holders was also his manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
in 1970: Red Schoendienst
Red Schoendienst
Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
. Davalillo ended the season with a .311 average and 33 runs batted in.
The Cardinals traded Davalillo along with Nelson Briles
Nelson Briles
Nelson Kelley "Nellie" Briles was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles...
to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Matty Alou
Matty Alou
Mateo Rojas "Matty" Alou was a Dominican outfielder who spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals , Oakland Athletics , New York Yankees and San Diego Padres...
and George Brunet
George Brunet
George Stuart Brunet , nicknamed "Lefty" and "Red", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched for the Kansas City Athletics , Milwaukee Braves , Houston Colt .45's , Baltimore Orioles , Los Angeles Angels/California Angels , Seattle Pilots , Washington Senators ,...
in January . He continued in his role as a utility player, facing mostly right handed pitchers and playing all three outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
positions and as a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
. Davalillo ended the year with a .285 batting average, helping the Pirates clinch the National League Eastern Division title. The Pirates went on to defeat the San Francisco Giants
1971 San Francisco Giants season
-Offseason:* December 30, 1970: Ron Hunt was traded by the Giants to the Montreal Expos for Dave McDonald.-Regular season:The Giants battled their arch rival, the Los Angeles Dodgers, throughout the season for the NL West Division lead. The Giants led by 8.5 games on September 1. In mid September...
in the 1971 National League Championship Series
1971 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 2, 1971 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CaliforniaWith aces Gaylord Perry and Steve Blass taking the mound for their respective teams, Game 1 looked to be a pitchers duel. It sort of was for four innings; the Pirates struck for two in the top of the third when Dave...
before winning the 1971 World Series
1971 World Series
The 1971 World Series matched the defending champion Baltimore Orioles against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the Pirates winning in seven games. Game 4, played in Pittsburgh, was the first-ever World Series game scheduled to be played at night....
against the Baltimore Orioles
1971 Baltimore Orioles season
In , the Baltimore Orioles finished first in the American League East, with a record of 101 wins and 57 losses. As of 2010, the 1971 Orioles are the last Major League Baseball club to have four 20-game winners in a season: Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, and Pat Dobson.- Offseason :*...
. In 1972
1972 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* January 12, 1972: Larry Demery was drafted by the Pirates in the 7th round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft .* March 15, 1972: José Martínez was purchased from the Pirates by the Kansas City Royals.- Notable transactions :...
, he continued to be a valuable role player, hitting for a career-high .318 batting average in 117 games, helping the Pirates win the Eastern Division pennant, before they lost to the Cincinnati Reds
1972 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West title with a record of 95-59, 10½ games over the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1972 National League Championship Series, but lost to the Oakland Athletics in...
in the 1972 National League Championship Series
1972 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 7, 1972 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThe Reds got a first-inning homer from second baseman Joe Morgan to take a short-lived 1–0 lead. But Pittsburgh bounced back with three in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by an RBI triple from Al Oliver and...
.
In July 1973
1973 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their third consecutive American League West title with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses...
, the Pirates sold Davalillo to the Oakland Athletics who were in the midst of a pennant race with the Kansas City Royals
1973 Kansas City Royals season
The 1973 Kansas City Royals season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Royals finishing second in the American League West with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses.- Offseason :...
. The Athletics eventually won the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
Division and faced the Baltimore Orioles
1973 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing first in the American League East with a record of 97 wins and 65 losses...
in the 1973 American League Championship Series
1973 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 6, 1973 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, MarylandIn Game 1, Jim Palmer spent 16 minutes retiring the side in the top of the first inning. He walked the first two batters and struck out the next three. The Orioles went to work against lefty Vida Blue and his...
. Davalillo had 5 hits in 8 at bats for a .625 batting average during the championship series, including a crucial RBI triple
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 the deciding Game 5. The Athletics then went on to defeat the New York Mets
1973 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 12th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Manager Yogi Berra led the team to a National League East title with an 82–79 record, the National League pennant and a defeat at the hands of the Oakland Athletics in the World Series...
in the 1973 World Series
1973 World Series
The 1973 World Series matched the defending champion Oakland Athletics against the New York Mets, with the A's winning in seven games to repeat as World Champions....
. After appearing in 17 games for the Athletics in the 1974
1974 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their fourth consecutive American League West title with a record of 90 wins and 72 losses...
season, Davalillo was released on May 30.
Afterwards, Davalillo played three seasons in the Mexican League where, he was a lifetime .300 hitter. Davalillo was the league's top hitter with a .384 batting average in , when he was called up by the Los Angeles Dodgers in August. As a pinch hitter and a defensive substitute, he posted a .313 batting average in 24 games for the Dodgers in 1977
1977 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers season saw Tommy Lasorda take over the reins as Manager from longtime skipper Walter Alston. The Dodgers coasted to a 10-game victory in the National League West and beat the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the NLCS, only to lose to the New York Yankees in the World...
, helping them win the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
Division crown. Davalillo is remembered for his clutch
Clutch hitter
A clutch hitter is a baseball player with a knack for coming up with the "big" hit. The big hit is typically a game-deciding hit, sometimes a home run, often coming with two outs...
, pinch hit performance against the Philadelphia Phillies
1977 Philadelphia Phillies season
The 1977 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 95th season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies won their second consecutive National League East division title with a record of 101-61, five games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies lost the NLCS to the Los Angeles Dodgers, three...
in Game 3 of the 1977 National League Championship Series
1977 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 4, 1977 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe Phillies took the opening game of the series, winning their first postseason game since Game 1 of the 1915 World Series...
. Trailing the Phillies 5-3 with 2 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 9th inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
, he spearheaded a 3-run rally, when he surprised the Phillies by executing a two-strike drag bunt and beating the throw to first base. Manny Mota
Manny Mota
Manuel Rafael Mota Geronimo, more commonly known as Manny Mota was a Major League Baseball Outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos and most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers, best known for his pinch hitting abilities...
drove Davalillo home with a double
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....
, then scored on 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...
by Davey Lopes
Davey Lopes
David Earle Lopes is a former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.He is of Cape Verdean descent.-Playing:...
to tie the game. The Dodgers eventually won the game and went on to win Game 4 to clinch the National League championship. In the 1977 World Series
1977 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 11, 1977 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe Dodgers drew first blood off Don Gullett in the first when Davey Lopes walked and scored on a Bill Russell triple. Ron Cey made it 2–0 on a sacrifice fly...
against the New York Yankees
1977 New York Yankees season
The 1977 New York Yankees season was the 75th season for the Yankees in New York and the 77th season overall for the franchise. It culminated in the 21st World Series championship in franchise history, and its first under the ownership of George Steinbrenner...
, Davalillo made three pinch hit appearances, driving home one run with a single as the Dodgers lost the series in six games.
At the age of 41 in 1978
1978 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1978 season ended with the Los Angeles Dodgers winning their second straight National League pennant and losing to the New York Yankees in the World Series again...
, Davalillo hit for a .312 average as a pinch hitter for the Dodgers as they once again claimed the National League pennant before, losing to the New York Yankees
1978 New York Yankees season
The 1978 New York Yankees season was the 76th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 100-63, finishing one game ahead of the Boston Red Sox to win their third American League East title. The two teams were tied after 162 games, leading to a one-game playoff, which the Yankees...
for a second consecutive year in the 1978 World Series
1978 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 10, 1978 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaWith Yankee ace Ron Guidry unavailable at least until Game 3, the Dodgers pounded twenty-game winner Ed Figueroa. Figueroa left after two innings, allowing home runs to Dusty Baker and Davey Lopes. Lopes would add a...
. Davalillo finished out his major league career as a utility player and pinch hitter for the Dodgers. For the last four seasons of his career, he was the oldest player in the National League until retiring at the end of the 1980
1980 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1980 Los Angeles Dodgers finished the season in second place in the Western Division of the National League, one game behind the Houston Astros...
season at the age of 43. Davalillo returned to play in the Mexican League well into his late 40s.
Career statistics
In a 16 year career, Davalillo played in 1,458 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 1,122 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 4,017 at bats for a .279 career batting average along with 36 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, 329 runs batted in, 509 runs, 160 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....
, 37 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 125 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s. He finished his career with a .984 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...
, ranking him 49th among major league center fielders since .
Davalillo's record for pinch hits in a season was broken in by José Morales. He was a fan favorite during his years with the Indians, and became a valuable role player later in his career. Davalillo played in four 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...
and was the first major league player to play for three different teams in the League Championship Series
League Championship Series
The League Championship Series is the official name for a round of postseason play in Major League Baseball which has been conducted since 1969...
(Pittsburgh Pirates in -, Oakland Athletics in and the Los Angeles Dodgers in ).
Winter League career
Between 1957 and 1987, Davalillo played in the Venezuelan Winter League 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...
(1957–74, 1987), Portuguesa (1975) and the Tigres de Aragua
Tigres de Aragua
The Tigres de Aragua are a baseball team that plays in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.Founded in 1965, they play at the Estadio José Perez Colmenares in Maracay...
(1976–85). He set lifetime league records that still stand in batting average (.325), hits (1505), games played (1280), at-bats (4633), runs (668), doubles (196), runs batted in (483) and career seasons (30). Beside this, he won four batting titles and set record in hits (100) in a season. Davalillo retired at 50 years of age after appearing in the 1987 Caribbean Series.
Honors
In 1987, the ballpark in Cabimas, Venezuela was renamed Estadio Víctor Davalillo. The Most Valuable Player award in the Venezuelan Winter League is also named after him. Davalillo was inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.See also
- List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball
- List of Gold Glove Award winners at outfield
- Major League Baseball all-time pinch hit leaders
External links
- Vic Davalillo SABR Biography
- Baseball Library
- Vic Davalillo in Baseball Digest article December 1963
- Vic Davalillo in Baseball Digest article May 1964
- Vic Davalillo in Baseball Digest article September 1965
- Vic Davalillo in Safe By A Mile by Charlie Metro and Thomas L. Altherr
- Brobdingnagian In Lilliput, by Jack Tobin, Sports Illustrated, August 28, 1972