Dos Ases del diamante (Two Aces of the Diamond)
May 6, 2010 by Alfonso L. Tusa C. · Leave a Comment
Los confines del Forbes Field y el Three Rivers Stadium apreciaron el brazalete, la elegancia fildeadora, los batazos entre dos y las carreras desenfrenadas en las bases del jardinero derecho de Puerto Rico. Los rincones del Jack Murphy Stadium, luego Qualcomm Stadium recibieron la regadera de lÃneas y el progreso defensivo del rightfielder de Los Ãngeles, Ca.
Uno debió mudarse desde el cuadro interior a los jardines para aprovechar mejor su brazo. El otro tuvo que trabajar arduamente para mejorar su capacidad para ubicarse bajo los elevados además de ajustar la mecánica de sus lanzamientos a las bases.
El puertorriqueño se hizo regular con los Piratas de Pittsburgh en 1955 realizando grandes atrapadas, 18 asistencias y 5 dobleplays además de batear para .255.
El angelino sólo fue regular en su tercera temporada (1984). Tuvo que pasar por un largo proceso de mejorar sus habilidades defensivas en el cual fueron muy valiosos: Tom House, Bob Cluck, Bobby Tolan, Clyde McCullough y Rob Picciolo.
En 1961 el guardabosque borÃcua bateó para .351 para apuntarse su primer tÃtulo de bateo, sonó 201 hits, además anotó 100 carreras y empujó 89. Al campo realizó 252 outs, 27 asistencias, 9 errores y 5 dobleplays, lo que le valió su primer guante dorado.
El jardinero californiano debutó como lider bateador en 1984 al conectar para .351 con 213 imparables, 71 remolques y 88 anotadas. En 1986 logro su primer guante aureo, entonces realizó 337 outs, 19 asistencias, 4 errores y 3 dobleplays.
En 1962 el custodio de la pradera derecha de Forbes Field efectuó 269 outs, 19 asistencias, 8 errores y un dobleplay en ruta a su segundo guante de oro. Logro que repitió en 1963 con 239 outs, 11 asistencias, 11 errores y 2 dobleplays.
Para 1987 el guardian del bosque derecho del Jack Murphy Stadium se coronó campeón de bateo con promedio de .370, 218 hits, 54 empujadas y119 anotadas. Además se llevó el guante dorado con 298 outs, 13 asistencias, 6 errores y 1 dobleplay.
El puertorriqueño alcanzó su segundo tÃtulo de bateo con .339 en 1964, 211 imparables, 87 empujadas, 95 anotadas. También se llevó su cuarto guante de oro con 289 outs, 13 asistencias, 10 errores y 2 dobleplays. En 1965 repitió el tÃtulo de bateo con .329, 65 empujadas, 91 anotadas. Y también el guante de oro, 288 outs, 16 asistencias, 10 errores, 1 dobleplay.
El californiano se apuntó su tercer tÃtulo de bateo en 1988 con .313, 70 empujadas, 64 anotadas. En 1989 repitió el tÃtulo de bateo con .336, 203 hits, 62 empujadas, 82 anotadas. También se llevó su tercer guante de oro, 353 outs, 13 asistencias, 6 errores y 1 dobleplay.
El jardinero derecho de los Piratas de Pittsburgh se acreditó su sexto guante dorado al hilo, 318 outs, 17 asistencias, 12 errores, 3 dobleplays. En 1967 consiguió su cuarto tÃtulo de bateo, .357, 209 imparables, 110 empujadas, 103 anotadas. Y cotinuó la seguidilla de guantes de oro, 273 outs, 17 asistencias, 9 errores, 4 dobleplays.
El patrullero derecho de los Padres de San Diego se apuntó su cuarto y quinto guantes de oro en las temporadas de 1990 y 1991; en la primera agenció 327 outs, 11 asistencias, 5 errores, 2 dobleplays. En la segunda 291 outs, 8 asistencias, 3 errores, 2 dobleplays. En 1994 alcanzó su quinta corona de bateo, .394, 64 empujadas, 79 anotadas.
El de la isla del encanto completó su docena de guantes dorados con galardones en 1968: 297 outs, 9 asistencias, 5 errores, 1 dobleplay; 1969: 226 outs, 14 asistencias, 5 errores, 1 dobleplay; 1970: 189 outs, 12 asistencias, 7 errores, 2 dobleplays; 1971:269 outs, 11 asistencias, 2 errores, 4 dobleplays; 1972: 199 outs, 5 asistencias, 0 errores, 2 dobleplays.
El de Los Angeles alcanzó hasta 8 diademas de bateo con tÃtulos en 1995: .368 de promedio, 90 empujadas, 82 anotadas; 1996: .353 de promedio, 50 empujadas, 67 anotadas; 1997: .372 de promedio, 220 hits, 119 empujadas, 97 anotadas.
Roberto Clemente y Tony Gwynn son los dos únicos peloteros de Grandes Ligas, en haber conseguido al menos 5 guantes de oro y 4 tÃtulos de bateo.
English Translation
Forbes Field and Three Rivers Stadium admired his great arm, his fielding elegance, his line drives into the gap, and the vertiginous running of the puertorican righ fielder. The corners of Jack Murphy Stadium later Qualcomm Stadium welcomed all those extra-base line drives and the defensive evolution of the Los Angeles, CA right fielder.
One had to move from the infield to the outfield to take profit of his great arm. The other had to work unrestlessly to improve his fielding capability to catch flies besides the mechanics of his throwing to the bases.
The puertorrican became a regular player with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955 by performing great catches, 18 assists, and 5 double plays. His batting average was .255.
The guy from LA only was a regular player in 1984. He had to work hard for a long period in order to improve his defensive abilities. He got a lot of support and advice from: Tom House, Bob Cluck, Bobby Tolan, Clyde McCullough and Rob Picciolo.
In 1961 the latin american outfielder hit for .351 to achieve his first batting title, 201 hits, 100 runs, 89 RBI’s . In the field he won his first Gold Glove. He made 252 putouts, 27 assists, 9 errors, 5 double plays.
The outfielder from California made his debut as the batting leader in 1984. He batted for .351, 213 hits, 71 RBI’s, 88 runs. In 1986 he got his first Gold Glove with 337 putouts, 19 assists, 4 errors, 3 double plays.
By 1962 the guard of Forbes Field right field achieved his second Gold Glove, 269 putouts, 19 assists, 8 errors, 1 double play. He repeated the Gold Glove in 1963 with 239 putouts, 11 assists, 11 errors, 2 double plays.
The sentinel of Jack Murphy’s right field won the batting title again in 1987, .370 batting average, 218 hits, 54 RBI’s, 119 runs. He also took the Gold Glove, 298 putouts, 13 assists, 6 errors, 1 double play.
The guy from Puerto Rico got his second batting title in 1964. He batted for .339, 211 hits, 87 RBI’s, 95 runs. He also reached his fourth Gold Glove with 289 putouts, 13 assists, 10 errors, 2 double plays. In 1965 he won again the batting title with .329, 65 RBI’s, 91 runs. And also achieved his fifth Gold Glove with 288 putouts, 16 assists, 10 errors, 1 double play.
The Californian boy took his third batting title in 1988 with .313, 70 RBI’s, 64 runs. In 1989 he won again the batting title with .336, 203 hits, 62 RBI’s, 82 runs. That year he also got his third Gold Glove, 353 putouts, 13 assists, 6 errors, 1 double play.
The Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder got his sixth Gold Glove in a row in 1966 with 318 putouts, 17 assists, 12 errors, 3 double plays. In 1967 he achieved his fourth batting title while hitting for .357, 209 hits, 110 RBI’s, 103 runs. He also won his seventh Gold Glove, 273 putouts, 17 assists, 9 errors, 4 double plays.
The San Diego Padres right patroller got his fourth and fifth Gold Gloves in the 1990 and 1991 seasons. In the first he made 327 putouts, 11 assists, 5 errors, 2 double plays; in the second he made 291 putouts, 8 assists, 3 errors, 2 double plays. In 1994 he won his fifth batting title with a .394 average, 64 RBI’s, 79 runs.
The guy from the Caribbean Island completed his dozen of Gold Gloves with awards in 1968: 297 putouts, 9 assists, 5 errors, 1 double play; 1969: 226 putouts, 14 assists, 5 errors, 1 double play; 1970: 189 putouts, 12 assists, 7 errors, 2 double plays; 1971: 269 putouts, 11 assists, 2 errors, 4 double plays; 1972: 199 putouts, 5 assists, 0 errors, 2 double plays.
The guy from Los Angeles, CA achieved up to 8 batting titles. He got the sixth in 1995: .368 average, 90 RBI’s, 82 runs; 1996: .353 average, 50 RBI’s, 67 runs; 1997: .372 average, 220 hits, 119 RBI’s, 97 runs.
Roberto Clemente and Tony Gwynn are the only two MLB players who have won at least 5 Gold Gloves and 4 batting titles.
Alfonso’s work has been featured in Venezuela’s daily newspaper, El Nacional and in the magazine Gente en Ambiente, and he’s collaborated on several articles for newspapers, including the daily paper Tal Cual. He’s also written three books and biographies for SABR’s BioProject.
