Chico Ruiz | |||
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Ruiz in 1962
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Infielder | |||
Born: Santo Domingo, Cuba |
December 5, 1938|||
Died: February 9, 1972 San Diego, California |
(aged 33)|||
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MLB debut | |||
April 13, 1964, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
August 3, 1971, for the California Angels | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Batting average | .240 | ||
Home runs | 2 | ||
Runs batted in | 69 | ||
Teams | |||
Hiraldo "Chico" Ruiz Sablon (December 5, 1938 – February 9, 1972) was a Cuban professional baseball player. An infielder, Ruiz played in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds and California Angels from 1964 through 1971. He was the only Major League player ever to pinch-hit for Johnny Bench. He is, however, best remembered for a zany play he made his rookie season that has entered baseball folklore.
Ruiz was born in Santo Domingo, Cuba, on December 5, 1938. His father owned a cigar factory, while his brother, José, headed the labor force of Cubatabaco. Ruiz's father wanted his son to succeed him in running the cigar factory. However, Chico attended college, where he studied architecture.
Ruiz signed with the Cincinnati Redlegs in 1958 at age 19. He was among the last of the Cuban players to make it out of Cuba before the borders were sealed. He batted .275 with 28 home runs over six seasons in their farm system before making the renamed Cincinnati Reds out of spring training in 1964. Though he was a shortstop by trade, he made all 79 of his appearances on the field at either second or third base.
Ruiz married Isabel Suárez Navarro on October 4, 1961. They later had two daughters, Isis and Bárbara Isa.
On September 21, 1964, facing Art Mahaffey and the Philadelphia Phillies, Ruiz singled with one out in the sixth and the score 0–0. He advanced to third base on a single by Vada Pinson; however, Pinson made the second out of the inning trying to stretch it into a double. With two outs, Frank Robinson stepped to the plate.