Nelson Barrera

Nelson Barrera Romellón (October 17, 1957 in Ciudad del Carmen – July 14, 2002 in San Francisco de Campeche) was a Mexican professional baseball player, who at the time of his death led the Mexican League in career home runs (455) and RBIs (1,927). He was nicknamed El Almirante (The Admiral).

A right-hander hitter and a native of the Mexican state of Campeche, Barrera entered the Mexican League in 1977 with the Diablos Rojos del México after playing three years in the Mexican Central League. He hit only .235 as a rookie, with two home runs, but he continued to improve. He broke 20 home runs, hitting .354 with 101 RBI in 1984. This earned him a look by the Chicago White Sox, who placed him on their AAA Buffalo Bisons American Association team. He hit just .176 with two homers in 74 at bats, and was cut by the Bisons. He then returned to Mexico with the Diablos Rojos, where he helped them win the pennant. Interestingly, he played for the Diablos Rojos for most of his career (1977–79, 1983–91, 1995).

Barrera won his only league home run title with 42 in 1987. He also led the circuit in RBIs with 134 in 1987 and 124 in 1988. On April 22, 1997, he drove in his 1,574th run, breaking the Mexican League record set by Héctor Espino.

In 1998 Barrera played and managed the Guerreros de Oaxaca when they won their only pennant. He contributed with a .321 average and 110 RBIs. This was his sixth season with more than 100 RBIs, something no one had accomplished before in the Mexican League. After he broke the all-time career RBI record, his old team Diablos Rojos organized an appreciation for him in the capital, at their old stadium, Seguro Social.

Then, in 2001 Barrera surpassed Espino's record for home runs, finishing the season with 455 to Espino's 453. Nevertheless, he was fired as the Guerreros' manager that year. He went on the disabled list as a player toward the end of the season.

...
Wikipedia