Leo Cárdenas Marquee

b. December 17, 1938 · Cincinnati Reds 1960–1968, Minnesota Twins 1969–1971, California Angels 1972, Cleveland Indians 1973, Texas Rangers 1974–1975

He came out of Matanzas in 1960, a year before the revolution closed the route, and was the first Cuban-born shortstop to make an All-Star team. He made five, won the Gold Glove in 1965, and hit 20 home runs from the position in 1966, which shortstops of that era did not do.

Sixteen seasons gave him 1,725 hits, 118 home runs, 689 runs batted in and a .257 average. Nine were in Cincinnati, where he was the shortstop for the 1961 pennant winner, and three in Minnesota, where he was the shortstop for the 1969 and 1970 division winners.

He was called Chico and was known for a temper and for range that stayed into his thirties. He could not go home for decades. Two writers' ballots gave him one vote each.

Honors

Award	Times	Years
All-Star selection	5	1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1971
Gold Glove	1	1965
The Sporting News All-Star	1	1971

Batting, season by season

Year	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	AVG
1960	CIN	48	142	13	33	2	4	1	12	6	32	0	.232
1961	CIN	74	198	23	61	18	1	5	24	15	39	1	.308
1962	CIN	153	589	77	173	31	4	10	60	39	99	2	.294
1963	CIN	158	565	42	133	22	4	7	48	23	101	3	.235
1964	CIN	163	597	61	150	32	2	9	69	41	110	4	.251
1965	CIN	156	557	65	160	25	11	11	57	60	100	1	.287
1966	CIN	160	568	59	145	25	4	20	81	45	87	9	.255
1967	CIN	108	379	30	97	14	3	2	21	34	77	4	.256
1968	CIN	137	452	45	106	13	2	7	41	36	83	2	.235
1969	MIN	160	578	67	162	24	4	10	70	66	96	5	.280
1970	MIN	160	588	67	145	34	4	11	65	42	101	2	.247
1971	MIN	153	554	59	146	25	4	18	75	51	69	3	.264
1972	CAL	150	551	25	123	11	2	6	42	35	73	1	.223
1973	CLE	72	195	9	42	4	0	0	12	13	42	1	.215
1974	TEX	34	92	5	25	3	0	0	7	2	14	1	.272
1975	TEX	55	102	15	24	2	0	1	5	14	12	0	.235
Career	—	1941	6707	662	1725	285	49	118	689	522	1135	39	.257

On this day & linked events

1938

Born December 17, 1938

Matanzas, Matanzas, Cuba

1960

Major-league debut: Leo Cárdenas

Leo Cárdenas made a major-league debut on July 25, 1960.

1975

Final major-league game: Leo Cárdenas

Leo Cárdenas played a final major-league game on September 26, 1975.

Image: Unknown author Unknown, public domain