SAN FRANCISCO — Orlando Cepeda, the slugging first baseman nicknamed “Child Bull” who turned a Corridor of Famer among the many early Puerto Ricans to star within the main leagues, has died. He was 86.
The San Francisco Giants and his household introduced the loss of life Friday night time, and a second of silence was famous on the scoreboard at Oracle Park halfway via a recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Our beloved Orlando handed away peacefully at residence this night, listening to his favourite music and surrounded by his family members,” his spouse, Nydia, stated in a press release launched via the group. “We take consolation that he’s at peace.”
Cepeda was an everyday at Giants residence video games via the 2017 season till he handled some well being challenges. He was hospitalized within the Bay Space in February 2018 following a cardiac occasion.
One of many first Puerto Rican stars within the majors however restricted by knee points, he turned Boston‘s first designated hitter and credit his time as a DH for getting him enshrined into the Corridor of Fame in 1999 as chosen by the Veterans Committee.
When the Crimson Sox referred to as Cepeda in December 1972 to inquire whether or not he’d wish to be their first designated hitter, the unemployed participant accepted on the spot.
Cepeda was an 11-time All-Star who performed 17 seasons for six MLB groups. He received the 1958 NL Rookie of the Yr award with the Giants, for whom he performed his first 9 seasons, and the NL MVP with the Cardinals in 1967, when he hit a career-high .325 with 25 residence runs and 111 RBIs.
He had a profession .297 batting common with 379 residence runs and 1,365 RBIs.
Cepeda is one in every of solely two gamers in NL historical past to win each Rookie of the Yr and MVP unanimously, together with Albert Pujols, who received Rookie of the Yr in 2001 and MVP in 2009.
Cepeda was a surefire Corridor of Famer till his arrest in 1975 — a yr after his retirement following a 17-season profession — on costs of marijuana possession, for which he served 9 months in jail.
His Corridor of Fame election in 1999 got here 20 years after he turned first eligible.
“I am unable to complain,” Cepeda advised the Los Angeles Occasions in a 1985 interview. “I’ve lived the nice occasions. I’ve lived the dangerous occasions. Not many individuals style that.”
Info from The Related Press and ESPN Stats & Info was used on this report.
