Let’s remember one of the nicest men to play major league baseball. Our family had a chance to meet him when we drove up to watch the Twins play. Back in the late 1960’s, the Braves were no longer in Milwaukee so we followed the Twins.
Hilario Borroto Valdespino was born in Cuba on this day in 1939.
He broke into pro-baseball with style hitting a 3-run homer in Midland, Texas in what they used to call Class B ball, or rookie league today. He ended that rookie season hitting .295, 11 HR, 62 RBI, and a team-leading 12 triples. Wonder what those baseball fans in Midland Texas thought of the little Cuban flying around the bases?
Sandy, as he was known, broke with the Minnesota Twins in 1965 hitting .261 and playing in 5 World Series games against the Dodgers. He was one of 4 Cubans on that team: the great Camilo Pascual, eventual AL MVP Zoilo Versalles & 3-time batting champ Tony Oliva.
We remember Sandy as one of the original 1970 Milwaukee Brewers. After going hit-less in nine at-bats he was sent to Portland or the AAA affiliate. He finished his career in 1971 with the Royals and worked as a coach for the Yankees after baseball.
