We remember Bobby Avila (1924-2004)

Roberto Francisco (Gonzales) Avila was born on this day in Veracruz in 1924.     

We remember him as Bobby Avila, the first Mexican to win a major league batting title.  

Bobby broke with the Indians in 1949 and became Cleveland's regular second baseman in 1951:   .304 average, 10 HR & 58 RBI.

In 1954, Bobby led the AL in batting (.341) and was a key part of the Cleveland team that won 111 games but lost to the Giants in the World Series.

Overall, he hit .284 in 10 seasons with the Indians with 1,236 hits in 1,207 games.   

After baseball, Bobby went back to Veracruz, ran a baseball team and was elected Mayor in 1982.

He was ranked # 26 among the 100 greatest Indians ever.      He died in 2004.

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