Bartolo Colón’s big, sexy year
By Adrian Burgos
On August 7th, 2018, Bartolo Colón, the 45-year-old Texas Ranger from Altamira, Dominican Republic became the all-time winningest pitcher from Latin America. It was the pinnacle of a 21-year career that began with the Cleveland Indians in June 1993, shortly after he graduated from Puerto Plata High School.
On September 26th, 2018, the man known as Big Sexy – who didn’t hit his first home run until he was 42, making him the oldest player in the majors to go deep for the first time – appeared in a Kingsford Charcoal commercial during which he hoisted a full-grown pig on his shoulders and did squats with it. He then proceeded to tear into a side of ribs with his teeth, pulling tendrils of pork off the bone before he licked his fingers and massaged his ample belly.
From the outside, it was tough to know which moment he enjoyed more.
This was the year Colón a.k.a. Big Sexy emerged as an elder statesman of the game with accomplishments that place him in rarefied company, balanced with the comic aspects of his persona like his large size and silly nickname.
Signing to the Indians as a 23-year-old high school graduate meant Colón’s baseball journey would be different from the overwhelming majority of Dominicans who sign at age 16 as products of the baseball academy system.
Setting an all-time win mark – he’s now passed Latino greats Pedro Martínez, Dennis Martínez, and Juan Marichal in career victories – wasn’t on his mind as he took the mound for the Indians on April 4, 1997 for his major league debut. But he openly admits it was a goal he focused on when he entered the 2018 season with the Texas Rangers. On August 7, Colón earned career win 246 as the Rangers defeated the Seattle Mariners 11-4. The victory was a relief to the Dominican who had dropped his previous five decisions.
“It was a long journey, but it finally came and it feels good,” Colón told reporters through an interpreter after setting the mark.
One of the greats
“It’s been a successful year for me, because I achieved one of the marks I wanted to set, the Latino with the most games won,” Colón told La Vida Baseball. “That fills me with pride and for all the fans who have supported me.”
This has been a tremendous year for Dominicans. Vladimir Guerrero became the third Dominican and the first position player to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Albert Pujols joined the 3,000 hit club in May, becoming the 32nd member a year after fellow Dominican Adrian Beltré. Then Colón set the new mark for most wins by a Latin American-born pitcher.
Setting the all-time win mark also puts Colón in elite company when it comes to Dominican pitchers. He takes great pride that he can have his name mentioned alongside of Marichal and Martínez.
“That’s a really good thing. You know that Marichal is number one. Pedro is number two. And I know that I am number three, but there are many in the current generation who are much better than me,” Colón said, turning modest about his own place among Dominican pitching greats.
Now that he has set the record for wins, has Colón set his sights on setting other marks? Asked if he is looking to surpass Julio Franco’s mark as the oldest Dominican to play in the Major Leagues of 49 years old, he didn’t hesitate.
“No. I think I do not want to play to that age. I think that’s too much. We’ll see about next year and that will be fine,” Colón replied, laughing.
People underestimate his athleticism due to his size, Colón notes. “That’s what happens with a lot of people and fans, because they see I’m big, chubby, they think I’m not a good athlete. But I was always, since I started playing, a good athlete. I could always move well from the mound and do everything, cover the base. The only thing some people see is how fat I am, but on the mound, I am quick,” Colón said.
Becoming Big Sexy
The Dominican right-hander acquired the Big Sexy nickname in 2015 from Mets teammate Noah Syndergaard. Colón has since developed a bit of a cult fanbase who celebrate whenever he makes a highlight-reel play like the time he flipped the ball behind his back to get a hitter out at first.
On his fourth team since 2016, Colón has been a clubhouse favorite wherever he goes. Teammates know he takes the game seriously, but not himself. The well-traveled pitcher knows that part of enduring a 162-game schedule involves having fun in the clubhouse and on the field.
Colón’s journey and good humor led to an unexpected opportunity as the 2018 season closed. Kingsford Charcoal approached Colón’s representatives about filming a commercial. Colón was excited to do it.
After the ad premiered, Colón jokingly claimed that one of his secret talents is barbecuing short ribs. When pressed about how prepares them, he claimed a special seasoning concocted by his brother-in-law is key (and a family-only secret recipe). But he did note that nothing goes better with his short ribs than guineo sancochado (stewed plaintains).
In what are likely the final years of his career, he’s more popular with the fans than ever. He relishes every start. Far removed from his fire-balling days of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Colón is now a savvy veteran who relies on spotting his pitches versus trying to overpower hitters. At nearly 300 pounds and the age of 45, he exhibits an athleticism that makes him able to do things that players younger than him can’t.
He makes no apologies, yet every achievement seems to come with a wink and a nod as if to say “Let’s enjoy this.”
As Big Sexy says, it’s been a long journey. But it feels good. For him and us.
Featured Image: Photo illustration by Andy Martinez. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images (left) and Kingsford Charcoal commercial screenshot