10 things you should know about Orlando Cepeda

Today is Orlando Cepeda’s 81st birthday. In honor of of this special day on the calendar, we present ten fun facts about the career of the man known as “Cha Cha” and “The Baby Bull.”

1. Second into the Hall

Cepeda was the second Puerto Rican-born player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He was voted in by the Veterans Committee in 1999, following Roberto Clemente into Cooperstown.

2. First Puerto Rican Rookie of the year

Cepeda became the first Latin American-born player to win National League Rookie of the Year honors. He took home the award in 1958 as a 20-year-old with the Giants after leading the league with 38 doubles. Luis Aparicio became the first Latino Rookie of the Year Award-winner with the White Sox in 1956.

3. Most Valuable trades

In each of the first two trades of Cepeda’s career, a player who would later be named the NL MVP wound up in St. Louis. Cepeda was dealt to St. Louis in 1966 and won the National League MVP in 1967. The Cardinals traded him to Atlanta in 1969, and the player they received for him – Joe Torre – won the National League MVP 1971.

4. Second Puerto Rican MVP

1967 was the third straight year a Latin American-born player was named a Most Valuable Player, and the second straight year a Puerto Rican won in the National League. Cuban-born Twins star Zoilo Versalles was named the American League MVP in 1965 and Clemente won the award in the National League in 1966.

5. Designated in Boston

Cepeda signed with the Red Sox before the 1973 season as the first full-time DH in team history.

6. One of Four

Cepeda is one of four players born in Puerto Rico to appear in more than 10 All-Star Games in his career. The other three: Clemente (15), Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez (14) and Roberto Alomar (12). All four are in the Hall of Fame.

7. 50+

Cepeda (50.2) is one of six position players born in Puerto Rico to have a career WAR of at least 50. Three of the other five – Clemente (94.5), Rodríguez (68.7) and Alomar (67.1) – have also been voted into the Hall of Fame. Carlos Beltrán (69.8) has not appeared on a ballot yet while José Cruz, Sr. (54.4) never got the call from Cooperstown.

8. 2,300

Six players born in Puerto Rico have collected 2,300 hits in the big leagues, led by Clemente (3,000). Rodríguez (2,844), Beltrán (2,725) and Alomar (2,724) are once again at the top of the list with Cepeda (2,351). The sixth member of the club: former Yankees outfielder Bernie Williams (2,336).

9. Out of circulation

The San Francisco Giants retired Cepeda’s number 30 in 1999.

10. Dominant ‘61

In 1961, Cepeda led the league with 46 home runs and 142 runs batted in. He had 356 total bases that year, which is still the third-highest single season for a player born in Puerto Rico behind only Juan González (382) in 1998 and Carlos Delgado (378) in 2000.

Featured Image: Bettman