Joe Azcue
Encyclopedia
José Joaquín Azcue López (born August 18, 1939 in Cienfuegos, Cuba) is a former Cuban professional
baseball
player. He played in Major League Baseball
as a catcher
for the Cincinnati Reds
, Kansas City Athletics
, Cleveland Indians
, Boston Red Sox
, California Angels
and Milwaukee Brewers
. Nicknamed "The Immortal Azcue", he was known for his strong throwing arm. In 1968
, he was selected to the American League All-Star
team.
ranks. He was part of the Cienfuegos Elephants
of the Cuban League
, and was part of their championship team, winning both the Cuban League title and the Caribbean Series
during the 1959-1960 season. He later made his major league debut during the 1960 Cincinnati Reds season
. He made his debut on August 3 against the Chicago Cubs
, getting a hit in three at-bats. However, he finished the season with a batting average of only .097, and was sent back to the minor leagues at the end of the season. He played in the Cuban League for Cienfuegos again during the offseason, and on December 20, 1960, he was purchased by the Milwaukee Braves.
After a season in the minors, Milwaukee traded Azcue to the Kansas City Athletics on December 15, 1961 along with Ed Charles
and Manny Jiménez
for Bob Shaw
and Lou Klimchock
. In 1962
he played in 72 games for the Athletics. After two games with the Athletics in 1963
, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians with Dick Howser
for Doc Edwards
and $100,000. He spent parts of seven seasons in Cleveland, and had the best seasons of his career there, earning his only All-Star appearance in 1968
.
Azcue hit into the first unassisted triple play
since 1927 on July 29, 1968
, turned by Ron Hansen
of Washington. After an early season trade in 1969, Azcue became a bit of a nomad. First Cleveland traded him to the Boston Red Sox
as part of the deal that brought Ken Harrelson
to the Indians. Only two months later, Azcue had a falling out with Red Sox manager
Dick Williams
and was again traded, this time to the California Angels.
Azcue played the rest of the 1969
season and all of 1970
for the Angels. Then, unhappy with the contract he was offered by California, Azcue sat out the entire 1971
season. Azcue came back to play for the Angels in 1972
but was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
after playing in only three games. The Brewers sent Azcue to the minor leagues for most of the season. Azcue played in just 11 games for Milwaukee and after 1972
would never play again in the Major Leagues.
in 2828 at bat
s for a career batting average
of .252, along with 50 home run
s and 304 runs batted in. He caught two no hitters in his career (Sonny Siebert
in 1966
and Clyde Wright
in 1970
). Azcue led American League
catchers in fielding percentage
in 1967
and 1968
. Over his career, Azcue threw out 45.17% of the base runners
who tried steal
a base on him, ranking him 10th on the all-time list. During the 1966
season, he threw out 62% of the base runners who tried steal a base, the fifth highest season percentage in major league history. In 1974, he managed the Reno Silver Sox
in the Class-A California League
.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Nicknamed "The Immortal Azcue", he was known for his strong throwing arm. In 1968
1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 39th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
, he was selected to the American League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team.
Playing career
Azcue began his career when he was signed by the Cincinnati Redlegs as an amateur free agent in 1956. He spent the following few years rising up the minor leagueMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
ranks. He was part of the Cienfuegos Elephants
Cienfuegos (Cuban League baseball club)
The Petroleros de Cienfuegos first participated in the Cuban Professional League championship during the 1926-27 season. Although representing the south coast city of Cienfuegos, the team played their home games in Havana. Cienfuegos did not played in the 1927-28 season, contending again from...
of the Cuban League
Cuban League
The Cuban League was one of the earliest and longest lasting professional baseball leagues outside of the United States, operating in Cuba from 1878 to 1961...
, and was part of their championship team, winning both the Cuban League title and the Caribbean Series
1960 Caribbean Series
The XII edition of the Caribbean Series was a baseball tournament held from February 10 through February 15, 1960 featuring the champion teams from Cuba , Panama , Puerto Rico and Venezuela...
during the 1959-1960 season. He later made his major league debut during the 1960 Cincinnati Reds season
1960 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds finishing in sixth place in the National League standings, with a record of 67-87, 28 games behind the National League and World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates....
. He made his debut on August 3 against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, getting a hit in three at-bats. However, he finished the season with a batting average of only .097, and was sent back to the minor leagues at the end of the season. He played in the Cuban League for Cienfuegos again during the offseason, and on December 20, 1960, he was purchased by the Milwaukee Braves.
After a season in the minors, Milwaukee traded Azcue to the Kansas City Athletics on December 15, 1961 along with Ed Charles
Ed Charles
Edwin Douglas Charles is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. A right-handed hitter, Charles played for the Kansas City Athletics and New York Mets .-Minor league career:...
and Manny Jiménez
Manny Jiménez
Manuel Emilio Jiménez Rivera is a former Major League Baseball left fielder. He played for the Kansas City Athletics...
for Bob Shaw
Bob Shaw (baseball)
Robert John Shaw was a Major League Baseball pitcher.His career lasted a decade, and he pitched for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics, Milwaukee Braves, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs. He won 18 games with the American League pennant-winning White...
and Lou Klimchock
Lou Klimchock
Louis Stephen Klimchock was an infielder for the Kansas City Athletics , Milwaukee Braves , Washington Senators , New York Mets and Cleveland Indians ....
. In 1962
1962 Kansas City Athletics season
The Kansas City Athletics season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Athletics finishing ninth in the American League with a record of 72 wins and 90 losses. The A's were last in the American League in paid attendance....
he played in 72 games for the Athletics. After two games with the Athletics in 1963
1963 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished tied for fifth in the American League with a record of 79-83, 25½ games behind the New York Yankees.- Offseason :...
, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians with Dick Howser
Dick Howser
Richard Dalton Howser was an American Major League Baseball shortstop, coach and manager. He is best known as the manager of the Kansas City Royals during the 1980s, and for guiding them to the franchise's only World Series title in 1985.-Playing career:A native of Miami, Florida, Howser grew up...
for Doc Edwards
Doc Edwards
Howard Rodney Edwards was a backup catcher with the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, and the Philadelphia Phillies over parts of five seasons spanning eight years...
and $100,000. He spent parts of seven seasons in Cleveland, and had the best seasons of his career there, earning his only All-Star appearance in 1968
1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1968 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 39th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
.
Azcue hit into the first unassisted triple play
Unassisted triple play
In baseball, an unassisted triple play occurs when a defensive player makes all three putouts by himself in one continuous play, without any teammates touching the ball . In Major League Baseball , it is one of the rarest of individual feats, along with hitting four home runs in one game and the...
since 1927 on July 29, 1968
1968 Cleveland Indians season
- Offseason :* October 17, 1967: Jim King was released by the Indians.* October 26, 1967: Marv Staehle was sent to the Indians by the Chicago White Sox to complete an earlier deal made on July 29, 1967.* November 28, 1967: Darrell Sutherland was drafted by the Indians from the New York Mets in the...
, turned by Ron Hansen
Ron Hansen (baseball)
Ronald Lavern Hansen is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators , New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals...
of Washington. After an early season trade in 1969, Azcue became a bit of a nomad. First Cleveland traded him to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
as part of the deal that brought Ken Harrelson
Ken Harrelson
Kenneth Smith Harrelson , nicknamed "The Hawk" due to his distinctive profile, is a former All-Star first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball...
to the Indians. Only two months later, Azcue had a falling out with Red Sox manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Dick Williams
Dick Williams
Richard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
and was again traded, this time to the California Angels.
Azcue played the rest of the 1969
1969 California Angels season
The California Angels season was a season in American baseball. In the first season following the split of the American League into two divisions, the Angels finished third in the newly-established American League West with a record of 71 wins and 91 losses....
season and all of 1970
1970 California Angels season
The California Angels season involved the Angels finishing third in the American League West with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses.- Offseason :* October 22, 1969: Rubén Amaro was released by the Angels....
for the Angels. Then, unhappy with the contract he was offered by California, Azcue sat out the entire 1971
1971 California Angels season
The California Angels season involved the Angels finishing 4th in the American League West with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses.- Opening Day starters :*Sandy Alomar*Ken Berry*Tony Conigliaro*Jim Fregosi*Alex Johnson*Ken McMullen*Jerry Moses...
season. Azcue came back to play for the Angels in 1972
1972 California Angels season
The California Angels season involved the Angels finishing 5th in the American League West with a record of 75 wins and 80 losses.-Offseason:* October 27, 1971: Tony González was released by the Angels....
but was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
after playing in only three games. The Brewers sent Azcue to the minor leagues for most of the season. Azcue played in just 11 games for Milwaukee and after 1972
1972 Milwaukee Brewers season
The Milwaukee Brewers season involved the Brewers' finishing sixth in the American League East with a record of 65 wins and 91 losses. Because of the move of the Washington Senators to Texas, the Brewers shifted from the AL West to the AL East.- Offseason :...
would never play again in the Major Leagues.
Career statistics
In 11 seasons, Azcue had 712 hitsHit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 2828 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s for a career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .252, along with 50 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 304 runs batted in. He caught two no hitters in his career (Sonny Siebert
Sonny Siebert
Wilfred Charles Siebert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1964 to 1975. He finished with a record of 140-114 and a 3.21 ERA. He threw a no-hitter on June 10, 1966 against the Washington Senators. He was originally drafted simultaneously by the Cleveland Indians and the St...
in 1966
1966 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League with a record of 81-81, 17 games behind the Baltimore Orioles.- Offseason :...
and Clyde Wright
Clyde Wright
Clyde Wright , nicknamed "Skeeter", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched for the California Angels , Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers . He also pitched three seasons in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants...
in 1970
1970 California Angels season
The California Angels season involved the Angels finishing third in the American League West with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses.- Offseason :* October 22, 1969: Rubén Amaro was released by the Angels....
). Azcue led American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
catchers in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
in 1967
1967 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished eighth in the American League with a record of 75-87, 17 games behind the Boston Red Sox.- Offseason :...
and 1968
1968 Cleveland Indians season
- Offseason :* October 17, 1967: Jim King was released by the Indians.* October 26, 1967: Marv Staehle was sent to the Indians by the Chicago White Sox to complete an earlier deal made on July 29, 1967.* November 28, 1967: Darrell Sutherland was drafted by the Indians from the New York Mets in the...
. Over his career, Azcue threw out 45.17% of the base runners
Baserunning
In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat.In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. In fact, the goal of batting is generally to produce baserunners, or help move...
who tried steal
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
a base on him, ranking him 10th on the all-time list. During the 1966
1966 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League with a record of 81-81, 17 games behind the Baltimore Orioles.- Offseason :...
season, he threw out 62% of the base runners who tried steal a base, the fifth highest season percentage in major league history. In 1974, he managed the Reno Silver Sox
Reno Silver Sox (minor league team)
The Reno Silver Sox were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1947 to 1992. The team name is derived from the nickname of Nevada, the "Silver State". There was another baseball team known as the Reno Silver Sox who played in the Golden Baseball League...
in the Class-A California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
.