José Cruz
Encyclopedia
José Cruz Dilan is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
. He is also the former first base coach
for the Houston Astros
. During his 19-year baseball career, he played from 1970-1988 for three different teams, playing primarily for the Astros. He is a member of one of Puerto Rico's most famous major league families and is the brother of former major leaguers Héctor and Tommy Cruz
.
Nicknamed "Cheo", many baseball fans refer to him as Cheo Cruz. He and his wife, Zoraida, make their home in Houston. They have four children: José Javier, Shakira, José Jr.
, also a former Major League outfielder, and José Enrique Cruz, an infielder
in the New York Mets
minor league
system.
in . It was as a member of the Houston Astros, however, that he became a household name across Puerto Rico
and the United States
. During his playing days, he was arguably the most famous baseball player (not counting the late Roberto Clemente
) in Puerto Rico.
Cruz was traded to the New York Yankees
in , retiring at the end of the season. He had a total of 165 home run
s and 1077 RBI
during his career, while hitting for a .284 batting average
.
Cruz has been involved with all nine of Houstons postseason appearances, three as a player (1980, 81 and 86) and six as a coach (1997–99, 01, 04-05). As a player in the poststeason, he hit .400 in the dramatic five-game series against Philadelphia in the 1980 NLCS
. Cruz represented the Astros in the MLB All-Star Game
in 1980
at Los Angeles, and 1985
at Minnesota. He finished 3rd in NL MVP voting in 1980 and 8th in 1984. He won the NL Silver Slugger
award as an outfielder in 1983 and 1984.
Cruz had played in more games than any other player in the history of the Houston franchise (1,870) before being passed by Craig Biggio
in 2001. In 2000, Cruz coached from first base as Biggio surpassed many of his other long-standing franchise records, including at-bats, hits and total bases. His 80 triples remains an Astros' record as does his 6 career walk-off home run
s. His last home run, on July 17, 1988, was a pinch-hit grand slam
against the Chicago White Sox
in a 7–4 loss.
In 1992, Cruz was honored by the Astros, when the team retired his number, #25. In 1999, Cruz was selected by a panel of experts as one of three outfielders on the All-Astrodome team. In 2003, he was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2005, he agreed to coach for the team representing Puerto Rico in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
, which was managed
by José Oquendo
, and included his own son, José Cruz, Jr.
After retiring from baseball Cruz managed in both the Texas-Louisiana League and the Puerto Rican Winter League before returning as a coach to the Astros.
Jose Cruz was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum
Hall of Fame on September 13, 2002 in pregame on field ceremony at Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. He is also the former first base coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. During his 19-year baseball career, he played from 1970-1988 for three different teams, playing primarily for the Astros. He is a member of one of Puerto Rico's most famous major league families and is the brother of former major leaguers Héctor and Tommy Cruz
Tommy Cruz
Cirilo "Tommy" Cruz Dilan is a former mcc blue river soccer playeroutfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox . Cruz batted and threw left-handed...
.
Nicknamed "Cheo", many baseball fans refer to him as Cheo Cruz. He and his wife, Zoraida, make their home in Houston. They have four children: José Javier, Shakira, José Jr.
José Cruz, Jr.
José Luis Cruz, Jr. is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Over his nine year playing career, Cruz played for eight different teams. Standing 6'0" tall and weighing 210 pounds, Cruz was a right-handed switch hitter...
, also a former Major League outfielder, and José Enrique Cruz, an infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
in the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
minor league
Minor 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...
system.
Career
Cruz debuted with the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in . It was as a member of the Houston Astros, however, that he became a household name across Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. During his playing days, he was arguably the most famous baseball player (not counting the late Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...
) in Puerto Rico.
Cruz was traded to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in , retiring at the end of the season. He had a total of 165 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 1077 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
during his career, while hitting for a .284 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 :...
.
Cruz has been involved with all nine of Houstons postseason appearances, three as a player (1980, 81 and 86) and six as a coach (1997–99, 01, 04-05). As a player in the poststeason, he hit .400 in the dramatic five-game series against Philadelphia in the 1980 NLCS
1980 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 7, 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaGame 1 was the most ordinary contest of the series. Starters Ken Forsch and Steve Carlton dueled for the first five innings, with only one run scored by Houston in the third on an RBI single by Gary Woods...
. Cruz represented the Astros in the MLB All-Star Game
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...
in 1980
1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 51st midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 8, 1980 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, home of the Los...
at Los Angeles, and 1985
1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 56th playing of the game, annually played between the All-Stars of the National League and the All-Stars of the American League. The game was played on July 16, 1985, in the Hubert H...
at Minnesota. He finished 3rd in NL MVP voting in 1980 and 8th in 1984. He won the NL Silver Slugger
Silver Slugger
The Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball...
award as an outfielder in 1983 and 1984.
Cruz had played in more games than any other player in the history of the Houston franchise (1,870) before being passed by Craig Biggio
Craig Biggio
Craig Alan Biggio is a former Major League Baseball second baseman, catcher, and outfielder. He played his entire 20-year baseball career with the Houston Astros . He ranks 21st all-time with 3,060 career hits, and is the ninth player in the 3000 hit club to get all his hits with the same team. He...
in 2001. In 2000, Cruz coached from first base as Biggio surpassed many of his other long-standing franchise records, including at-bats, hits and total bases. His 80 triples remains an Astros' record as does his 6 career walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
s. His last home run, on July 17, 1988, was a pinch-hit grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
against the Chicago White Sox
1988 Chicago White Sox season
The 1988 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 89th season. They finished with a record 71-90, good enough for 5th place in the American League West, 32.5 games behind of the 1st place Oakland Athletics.-Offseason:...
in a 7–4 loss.
In 1992, Cruz was honored by the Astros, when the team retired his number, #25. In 1999, Cruz was selected by a panel of experts as one of three outfielders on the All-Astrodome team. In 2003, he was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2005, he agreed to coach for the team representing Puerto Rico in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
, which was managed
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...
by José Oquendo
José Oquendo
José Manuel Roberto Guillermo Oquendo Contreras is a former Major League Baseball infielder and the current third base coach for the St. Louis Cardinals...
, and included his own son, José Cruz, Jr.
After retiring from baseball Cruz managed in both the Texas-Louisiana League and the Puerto Rican Winter League before returning as a coach to the Astros.
Jose Cruz was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum
Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum
The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame, Inc., was founded in San Francisco, California, in June 1999 by its founder Mr.Gabriel "Tito" Avila, Jr., as a way to honor the greatest Hispanic baseball players of all time. The organization is a not-for-profit institution...
Hall of Fame on September 13, 2002 in pregame on field ceremony at Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas.