Juan Báez
Encyclopedia
Juan "Johnny" Báez was an active and notable Puerto Rican basketball player. He played from 1953 to 1969 in Puerto Rico's Superior Basketball League and from 1957 to 1961 with the Real Madrid basketball Spanish basketball team in Europe. He is considered by many Puerto Ricans as the most notable survivor of the 1950s-1960's Cardenales de Río Piedras basketball team.
. He received his primary education at the University of Puerto Rico Model Elementary School. It was in Modelo School where he would learn to play basketball under the guidance of his physical education teacher Lilliam Colberg, sister of Rebekah Colberg
. Báez continued his education at University of Puerto Rico High School
. During his high school years, he would frequently attend the local Superior Leagues basketball games and himself participate as a basketball player in minor leagues where he continue to learn the discipline of the game.
" (Río Piedras Cardinals) basketball team of Puerto Rico's Superior Basketball League selected him. Even though his active participation was minimal, Báez was promoted to the teams starting lineup in his third game. From 1955 to 1957, the Cardinals won three consecutive championships. In 1957 Báez was named the leagues MVP (Most Valuable Player) and points leader. He scored a total of 394 points in 16 games.
His participation in the islands local basketball league was very limited in 1958 and 1959 because he continued to pursue his academic education in Madrid, Spain. During his stay in Spain
, he played from 1957 to 1961 for the Real Madrid basketball team that won the "Generalísimo" Cup, now known as the King's Cup. While playing in Spain, he caught the eye of a young royal whose grandfather was the owner of the Real Madrid team and who became one of his best-known fans. That young royal is now known as King Juan Carlos, who corresponded with Báez in 2006 to wish him a speedy recovery from his illness. Báez represented Puerto Rico in the 1959 Pan American Games
, celebrated in Chicago, Illinois. In the tournament which included American
basketball stars, Oscar Robertson
and Jerry West
, Báez was the champion scorer. Báez and fellow Puerto Rican Juan "Pachín" Vicéns were named to the All-Star team.
In 1962, he withdrew from Spanish basketball and one year later, in 1963, Báez led the Cardinals to another championship and was once again named MVP. On June 13, 1969, the same year that he retired, he scored his point number 5 thousand during a game against the Piratas de Quebradillas (The Pirates of Quebradillas) with a “jump shot" in the beginning of the games first quarter. After retiring Báez dedicated most of his time as coach of several local teams.
On January 20, 2007, several top International Basketball Federation (FIBA) officials traveled to the island and in a ceremony which included the presence of the Mayor of San Juan Jorge Santini
, Puerto Rico Senate President Kenneth McClintock
, Puerto Rico Olympic Committee President Hector Cardona, PR Sports and Recreation Secretary David "Kike" Bernier, his wife Irma and his son and daughter, Carlos and Irma, bestowed upon Báez Puerto Rico's top sports award, the Puerto Rico Olympic Medal of Honor. Báez was also inducted into Puerto Rico's Sports Hall of Fame.
Early years
Báez, also known as "El Indio de la Vía", was the sixth child of nine children born to Andrés Báez and Sisa Mariño in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. He received his primary education at the University of Puerto Rico Model Elementary School. It was in Modelo School where he would learn to play basketball under the guidance of his physical education teacher Lilliam Colberg, sister of Rebekah Colberg
Rebekah Colberg
Dr. Rebekah Colberg ,Dates of birth and death were provided and confirmed by the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee-August 24, 2010 is known as "The Mother of Women's Sports in Puerto Rico".-Early years:...
. Báez continued his education at University of Puerto Rico High School
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
. During his high school years, he would frequently attend the local Superior Leagues basketball games and himself participate as a basketball player in minor leagues where he continue to learn the discipline of the game.
Río Piedras Cardinals basketball team
In 1953, the "Cardenales de Río PiedrasRío Piedras, Puerto Rico
Río Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
" (Río Piedras Cardinals) basketball team of Puerto Rico's Superior Basketball League selected him. Even though his active participation was minimal, Báez was promoted to the teams starting lineup in his third game. From 1955 to 1957, the Cardinals won three consecutive championships. In 1957 Báez was named the leagues MVP (Most Valuable Player) and points leader. He scored a total of 394 points in 16 games.
His participation in the islands local basketball league was very limited in 1958 and 1959 because he continued to pursue his academic education in Madrid, Spain. During his stay in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, he played from 1957 to 1961 for the Real Madrid basketball team that won the "Generalísimo" Cup, now known as the King's Cup. While playing in Spain, he caught the eye of a young royal whose grandfather was the owner of the Real Madrid team and who became one of his best-known fans. That young royal is now known as King Juan Carlos, who corresponded with Báez in 2006 to wish him a speedy recovery from his illness. Báez represented Puerto Rico in the 1959 Pan American Games
1959 Pan American Games
The 3rd Pan American Games opened on August 27, 1959 in sunny 90°F heat before 40,000 people in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The first Pan American Games held in North America, they were originally scheduled for Cleveland, Ohio, but the U.S. Congress’s decision to cut $5,000,000 in federal...
, celebrated in Chicago, Illinois. In the tournament which included American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball stars, Oscar Robertson
Oscar Robertson
Oscar Palmer Robertson , nicknamed "The Big O", is a former American NBA player with the Cincinnati Royals and the Milwaukee Bucks...
and Jerry West
Jerry West
Jerry Alan West is a retired American basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . His nicknames include "Mr...
, Báez was the champion scorer. Báez and fellow Puerto Rican Juan "Pachín" Vicéns were named to the All-Star team.
In 1962, he withdrew from Spanish basketball and one year later, in 1963, Báez led the Cardinals to another championship and was once again named MVP. On June 13, 1969, the same year that he retired, he scored his point number 5 thousand during a game against the Piratas de Quebradillas (The Pirates of Quebradillas) with a “jump shot" in the beginning of the games first quarter. After retiring Báez dedicated most of his time as coach of several local teams.
Currently
Báez is married to Irma Hernáiz, his wife of 44 years with whom he had three children. On March 8, 2006, had an accident and is suffering from a delicate neurological condition which left him paralyzed from the waist down.Honors
| Year | |
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | |||
| 1964 | |||
On January 20, 2007, several top International Basketball Federation (FIBA) officials traveled to the island and in a ceremony which included the presence of the Mayor of San Juan Jorge Santini
Jorge Santini
Jorge Santini Padilla in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is an Puerto Rican Politician and current Mayor of San Juan City.-Biography:...
, Puerto Rico Senate President Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth McClintock
Kenneth D. McClintock-Hernández is the current Secretary of State of Puerto Rico. Mr. McClintock served as co-chair of Hillary Clinton presidential campaign's National Hispanic Leadership Council in 2008, co-chaired Clinton's successful Puerto Rico primary campaign that year and served as the...
, Puerto Rico Olympic Committee President Hector Cardona, PR Sports and Recreation Secretary David "Kike" Bernier, his wife Irma and his son and daughter, Carlos and Irma, bestowed upon Báez Puerto Rico's top sports award, the Puerto Rico Olympic Medal of Honor. Báez was also inducted into Puerto Rico's Sports Hall of Fame.
External links
- El Nuevo Dia
- Juntos por El Indio
- http://www.endi.com/noticia/baloncesto/deportes/baez:_idolo_de_reyes/149558
- BALONCESTO SUPERIOR NACIONAL
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans