Julio Moreno (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Julio Moreno González was a Cuban-born
right-handed pitcher
in North America
n professional baseball
. Nicknamed "Jiquí" (after a hardwood
tree
) and "the Cuban Bob Feller
" for his blazing fastball, Moreno was a star in Cuban amateur baseball circles before he turned professional in 1947 and his mound career would extend into 1966, when he was 45 years of age. Moreno appeared in 73 games played
in Major League Baseball
for the Washington Senators
from –. The native of Güines
stood 5 in 8 in (1.73 m) tall and weighed 165 pounds (74.8 kg).
After joining professional baseball, Moreno was a star hurler for the Havana Cubanos
of the Class B Florida International League
, winning 50 of 66 decisions
(.758) from 1947–1950, before being called up by the Senators for the final month of the 1950 campaign.
In his Major League debut on September 8, he started
against the Philadelphia Athletics
and pitched a complete game
, 10–4 victory at Griffith Stadium
. Moreno spent the full and seasons with Washington, as both a starter and relief pitcher
, and was credited with 12 complete games and two saves during that period. He made his last MLB start on May 25, 1953 — also against Philadelphia — and threw another complete game victory over the Athletics, 6–1. Although Moreno had compiled a 3–1 record that season and his best MLB earned run average
(2.80), he was sent to the minor leagues
in mid-season and spent the rest of his career in minor and Glossary of baseball (W)#Winter leagueswinter league baseball. At age 45, he worked in 38 games for the 1966 Puebla Pericos in the Double-A Mexican League. Two years later, as batting practice pitcher for the world champion Detroit Tigers
, he was voted a full World Series
share by his teammates.
As a Major Leaguer, Moreno surrendered 349 hits
and 157 bases on balls, and recorded 119 strikeouts, in 336⅔ innings pitched
.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n professional baseball
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....
. Nicknamed "Jiquí" (after a hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
) and "the Cuban Bob Feller
Bob Feller
On December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
" for his blazing fastball, Moreno was a star in Cuban amateur baseball circles before he turned professional in 1947 and his mound career would extend into 1966, when he was 45 years of age. Moreno appeared in 73 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
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...
for the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
from –. The native of Güines
Güines
Güines is a municipality and city in the Mayabeque Province of Cuba. It is located southeast of Havana, next to the Mayabeque River.- History :The city was founded in 1737 by the Spanish...
stood 5 in 8 in (1.73 m) tall and weighed 165 pounds (74.8 kg).
After joining professional baseball, Moreno was a star hurler for the Havana Cubanos
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
of the Class B Florida International League
Florida International League
The Florida International League was a lower- to mid-level circuit in American and Cuban minor league baseball that existed from 1946 through July 27, 1954. It was designated Class C for its first three seasons, then upgraded to Class B in 1949 for the final 5½ years of its existence.The FIL...
, winning 50 of 66 decisions
Decision (baseball)
A decision is a statistical credit given to a baseball pitcher.There are two types of decisions: win and loss.In order to receive a win, the starting pitcher must complete at least five innings and leave with the lead. If the pitcher's lead is preserved by the bullpen, he is credited with a win...
(.758) from 1947–1950, before being called up by the Senators for the final month of the 1950 campaign.
In his Major League debut on September 8, he started
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
against the Philadelphia 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....
and pitched a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
, 10–4 victory at Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
. Moreno spent the full and seasons with Washington, as both a starter and relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, and was credited with 12 complete games and two saves during that period. He made his last MLB start on May 25, 1953 — also against Philadelphia — and threw another complete game victory over the Athletics, 6–1. Although Moreno had compiled a 3–1 record that season and his best MLB earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(2.80), he was sent to the minor leagues
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...
in mid-season and spent the rest of his career in minor and Glossary of baseball (W)#Winter leagueswinter league baseball. At age 45, he worked in 38 games for the 1966 Puebla Pericos in the Double-A Mexican League. Two years later, as batting practice pitcher for the world champion Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, he was voted a full World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
share by his teammates.
As a Major Leaguer, Moreno surrendered 349 hits
Hit (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....
and 157 bases on balls, and recorded 119 strikeouts, in 336⅔ innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
External links
- http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=3119&pid=9959Costello, Rory, "Julio Moreno," SABRSociety for American Baseball ResearchThe Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
Biography Project]