Pompeyo Davalillo
Encyclopedia
Pompeyo Antonio "Yo-Yo" Davalillo Romero [da-va-LEE-yo] is a former Major League Baseball
player. Listed at 5' 3", 140 lb., Davalillo batted and threw right-handed. He is listed in major league records as having been born on June 30, 1931, in Cabimas, Venezuela (Venezuelan baseball official resources indicate July 5, 1928). His younger brother Vic
also played in the majors.
A slick shortstop
with a quick bat and feet, Davalillo was drafted by the New York Yankees
in 1953 and later transferred to the Washington Senators
. He appeared with the Senators late in the season and hit .293 in 19 games. He had a promising future, but his aversion to airplane travel, combined with a severe injury, curtailed his career in the major leagues.
Davalillo played eleven seasons in minor league baseball
, nine of them at Triple-A level, and posted a .270 average in 1207 games.
Davalillio also played in Mexico
(1962–64) and spent fourteen seasons with the Leones del Caracas
of the Venezuelan Winter League (1952–53 and 1965–66). He was a .276 hitter with three home run
s and 130 RBI in 469 VWL games, including 246 runs, 58 doubles
, 19 triples
and 67 stolen base
s. He later coached
and managed
in the league.
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...
player. Listed at 5' 3", 140 lb., Davalillo batted and threw right-handed. He is listed in major league records as having been born on June 30, 1931, in Cabimas, Venezuela (Venezuelan baseball official resources indicate July 5, 1928). His younger brother Vic
Vic Davalillo
Víctor José Davalillo Romero [da-va-LEE-yo] , is a former Venezuelan professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the Cleveland Indians , California Angels , St. Louis Cardinals , Pittsburgh Pirates , Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers...
also played in the majors.
A slick shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
with a quick bat and feet, Davalillo was drafted by 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 1953 and later transferred to 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...
. He appeared with the Senators late in the season and hit .293 in 19 games. He had a promising future, but his aversion to airplane travel, combined with a severe injury, curtailed his career in the major leagues.
Davalillo played eleven seasons in minor league baseball
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...
, nine of them at Triple-A level, and posted a .270 average in 1207 games.
Davalillio also played in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(1962–64) and spent fourteen seasons with the Leones del Caracas
Leones del Caracas
The Leones del Caracas is a Venezuelan baseball team that plays in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Since its inception, the team has played in the Estadio Universitario in Caracas...
of the Venezuelan Winter League (1952–53 and 1965–66). He was a .276 hitter with three 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 130 RBI in 469 VWL games, including 246 runs, 58 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 19 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 67 stolen base
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...
s. He later coached
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...
and 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...
in the league.