Santo Alcala
Encyclopedia
Santo Anibal Alcala is a former Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
, born in San Pedro de Macoris
, Dominican Republic
. He batted and threw right-handed during his baseball
career. Alcala was signed by the Cincinnati Reds
organization as an amateur free agent, and assigned to the minor leagues
.
. Despite winning 11 games in 1976, Alcala had an earned run average of 4.70, with a strikeout to walk ratio of 67-67. While Alcala's team, the Reds, went on to the World Series, Alcala didn't have any playoff appearances. In 1976, Alcala's age 23 made him the second youngest player on an aging baseball team. In 1977, Alcala had a 5.74 earned run average before being traded to the Expos, where he recorded a 4.69 earned run average. On the day of his final major league appearance, Alcala pitched a scoreless inning in relief, bringing his total 1977 earned run average to 4.83.
The Cincinnati Reds traded Alcala to the Montreal Expos
on May 21, 1977, for players to be named. The Expos later sent Shane Rawley
and Angel Torres, on May 27, 1977, to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade. In 1978, Alcala was selected off waivers by the Seattle Mariners
, only to be sent back to the Expos in the same year. He never pitched in the major leagues again.
At the time of his retirement Alcala had a 14-11 record, a 4.76 ERA, 121 walks, and 140 strikeouts. Alcala was 8 for 71 hitting, with a lifetime batting average of .113. His lifetime fielding percentage was .978.
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...
starting pitcher
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....
, born in San Pedro de Macoris
San Pedro de Macorís
San Pedro de Macorís is a municipality and the capital of the San Pedro de Macorís province in the Dominican Republic.-Demographics:...
, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He batted and threw right-handed during his 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...
career. Alcala was signed by 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....
organization as an amateur free agent, and assigned 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...
.
Major League Baseball career
Alcala made his major league debut on April 10, 1976 with the Cincinnati Reds at age 23. Alcala pitched to four batters, giving up four hits are three earned runs in his debut. In 1976, Alcala pitched one shutoutShutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
. Despite winning 11 games in 1976, Alcala had an earned run average of 4.70, with a strikeout to walk ratio of 67-67. While Alcala's team, the Reds, went on to the World Series, Alcala didn't have any playoff appearances. In 1976, Alcala's age 23 made him the second youngest player on an aging baseball team. In 1977, Alcala had a 5.74 earned run average before being traded to the Expos, where he recorded a 4.69 earned run average. On the day of his final major league appearance, Alcala pitched a scoreless inning in relief, bringing his total 1977 earned run average to 4.83.
The Cincinnati Reds traded Alcala to the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
on May 21, 1977, for players to be named. The Expos later sent Shane Rawley
Shane Rawley
Shane William Rawley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of twelve seasons in the majors, from 1978 through 1989, for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Minnesota Twins.Rawley was selected to the National League All-Star team in 1986 as...
and Angel Torres, on May 27, 1977, to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade. In 1978, Alcala was selected off waivers by the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, only to be sent back to the Expos in the same year. He never pitched in the major leagues again.
At the time of his retirement Alcala had a 14-11 record, a 4.76 ERA, 121 walks, and 140 strikeouts. Alcala was 8 for 71 hitting, with a lifetime batting average of .113. His lifetime fielding percentage was .978.