Tony Ordenana
Encyclopedia
Antonio Ordeñana Rodríguez [Or-deh-nyahna] (October 30, 1918 - September 29, 1988) was a Major League Baseball
shortstop
who appeared in one game for the Pittsburgh Pirates
in 1943. The 5'9", 158 lb. rookie was a native of Guanabacoa, Cuba
. His nickname was "Mosquito".
Ordeñana is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues
during World War II
. His major league debut was on October 3, 1943, and he was in the starting lineup at home against the Philadelphia Phillies
for the last game of the season. The Pirates lost the game 11-3, but Ordeñana went 2-for-4 and drove in
all three runs
against starter
and winner Rogers McKee
. Ordeñana truly was a "one-game wonder"...excellent in the field as well as with the bat. He recorded two putout
s, five assists
, no errors
, and participated in one double play
.
Ordeñana died at the age of 69 in Miami, Florida
.
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...
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...
who appeared in one game for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in 1943. The 5'9", 158 lb. rookie was a native of Guanabacoa, Cuba
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...
. His nickname was "Mosquito".
Ordeñana is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues
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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His major league debut was on October 3, 1943, and he was in the starting lineup at home against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for the last game of the season. The Pirates lost the game 11-3, but Ordeñana went 2-for-4 and drove in
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...
all three runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
against starter
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....
and winner Rogers McKee
Rogers McKee
Rogers Hornsby McKee is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1943 and 1944. As a 16-year-old rookie in 1943, he was the youngest player to appear in a National League game that season.McKee is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major...
. Ordeñana truly was a "one-game wonder"...excellent in the field as well as with the bat. He recorded two putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, five assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
, no errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
, and participated in one double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
.
Ordeñana died at the age of 69 in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
.