Zoilo Versalles
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| Zoilo Versalles | ||
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| Shortstop | ||
| Born: December 18, 1939 Veldado, Cuba |
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| Died: June 9, 1995 (aged 55) Bloomington, Minnesota |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | ||
| August 1, 1959 for the Washington Senators |
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| Final game | ||
| September 28, 1971 for the Atlanta Braves |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Batting average | .242 | |
| Home runs | 95 | |
| RBI | 471 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
Zoilo Casanova Versalles Rodriguez (December 18, 1939–June 9, 1995) was a Cuban shortstop in Major League Baseball, considered to be a great fielder, solid leadoff man, and a brilliant baserunner. He was the sparkplug that led the 1965 Twins to their first World Series. He was voted the American League Most Valuable Player in 1965. He had a hard time adjusting to life in the U.S; he was eternally homesick for his native Cuba. In 1967 he was traded by Minnesota and that led to his decline as a major talent. He went from team to team until he formally retired in 1972. He was born in El Vedado, Cuba and died in 1995 in Bloomington, Minnesota.
He played for the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins from 1959-1967, the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1968, the Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators in 1969, and the Atlanta Braves in 1971. He led the American League in at-bats, runs scored, doubles and triples. He had a batting average of .252 during his six years with the Twins. Bill James points out that Versalles' MVP season makes him the player with the fewest career win shares (134) to win an MVP award.[1] He had 1,046 hits, scored 564 runs, had 86 homers, 401 RBIs, and stole 84 bases in a total of 1,065 games. He was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2006.
Versalles is the subject of one of the most famous errors in baseball card history. His 1961 Topps card (#27) mistakingly spells his first name as "Zorro".
[edit] See also
- List of Major League Baseball runs scored champions
- List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
| Preceded by Brooks Robinson |
American League Most Valuable Player 1965 |
Succeeded by Frank Robinson |
[edit] References
- ^ James, Bill (2003-04-06). The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. New York: Free Press, pp. 631-632. ISBN 0743227220.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- The Deadball Era
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