Zoilo Versalles

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Zoilo Versalles
Shortstop
Born: December 18, 1939 (1939-12-18)
Veldado, Cuba
Died: June 9, 1995 (aged 55)
Bloomington, Minnesota
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 1, 1959
for the Washington Senators
Final game
September 28, 1971
for the Atlanta Braves
Career statistics
Batting average     .242
Home runs     95
RBI     471
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Zoilo Casanova Versalles Rodriguez (December 18, 1939June 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".

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Preceded by
Brooks Robinson
American League Most Valuable Player
1965
Succeeded by
Frank Robinson

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