Chico Carrasquel
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Alfonso Carrasquel Colón (January 23, 1928 – May 26, 2005), best known as Chico Carrasquel, was a shortstop in Major League Baseball between 1950 and 1959. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela.
"El Chico" was the third Venezuelan to play in the majors after right-handed pitcher Alex Carrasquel (Washington Senators, in 1939) and first baseman/outfielder Chucho Ramos (Cincinnati Reds, in 1944). His major league career began with the Chicago White Sox, where he played shortstop from 1950-55.
In 1951, Carrasquel became the first Latin American player to be selected to participate in an All-Star game, beating out reigning MVP Phil Rizzuto as the American League's starting shortstop. Carrasquel also would go on to be selected to the All-Star team in 1953, 1954 and 1955.
Replacing Luke Appling in 1950, Carrasquel soon established himself as a top shortstop, and made an excellent double play combination with second baseman Nellie Fox. As a rookie, Carrasquel hit for a .282 batting average in 141 games and amassed a 24-game hitting streak. Boston Red Sox pitcher Ellis Kinder stopped the streak.
Carrasquel broke an AL record by accepting 297 chances (in 53 games) without an error in 1951. Before the 1956 season, Chicago traded him with Jim Busby to the Cleveland Indians for Larry Doby. The trade was made to make room for future Hall of Famer, and fellow Venezuelan, Luis Aparicio, Jr.
Carrasquel then played for the Indians from 1956 to 1958, the Kansas City Athletics in 1958, and the Baltimore Orioles in 1959.
001-VE-MLB-Chico_2002.jpg
Chico Carrasquel is a national legend in his native Venezuela. He was the most important and influential figure for many countrymen that have played Major League Baseball, including shortstops Aparicio, Dave Concepción, Ozzie Guillén and Omar Vizquel; outfielders Vic Davalillo, Tony Armas, Magglio Ordóñez and Bobby Abreu; the versatile utility player César Tovar; second baseman Manny Trillo; catcher Bo Diaz; first baseman Andrés Galarraga, and many more.
The Venezuelan Baseball League belatedly honored its native son in 1991, when the Puerto La Cruz baseball park was renamed Chico Carrasquel Stadium. Until recently, he worked as a Community Relations Representative for the Chicago White Sox.
Chico Carrasquel died in Caracas, Venezuela at age of 77 due to a cardiac/respiratory arrest.
See also
External links
- Template:Baseball-reference
- Articles about Chico (http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/sabr/tbi/C/Carrasquel_Chico.tbi.stm#articles)
- 1951 All-Star Game play-by-play (http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/1951_all_star_game_play_by_play.shtml)
- Chico & Nellie combo (http://whitesoxinteractive.com/OldComiskey/fifties1.jpg)
- Chico's stadium (http://www.lapelota.20m.com/images/estadio_cari2.gif)
- History of Venezuelan MLB players (http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/2262/)es:Chico Carrasquel
Categories: 1951 American League All-Stars | 1953 American League All-Stars | 1954 American League All-Stars | 1955 American League All-Stars | Major league shortstops | Baltimore Orioles players | Chicago White Sox players | Cleveland Indians players | Kansas City Athletics players | Venezuelan baseball players | 1928 births