Baby Bull….never played healthy here on out
but oh so effective when his knees were working…great number 5 time 100+ RBIs
and 4 time 95+ RBIs….few have ever broken out of the gate better….With no
previous call ups by Giants franchise Cepeda rolls to the ROY honor 1958….the
bull continued unimpeded for 7 season finish 1954 with a .309 BA, 222 home
runs, 747 RBIs….six straight all star teams beginning 1959….led NL in home runs
and RBI 1961….productive but not harmonious with management ….all fell apart in
1965 with Orlando’s much troublesome knee gave out relegating him to mostly
pinch hitting….Cepeda starts his comeback with the Giants but traded mid-season
transaction….swapped straight up for Ray Sadecki …although he did not meet the
production bar set in the early 60’s
Orlando was able to hit over .300 for the year….1967 he returns in full and
became NL best overall hitter leading the Cardinals to a championship and
taking all 1st place NL MVP votes….a down year in 1968 led to a
straight up with Atlanta for Joe Torre…Cepeda delivers again particularly in
1970 when he produces number his early SF days…On his way to good 1971 when
other knee failed midseason….used sparingly by Braves 1972 and traded to
Oakland where he got just 3 at bats….the designated hitter saves the released
Cepeda for deployment with the Red Sox…..registered decent hitting and was
awarded top DH honors but was probably the slowest player in baseball….Red Sox
youth movement ousted Orlando who had trouble finding work….eventually was able
to catch on with the Royals but to little effect….first several years out of
baseball were very difficult with a drug arrest and consequential financial
trouble….eventually turned life around by aligning himself with the Giants
organization…. Voted to HOF after 25 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment