Coco Laboy--1969
It took ten seasons in the minor
leagues for Jose Alberto Laboy to
make his way to the major leagues
and onto a baseball card. A strong
defensive player, Laboy hit around
.300 for three consecutive seasons
for the St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A
team in Tulsa, before being rescued
by the Montreal Expos in the 1968
Expansion Draft.
Chosen with the 57th pick (out of 60)
in the draft, Laboy surprised
Montreal manager Gene Mauch with
his overall play at spring training to
earn starting honors for the upstart
Expos. Apparently nicknamed Coco
by his mother for the large amount of
cocoa he consumed as a youth in
Puerto Rico, Laboy quickly became a
fan favorite north of the border, when
the rangy third sacker smacked a
game-winning three run homer to
secure the Expos first-ever victory.
He went on to hit .258 with 18 long
balls and 83 ribbies while being
named The Sporting News Rookie of
the Year in 1969.
(Laboy didn't pick the right bats in 1970)
Unfortunately Laboy stumbled in
1970, hitting a meager .199 as less
fastballs came his way. His next
campaign was short circuited due to
a knee injury that would ultimately
force his major league career to end.
And while his career would come to a
close after just four major league
seasons, those of us growing up
around 1970 will always remember
Coco Laboy.
(1/29/09)
leagues for Jose Alberto Laboy to
make his way to the major leagues
and onto a baseball card. A strong
defensive player, Laboy hit around
.300 for three consecutive seasons
for the St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A
team in Tulsa, before being rescued
by the Montreal Expos in the 1968
Expansion Draft.
Chosen with the 57th pick (out of 60)
in the draft, Laboy surprised
Montreal manager Gene Mauch with
his overall play at spring training to
earn starting honors for the upstart
Expos. Apparently nicknamed Coco
by his mother for the large amount of
cocoa he consumed as a youth in
Puerto Rico, Laboy quickly became a
fan favorite north of the border, when
the rangy third sacker smacked a
game-winning three run homer to
secure the Expos first-ever victory.
He went on to hit .258 with 18 long
balls and 83 ribbies while being
named The Sporting News Rookie of
the Year in 1969.
(Laboy didn't pick the right bats in 1970)
Unfortunately Laboy stumbled in
1970, hitting a meager .199 as less
fastballs came his way. His next
campaign was short circuited due to
a knee injury that would ultimately
force his major league career to end.
And while his career would come to a
close after just four major league
seasons, those of us growing up
around 1970 will always remember
Coco Laboy.
(1/29/09)
