Tito Fuentes---1978
The Cuban-born second sacker was
flamboyant during his career, so
much so that most observers
frequently referred to him as a “hot
dog.” His fiery temperament also got
the best of him on occasion,
including the time when he was hit by
three pitches on September 13,
1973, to set a major league record.
Said Fuentes, “They shouldn’t throw
at me. I’m the father of five or six
kids.”
While Father’s Day could be a hit-or-
miss proposition with regards to
Fuentes, the infielder had a way of
keeping things interesting on the
field. With the Giants in 1971 and
1972, he committed more errors than
any National League second
baseman, only to set a senior circuit
mark by making only six miscues in
1973 to establish the senior circuit
mark. The Punch-and-Judy switch-
hitter also had his moments at the
plate, including a career-best .309
batting average with 83 RBIs for the
Tigers in 1977. Perhaps Detroit still
has his phone number, even if it was
31 years ago.
(7/5/09)
flamboyant during his career, so
much so that most observers
frequently referred to him as a “hot
dog.” His fiery temperament also got
the best of him on occasion,
including the time when he was hit by
three pitches on September 13,
1973, to set a major league record.
Said Fuentes, “They shouldn’t throw
at me. I’m the father of five or six
kids.”
While Father’s Day could be a hit-or-
miss proposition with regards to
Fuentes, the infielder had a way of
keeping things interesting on the
field. With the Giants in 1971 and
1972, he committed more errors than
any National League second
baseman, only to set a senior circuit
mark by making only six miscues in
1973 to establish the senior circuit
mark. The Punch-and-Judy switch-
hitter also had his moments at the
plate, including a career-best .309
batting average with 83 RBIs for the
Tigers in 1977. Perhaps Detroit still
has his phone number, even if it was
31 years ago.
(7/5/09)
