Zoilo Versalles--1969
Just four years removed from winning the
1965 American League MVP Award, Zoilo
Versalles found himself amongst the
castoffs of the expansion clubs.
He obviously wasn’t happy.
In 1965, the Cuban helped lead the
Twins to their first appearance in the
World Series by leading the AL in at bats,
runs, doubles and triples, while flashing a
golden glove. Surprisingly, Versalles was
a near unanimous selection, garnering
19 of 20 first place votes despite sporting
a pedestrian .273 average while his 122
strikeouts topped the Junior Circuit.
Teammate Tony Oliva would finish
second in the MVP chase as he claimed
the only other first place vote after
winning his second consecutive batting
title and driving in 98 runs. Both the
Orioles Brooks Robinson and Cleveland’s
Rocky Colavito out slugged the shortstop.
Unfortunately for Versalles the success
didn’t last, as the free-swinging shortstop
would never hit better than .249 in any
season following his MVP year.
A moody cuss, Versalles would move
between five organizations in four years
beginning in 1968; landing with the
Padres from the Dodgers in the
Expansion Draft. However, he didn’t stay
with San Diego long as the Pads turned
him around a month later for Indians first
base prospect Bill Davis. Yet it was long
enough for Versalles to be immortalized
in cardboard as an initial Padre.
He obviously wasn’t happy.
(1/12/11)
1965 American League MVP Award, Zoilo
Versalles found himself amongst the
castoffs of the expansion clubs.
He obviously wasn’t happy.
In 1965, the Cuban helped lead the
Twins to their first appearance in the
World Series by leading the AL in at bats,
runs, doubles and triples, while flashing a
golden glove. Surprisingly, Versalles was
a near unanimous selection, garnering
19 of 20 first place votes despite sporting
a pedestrian .273 average while his 122
strikeouts topped the Junior Circuit.
Teammate Tony Oliva would finish
second in the MVP chase as he claimed
the only other first place vote after
winning his second consecutive batting
title and driving in 98 runs. Both the
Orioles Brooks Robinson and Cleveland’s
Rocky Colavito out slugged the shortstop.
Unfortunately for Versalles the success
didn’t last, as the free-swinging shortstop
would never hit better than .249 in any
season following his MVP year.
A moody cuss, Versalles would move
between five organizations in four years
beginning in 1968; landing with the
Padres from the Dodgers in the
Expansion Draft. However, he didn’t stay
with San Diego long as the Pads turned
him around a month later for Indians first
base prospect Bill Davis. Yet it was long
enough for Versalles to be immortalized
in cardboard as an initial Padre.
He obviously wasn’t happy.
(1/12/11)
