Chico Carrasquel
From BR Bullpen
Alfonso Carrasquel Colon
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 170 lb.
- Debut April 18, 1950
- Final Game September 23, 1959
- Born January 23, 1928 in Caracas, Venezuela
- Died May 26, 2005 in Caracas, Venezuela
[edit] Biographical Information
Venezuelan born shortstop Chico Carrasquel was best known for his defensive skills. He was the uncle of Cris Colón.
He was originally signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1949 but was later sold to the Chicago White Sox. As a rookie in 1950, he succeeded popular Hall of Famer Luke Appling as the Sox starting shortstop and put together a 24-game hitting streak. The next year, he became the first Latin player to appear in the All-Star Game and a national hero in his home country.
When he joined the White Sox, they were a below-average team, but from 1951-1955 they were always over .500. Key teammates included Nellie Fox, Minnie Minoso, and Billy Pierce.
In 1955, Carrasquel was traded to the Cleveland Indians to clear the way in the Sox lineup for another great Venezuelan shortstop, Luis Aparicio.
Carrasquel's best year as a hitter was in 1957, when he posted numbers of .276/.351/.378. While Carrasquel's lifetime batting average and slugging percentage were very similar to those of Luis Aparicio, Carrasquel drew more walks and thus had an on-base percentage 20 points higher.
After his playing career ended, he worked in the Chicago White Sox front office and did Spanish-language radio broadcasts of Sox games for many years.
In 2003, he was injured during a carjacking in his native Venezuela. On May 26, 2005, Carrasquel died in his homeland of cardiac arrest.
Chico was a huge star in his native Venezuela, and numerous Spanish-language writers have eulogized him.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 4-time AL All-Star (1951 & 1953-1955)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1954)
