Arnie Portocarrero
From BR Bullpen
Arnold Mario Portocarrero
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 3", Weight 196 lb.
- Debut April 18, 1954
- Final Game June 15, 1960
- Born July 5, 1931 in New York, NY USA
- Died June 21, 1986 in Kansas City, KS USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Arnie Portocarrero pitched seven seasons in the big leagues, mostly as a starter. His best season was 1958, when he went 15-11 for the 1958 Orioles.
Portocarrero was signed as a free agent in 1949 by the Philadelphia Athletics and spent 1950-51 in the minors. He was not in the minors in 1952-53, spending time in the service.
In 1954 he made his major league debut in April, and as a rookie became the winningest pitcher for the 1954 Athletics who lost 103 games. Portocarrero won nine games while another rookie, Bob Trice, was second on the team in wins with seven. Portocarrero's ERA was lowest among the starters.
He continued to pitch for the A's when they moved to Kansas City in 1955 but spent most of 1956 in the minors at Birmingham, going 10-10 with an ERA of 3.47. He came back to the majors in 1957, going only 4-9 but posting an ERA of 3.92.
Traded to the Baltimore Orioles in April 1958, he had his best season, leading a below-.500 team with 15 victories. He continued with the Orioles in 1959-60 and then was in the minors in 1961 with Rochester.
