Bobby Balcena
From BR Bullpen
Robert Rudolph Balcena
- Bats Right, Throws Left
- Height 5' 7", Weight 160 lb.
- Debut September 16, 1956
- Final Game September 29, 1956
- Born August 1, 1925 in San Pedro, CA USA
- Died January 4, 1990 in San Pedro, CA USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Some what of a rarity in that he threw from the left side but hit from the right, Bobby Balcena was even more unique as the only full blooded Filipino to ever play in the major leagues. A small man with surprising power, he was one of the most popular players of his era in the Pacific Coast League for several years during the 1950s and 1960s, as an outfielder for Seattle, Vancouver and Hawaii.
Balcena was a hitting machine in his early minor league days. In 1948, his first year out, he led the Sunset League in hitting at .369 and made the All-Star team. In '49 in the same league he finished runner-up for the hitting crown with a .367 average with 16 home runs and a .602 slugging pct. and again made the All-Stars.
For the next five years Bobby was always over or right around the .300 mark. Late in 1956 he was aquired from the Seattle Rainiers by the Cincinnati Reds and appeared in seven games in pinch hitting, pinch running and defensive replacement roles. He was hitless in two plate appearances but did score a couple of runs. This short period was to be Balcena's only shot at the big leagues.
From 1957 through 1962 Balcena played mainly in the PCL League. His best season came in 1960 when he hit .333 for the Buffalo Bisons of the IL.
Over all Bobby played 15 years of professional baseball, from 1948 through 1962. He appeared in 2,018 games, went to bat 7,141 times, had 2,019 base hits, including 134 home runs and a career .282 batting average. He retired after the 1962 season at the age of 38.
Balcena worked as a longshoreman in both Seattle and his native San Pedro, California, following his playing days, and died in San Pedro, CA January 4, 1990, at age 64.
[edit] Miscellaneous
Balcena was the first ever player of Asian ancestry in MLB. Second was the Japanese pitcher Masanori Murakami in 1964: the second Asian-American was Mike Lum in 1967. More recent Filipino-Americans include John Sipin and Bobby Chouinard.
[edit] Sources
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
