Bobby Herrera
From BR Bullpen
Procopio Rodriguez Herrera (Tito)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 184 lb.
- Debut April 19, 1951
- Final Game May 5, 1951
- Born July 26, 1926 in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas Mexico
- Died August 23, 2007 in Atizapan de Zaragoza, México Mexico
[edit] Biographical Information
Bobby Herrera was one of the first Latino players in the majors, appearing in 1951. The struggling St. Louis Browns employed 22 different pitchers while finishing a distant last in the American League in 1951. The teams mounds corps included the ageless Satchel Paige, 20 game winner Ned Garver and 25-year-old Mexican born right-hander Herrera.
After allowing six runs and six hits in a couple of innings out of the bullpen, he would return to the minor leagues where he would spend ten seasons (1947-1956). Herrera's best season came with the Laredo Apaches of the Gulf Coast League in 1953, going 17-6 with a 3.10 ERA while pitching 206 innings. Tito was also player-manager for part of the 1953 season. He finished up his minor league activity in 1956 with a 69-58 record and a 3.47 ERA.
He started his professional career in the 1940's with the Obregon Arroceros. He played in Mexico and Venezuela through age 32. Then he became a golf pro.
Tito would do the rest of his pitching in the Mexican League and continued to reside in his native country until his death on August 23, 2007.
Source: Newspaper article on Herrera
