Juan Delis

From BR Bullpen

Juan Francisco Delis

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 5' 11", Weight 170 lb.

Debut April 16, 1955
Final Game September 18, 1955
Born February 20, 1928 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Died July 23, 2003 in Havana, Cuba

[edit] Biographical Information

Signed by the Washington Senators before the 1952 season Juan Delis was one of the many Cuban born players of the era who played for the Senators. The 23 year old rookie was assigned to the class B Danville Leafs after signing and played the hot corner and shortstop spots during his first season, appearing in 66 games and hitting for a .298 average.

Juan would play for the Havana Cubans of the Florida International League in 1953, appearing in 131 outings and again hitting well, with a .287 average. 1954 would see him in the IL with the Havana Sugar Kings where his average fell off to .260 in 128 games.

1955 was up next and it held Juan's first and only chance at the major leagues. He was called up by the Washington Senators and hit .189 in 54 games in his role as a third baseman, outfielder and pinch hitter. This would set Juan back a bit and he would spend 1956 with the Sugar Kings playing 93 games and hitting .270.

Delis would spend nine more active seasons in the high minors, from 1957 through 1966, looking for a way back up and that got him aquainted with the Seattle Rainiers, Savannah Reds and six seasons with the Monterrey Sultanes of the Mexican League where he probably had his best season in the minors when he hit .362 in 119 games in 1962. Juan's last season in pro ball came in the 1966 Mexican Southeast League. He was 38 years old when he finished his tour.

To show that some old baseball players just don't quit, Juan resurfaced in the United States some three decades later as a coach of the Cuban National team which won the championship of the World Amateur Baseball Tournament.