Luis Alcaraz
From BR Bullpen
Angel Luis Alcaraz Acosta
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 165 lb.
[edit] Biographical Information
Luis Alcaraz signed as an amateuer free agent with the1959 Milwaukee Braves and after playing very little time with the McCook Braves he was sold to the Los Angeles Dodgers the following season.
In the minor leagues, the 5-9, 165 pound infielder displayed plenty of power, averaging nearly 20 home runs per year from 1960 to 1967. He had his best season as a professional ballplayer with the AA Albuquerque Dukes leading the 1967 Texas League in batting with a .328 average, while belting a career-high 22 home runs and knocking in 85 runs.
He made his major league debut with the Dodgers on September 13, 1967, after playing in such places as McCook, Orlando, Artesia, Keokuk, Santa Barbara, and Albuquerque.
However, in two brief stints with Los Angeles, during 1967 and 1968 Alcaraz struggled at the plate, hitting .181 with two homers and eight RBI in 58 games.
Nevertheless, Alcaraz remained confident that he could hit big league pitching. “I batted against pitchers like that in the Puerto Rican Winter League, so I know I can hit,” Alcaraz insisted at the time.
The Dodgers were not convinced. They peddled Alcaraz to the Kansas City Royals on October 21, 1968. Alcaraz failed to hit in Kansas City as well, batting a combined .201 with two homers and 21 RBI in 57 games during parts of the 1969 and 1970 seasons.
Although Alcaraz had excellent bloodlines, he just didn't have the requisite skills to make it in the major leagues. Alcaraz is a distant cousin of Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda. Like his famous cousin, Alcaraz was born in Puerto Rico, but that's where the similarities end.
He was traded to the Chicago White Sox prior to the start of the 1971 campaign, but would never return to play in the big leagues again.
Alcaraz would finish out his minor league playing career with the PCL Tucson Toros in 1971 and the IL Charleston Charlies in 1972.
The record shows that Luis returned to baseball again, managing in the Mexican League in 1979 and 1980, on an interim basis with the Leon Bravos.
[edit] Sources
The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: Third Edition
SABR Minor League Database
baseball-reference.com
Baseball Library.com
