Omar Vizquel
From BR Bullpen
Omar Enrique Vizquel Gonzalez (Little O)
- Bats Both, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 165 lb.
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[edit] Biographical Information
Shortstop Omar Vizquel was signed as a free agent for the Seattle Mariners by scout Marty Martinez on April 1, 1984.
Vizquel won nine Gold Gloves with the Cleveland Indians. In 2005, he won his first National League Gold Glove while playing for the San Francisco Giants and repeated the feat the following season. He has the best fielding percentage for a shortstop in history, and in 2007, passed Ozzie Smith for most double plays. Vizquel tied and passed fellow Venezuelan Luis Aparicio for career games at the position in the two games of a May 25th, 2008 doubleheader at Florida. In 2009, Vizquel became the third player in MLB history to play shortstop at age 42, following Luke Appling (1949) and Honus Wagner (1916). That season, he also passed Aparicio for most hits by a player born in Venezuela.
Vizquel has over 11,000 major league plate appearances, putting him at # 31 on the all-time list. Most of the players near him on the list are in the Hall of Fame.
Vizquel is a drummer who did a rendition of the Goo Goo Dolls' "Broadway" on a CD of songs performed by baseball players.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 3-time AL All-Star (1998, 1999 & 2002)
- 11-time Gold Glove Winner (1993-2001/AL, 2005/NL & 2006/NL)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 2 (1999 & 2000)
[edit] Records Held
- Fielding percentage, shortstop, career, .985
- Double plays, shortstop, career, 1698
- Fewest errors, shortstop, season, 3, 2000 (tied)
- Games played at shortstop, career, 2654
