| César Gerónimo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: (1948-03-11)March 11, 1948 (age 77) El Seibo, Dominican Republic | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 16, 1969, for the Houston Astros | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 28, 1983, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .258 |
| Home runs | 51 |
| Runs batted in | 392 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
César Francisco Gerónimo Zorrilla (born March 11, 1948), known asCésar Gerónimo, is aDominican former professionalbaseball player andcoach. He played inMajor League Baseball as anoutfielder from1969 through1983, most notably as a member of theCincinnati Reds dynasty that won threeNational League pennants and twoWorld Series championships between 1972 and 1976. He also played for theHouston Astros and theKansas City Royals.
Although Gerónimo was not a prolific player on offense, he excelled as a defensive player, winning four consecutiveGold Glove Awards between 1974 and 1977. In 2008, Gerónimo was inducted into theCincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.[1]
Gerónimo was born inEl Seibo, Dominican Republic. His father was a driver for a car service, shuttling passengers on the three-hour drive from El Seibo to the capital of the Dominican Republic,Santo Domingo.[2] At age 14, César's parents sent him to school at a seminary with hopes that he would become a priest. However, his athletic prowess continued to develop, especially in basketball. He didn't start playing baseball until he was 17. Two years later in 1967, after scouts saw him play on his father's softball team and recognized his prowess both pitching and hitting,[2] he was signed to a free agent contract by theNew York Yankees.[3]
The Yankees tried unsuccessfully to make Gerónimo apitcher during his first professional season (1967). In spring training of 1968 he informed the Yankees that he wanted to end the pitching experiment, and later that year he was drafted out of the Yankees' minor league system in the Rule 5 Draft by theHouston Astros.[2]
Gerónimo made his major league debut with the Astros on April 16, 1969, at the age of 21.[4] He notched his first career hit five days later in the ninth inning when, pinch-hitting forJack Billingham, Gerónimo doubled off the Reds'Wayne Granger.[5]
On November 29, 1971, Gerónimo was involved in one of the most significant trades in thehistory of the Cincinnati Reds when he was acquired from the Astros along withEd Armbrister,Jack Billingham,Denis Menke andJoe Morgan. The trade helped to transform the Reds into the juggernaut known as theBig Red Machine that would dominate the National League for the next five seasons.[1] A winner of four consecutiveGold Glove Awards from 1974 to 1977, Gerónimo was an outstanding all-around defensivecenter fielder who combined speed and great range with a powerful arm. He was the starting centerfielder of Reds teams that won five divisional championships, three National League pennants and the1975 and1976World Series. Geronimo was known as "the Chief". In the 1975 World Series, he hit .280 with two home runs, but is best known for the iconic image of catchingCarl Yastrzemski's fly ball for the final out of the World Series.[6]
Gerónimo had his most productive season in 1976, with career-best totals in batting average (.307), hits (149), bases on balls (56), triples (11), stolen bases (22), and on-base percentage (.382). The following season he hit a career-high 10 home runs.[6]
He played the last three seasons of his career (1981-1983) in a reserve role with theKansas City Royals.
In his 15 Major League seasons, Gerónimobatted .258, with 51home runs and 392RBI, 460runs scored, 977hits, 161doubles, 50triples and 82stolen bases. Defensively, he posted a .988fielding percentage at all three outfield positions.
Gerónimo holds the dubious distinction of being the 3,000thstrikeout victim of bothBob Gibson andNolan Ryan.[7] "I was just in the right place at the right time," he joked.[8]
After retiring, he worked for the Japanese Hiroshima Carp, as a coach in their Dominican baseball academy, and he has been on the board of trustees of the Dominican Republic Sports & Education Academy.[9]
In July 2008 he was inducted into theCincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.[10] He continues to return to Cincinnati for the annual RedsFest, Big Red Machine reunions and other appearances.[11][12][13]
· Baseball Almanac