| Juan Pizarro | |
|---|---|
 Pizarro with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1937-02-07)February 7, 1937 Santurce, Puerto Rico | |
| Died: February 18, 2021(2021-02-18) (aged 84) Carolina, Puerto Rico | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 4, 1957, for the Milwaukee Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 26, 1974, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 131–105 |
| Earned run average | 3.43 |
| Strikeouts | 1,522 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Juan Ramón Pizarro a.k.a. "Terín" (February 7, 1937 – February 18, 2021) was a Puerto RicanMajor League Baseball (MLB)pitcher. He played for 18 seasons on 9 teams, from 1957 through 1974. In 1964, he won 19 games (19–9) and pitched 4shutouts for theChicago White Sox. He was selected for the Major LeagueAll-Star Baseball game in 1963 and 1964.
Pizarro (birth name:Juan Ramon Pizarro Cordova[note 1]) was born inSanturce, Puerto Rico. He began his baseball career in 1955 in Puerto Rico as a pitcher for theCangrejeros de Santurce. During the 1957–1958 Winter League of Puerto Rico of theLiga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Baseball League), he played for theCriollos de Caguas and was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the season. From 1959 to 1960 he pitched for the last time in Puerto Rico for theCangrejeros del Santurce.[1]
Pizarro signed with theMilwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1956. After going 27–6 with a 2.06earned run average in the minors,[2] he made his major league debut on May 4, 1957, against thePittsburgh Pirates at 20 years of age. He pitched seven strong innings, giving up only onerun, however, the Braves managed only twohits off opposing pitcherVern Law, and Pizarro lost his debut, 1–0.[3] For the season, he went 5–6 with a 4.62 ERA. The Braves beat theNew York Yankees in a seven-gameWorld Series that year; Pizarro's only appearance came in Milwaukee's 12–3 loss in game three.[4]
He split 1958 between Milwaukee and the triple AWichita Braves, and was again included on the Braves' post-season roster as they faced the Yankees in the World Series for the second year in a row. This time the Yankees won the Series in seven games. Pizarro's only appearance again came in a loss in game five.[5]
Pizarro remained with the Braves through 1960, compiling a 23–19 record and 3.93 ERA in Milwaukee. On December 15, 1960, he was traded withJoey Jay to theCincinnati Reds forRoy McMillan, then immediately sent by the Reds withCal McLish to theChicago White Sox forGene Freese.
Pizarro enjoyed his greatest success as a member of the White Sox. In 1961, despite being the youngest pitcher in thestarting rotation, Pizarro emerged as the staff's ace, leading the Chisox with fourteen wins, 188strikeouts and 194.2innings pitched. He also made fourteen appearances out of thebullpen, and earned his first careersave on August 27.[6] He was given the opening day nod in 1962, and pitched a complete game 2–1 victory over theLos Angeles Angels.[7] In 1963, he was named to theAmerican LeagueAll-Star roster, and pitched a scoreless seventh inning during the All-Star Game.[8]
Pizarro's best season was 1964, when he went 19–9 with a 2.56 ERA and fourshutouts. Coincidentally, it was also his best season with the bat, as he batted .211 with a career high three home runs and career high 15runs batted in.
From there, things rapidly deteriorated for him. Injuries limited Pizarro to just eighteen starts in 1965.[9] In 1966, he was used primarily in relief. Despite a respectable 8–6 record and 3.76 ERA in 34 appearances, he pitched only 88.2 innings. Following the season, he was purchased by thePittsburgh Pirates.[10]
Though he made nine starts for the 1967 Pirates, he was mainly arelief pitcher, earning a career high nine saves. He was limited to "mop up duty" by managerLarry Shepard in 1968. He appeared in twelve games with the Pirates prior to being placed on waivers; eleven were losses. The one win, Pizarro entered the game with the Pirates trailing, and earned the win himself.[11]
TheBoston Red Sox claimed Pizarro off waivers on June 27. He was used primarily as a starter in Boston, going 6–6 with six complete games as a starter. He also earned two saves for the Bosox. He was traded along withKen Harrelson andDick Ellsworth from the Red Sox to theCleveland Indians forSonny Siebert,Vicente Romo andJoe Azcue on April 19,1969.[12] Toward the end of the season, he was placed on waivers and claimed by theOakland Athletics.
After beginning the 1970 season with Oakland's triple A affiliate, Pizarro was released and signed a minor league contract with theCalifornia Angels. He was 9–0 for theHawaii Islanders when the Angels dealt him to theChicago Cubs forArchie Reynolds.
On September 11, 1971, he shut out theSt. Louis Cardinals atWrigley Field.[13] In his next start, he shutoutTom Seaver and theNew York Mets 1–0 atShea Stadium. The one run was a solo shot by Pizarro in the eighth inning.[14] Seaver had won seven in a row at that point. His previous loss came on August 1, also courtesy of a complete game by Pizarro.[15] It would be more than 40 years before another starting pitcher broke a scoreless tie by hitting a home run in the eighth inning or later:Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers did this, also in the eighth inning, on Opening Day 2013.[16]
For the 1971 season, Pizarro went 7–6 with a 3.46 ERA. He was 4–5 with a 3.94 ERA in 1972. He spent most of the first half of the 1973 season assigned to the Cubs' triple A affiliate, theWichita Aeros. After ablown save against theAtlanta Braves on June 17,[17] Pizarro was placed on waivers. He was claimed by theHouston Astros on July 8.
Pizarro was 2–2 with a 6.56 ERA out of Houston's bullpen in 1973. He was released the following Spring, and rejoined the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates won theNational League East by a game and a half over the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing Pizarro to return to the post season for the first time since 1958. His only appearance in the1974 National League Championship Series came in the fourth game, which theLos Angeles Dodgers won to head to the1974 World Series.
Pizarro died from cancer on February 18, 2021.[18]
Looking at his entire professional career, Pizarro won more than 400 ballgames. His regular-season count is 392: 197 in the US (131 in the majors and 66 in the minors), plus 38 more in Mexico in his late 30s and 157 while playing winter ball in his homeland. His final record in Puerto Rico was 157–110, with a superb 2.51 ERA. OnlyRubén Gómez had more wins (174, and he needed 29 seasons to do it). Pizarro pitched 2,403 innings, again second behind Gomez, and allowed just 1,980 hits. He is the PRWL's all-time leader in strikeouts (1,804) and shutouts (46), marks that will almost certainly never be challenged.[19]
Pizarro was inducted into theHall of Fame of the Caribbean Confederation and thePuerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame.[1]
| Years | W | L | PCT | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | SO | WP | HBP | Fld% |
| 18 | 131 | 105 | .555 | 3.43 | 488 | 245 | 79 | 17 | 28 | 2034.1 | 1807 | 776 | 890 | 201 | 888 | 1522 | 65 | 41 | .969 |
Pizarro had a .202 lifetimebatting average (133–658) with 8 home runs, 72 runs scored and 66 RBIs.
, orBaseball Almanac
