| Manny Sanguillén | |
|---|---|
 Sanguillén in July 2008 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: (1944-03-21)March 21, 1944 (age 81) Colón, Panama | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 23, 1967, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 5, 1980, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .296 |
| Home runs | 65 |
| Runs batted in | 585 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Manuel De Jesus Sanguillén Magan (born March 21, 1944) is aPanamanian former professionalbaseball player. He played inMajor League Baseball as acatcher in 1967 and from 1969 through 1980, most notably as a member of thePittsburgh Pirates teams that won fiveNational League Eastern Division titles in six years between 1970 and 1975 and won theWorld Series in 1971 and 1979, twice over theBaltimore Orioles.[1] He also played one season for theOakland Athletics.
A three-timeAll-Star, Sanguillén's lifetimebatting average of .296 is the fourth-highest by a catcher since World War II, and tenth-highest for catchers in Major League Baseball history.[2] Although he was often overshadowed by his contemporaryJohnny Bench, Sanguillén was considered one of the best catchers in Major League baseball in the early 1970s.[3][4] While he didn't possess Bench's power hitting ability, Sanguillen hit for a higher batting average.[3][5] He was an integral member of the Pirates teams that won three consecutiveNational League Eastern Divisionpennants between1970 and1972, and a World Series victory in 1971.[5] Sanguillen was also a fast baserunner for a catcher and was a good defensive player with a strong throwing arm.[6]
Sanguillén was born inColón, Panama. Author Kal Wagenheim, who interviewed Sanguillen among many others while researching his 1973 biography ofRoberto Clemente, notes that the Pirates' catcher came to baseball remarkably late.
Sanguillen grew up in a tough barrio and didn't touch a baseball until he was nineteen, when he heard a pastor preaching sermons on a street corner, joined the Evangelical Baptist Church, and became a member of the church team. Two years later he was signed to play professional baseball.[7][a]
On the field, Sanguillen was notorious for being a "bad-ball" hitter.[5] Most pitchers will try to strike out an aggressive, free-swinging hitter by forcing him to swing at pitches outside the strike zone when he had two strikes on him. Sanguillen often irritated opposing pitchers and managers by hitting bad pitches for base hits.[5] He rarely walked, and was the only player since 1900 with at least six straight seasons with 475 plate appearances and fewer than 22 walks.[citation needed] This was also why, in spite of his high batting average, his on-base percentage was lower than the league average over his career.[citation needed]
After playing for three years in theminor leagues, Sanguillen joined the Pirates in1967, playing in 30games.[1] He played another season in the minor leagues in 1968, before returning to the Major Leagues in1969. He replacedJerry May as the Pirates starting catcher and posted a .303 batting average.[1] He solidified his reputation as one of the top hitting catchers in baseball by hitting for a .325 batting average in1970, finishing third in the National Leaguebatting championship behindRico Carty andJoe Torre.[10]
Sanguillen was a valuable member of the world champion1971 Pirates. He had his best year in terms of offensive production by hitting for a .319 batting average, while hitting 7home runs and 81runs batted in.[1] He also had his best year defensively, finishing third among National League catchers in games caught (135), second in base runnerscaught stealing (37), caught stealing percentage (51.4%),fielding percentage (.994) and first inassists (72).[11] The Pirates won the National League Eastern Division pennant by 7 games over theSt. Louis Cardinals, then defeated theSan Francisco Giants in the1971 National League Championship Series, before winning theWorld Series against theBaltimore Orioles.[12][13][14] In the seven-game series, Sanguillen had a .379 batting average with 11 hits, second only to the 12 hits byRoberto Clemente.[14][15]
After the tragic death of Roberto Clemente before the1973 season, the Pirates slated Sanguillen to take Clemente's place inright field.[16][17] By mid-June, it was apparent that Sanguillen couldn't adapt to playing theoutfield and he was moved back to the catcher's position.[17] Sanguillen had another strong year in1975, when he posted a .328 batting average, third in the National League batting championship behindBill Madlock andTed Simmons.[18] In1977, Sanguillen was traded by the Pirates to theOakland Athletics for the services of then-A's managerChuck Tanner and $100,000 as a settlement of Tanner's contract with the A's.[19]
After one season with the A's, Sanguillen was traded back to the Pirates forMiguel Diloné andElías Sosa.[19] He played in only 85 games in1978, mostly as afirst baseman asEd Ott andDuffy Dyerplatooned at the catcher's position.[20] His playing time diminished further in1979, playing in only 56 games, although he contributed a two-out, game-winningsingle and RBI for the Pirates in Game 2 of the1979 World Series against theOrioles.[15][21] The1980 season was Sanguillen's last in the majors,[1] although he returned in 1982 to play in theMexican League.
Sanguillen was a close friend of his teammateRoberto Clemente. In 1972, Sanguillen, who had been playing winter baseball with theSan Juan Senators, spoke to Clemente about accompanying him on a relief mission toNicaragua. Sanguillen missed the plane because he had misplaced his car key and was totally devastated when he learned the plane had crashed, killing Clemente. Against the advice of Pirates General ManagerJoe Brown, Sanguillen insisted on helping to recover the bodies of those who died in the crash. The sight of many sharks swimming in the water did not stop Sanguillen. As Pirates teammateSteve Blass toldThe Sporting News, "Manny dove from dawn till midnight." So focused on this task was he that he missed the January 4 memorial service attended by his Pirates teammates.[22]
In a 13-year career, Sanguillen played in 1,448games, accumulating 1,500hits in 5,062at bats for a .296 career batting average, along with 65 home runs and 585runs batted in.[1] He ended his career with a .986 fielding percentage.[1] Sanguillen was the Pirates' catcher on September 20,1969 whenBob Moose pitched ano-hitter.[23] Along with his three All-Star Game appearances, he was a member of two world championship winning teams in 1971 and1979, and finished in eighth place in the 1971Most Valuable Player Award balloting results.[24] Sanguillen edged out Johnny Bench onThe Sporting News National League All-Star Team in 1971, the only time between 1967 and 1975 that Bench was not selected.[25]
Sanguillen currently operates "Manny's BBQ", a barbecue-style concession stand at the Pirates' current home,PNC Park. He sits in a chair greeting fans in line to buy food, signing autographs and posing for photos.
Before the Pirates' win over theCincinnati Reds at PNC Park on August 24, 2019, Sanguillen was inducted into theHispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in a special ceremony before over 26,000 fans.[26][27][28] Sanguillen was subsequently also inducted into thePittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame in 2024.[29]
Manny Sanguillen of the Pittsburgh Pirates will be the guest speaker at 8 a.m. today at the men's Lenten breakfast of the Monroeville United Methodist Church.