| Hank Aguirre | |
|---|---|
 Aguirre in 1969 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1931-01-31)January 31, 1931 Azusa, California, U.S. | |
| Died: September 5, 1994(1994-09-05) (aged 63) Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 10, 1955, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 24, 1970, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 75–72 |
| Earned run average | 3.25 |
| Strikeouts | 856 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Henry John Aguirre (January 31, 1931 – September 5, 1994), commonly known asHank Aguirre, was an American professionalbaseball player and businessentrepreneur. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) as a left-handedpitcher from 1955 to 1970, most prominently for theDetroit Tigers where he was a two-timeAll-Star player and, was theAmerican League ERA leader in 1962. Aguirre also played for theCleveland Indians,Los Angeles Dodgers and theChicago Cubs. After his athletic career, he went on to become a successful businessman inDetroit, Michigan. His last name was typically pronounced "ah-GEAR-ee."
Aguirre was born on January 31, 1931, inAzusa, California, during the height ofthe Great Depression; and was raised inSan Gabriel. His mother Jenny Alva was born inLos Angeles in 1906, and his father José Aguirre was born inJalisco, Mexico in 1902 and emigrated with his family during the time of theMexican Revolution. One family story is thatPancho Villa threatened Aguirre's grandfather unless he provided free saddles to Villa's men, which inspired the family's move to the United States. José and Jenny had seven children.[1][2][3][4]
In his youth, Hank Aguirre worked for his father's business, the Aguirre Tortillas Factory inSan Gabriel. He made, packaged and delivered tortillas. At 4 a.m., the young Aguirre would make deliveries — mostly running — before school. He graduated fromMark Keppel High School inAlhambra, California, in 1949, but his "goofy feet" (his words) prevented him from being selected to be part of the baseball team (instead becoming a cheerleader). He did playsandlot baseball andAmerican Legion ball. He graduated fromEast Los Angeles College in 1951, where he played baseball, and studied courses on business and sales.[4][2][5][3]
He was nicknamed "Mex" because he was of Mexican descent.[6] During his career he had been the recipient of slurs because of his Mexican heritage, though he was also very popular among his future teammates in major league baseball. In 1975, he would begin to strive deeply to improve the lives of Latinos in life generally, and in obtaining leadership positions in major league baseball.[4][6]
Aguirre pitched in the big leagues for 16 years for four different teams.
Aguirre was scouted by major league teams while at Chapman, and was signed by Cleveland Indians scoutTom Downey in 1951. This was also an important moment for Aguirre because it turned his father from a sceptic about pursuing a baseball career, into a supporter.[4] He was assigned to theClass-CBakersfield Indians of theCalifornia League.[7] Hestarted 23 games, had a 14–9 won–loss record, with a 3.28earned run average (ERA) and 149strikeouts in 184innings pitched.[8] He playedClass-B baseball in 1953, and in 1954 was assigned to theSingle-AReading Indians, where he had a 14–8 record with a 2.69 ERA.[8][9] In 1955, he was promoted to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, where he was 11–9, with a 3.24 ERA.[10]
Aguirre got his first major league experience in 1955, pitching in four games for the Indians, with one start. On September 24, 1955, in his first major league start, Aguirre pitched acomplete game, three-hit,shutout against theDetroit Tigers, in a 7–0 victory.[11][8]
As a rookie for the Cleveland Indians in 1956, Aguirre struck outBoston Red Sox legendTed Williams the first time he faced him. After the game, Aguirre asked Williams to autograph the ball. Reluctantly, Williams complied. A couple of weeks later Aguirre faced Williams again. This time the "Splendid Splinter" smashed Aguirre's first offering for a home run. While circling the bases, Williams yelled to Aguirre, "Hey kid, if you getthat ball, I'll sign it for you, too."[2] But he played sparingly in 1956-57, and was used in only 16 games in 1956 and ten in 1957.[1]
Before the 1958 season began, Aguirre was traded to theDetroit Tigers, along withJim Hegan forHal Woodeshick andJay Porter,[12] where he remained for 10 years from 1958 to 1967.[1] Aguirre was principally arelief pitcher from 1958-61, playing in 127 games and starting only nine.[1]
1962 was Aguirre's best career season. During a May 26, 1962 game against theNew York Yankees, Tigers managerBob Scheffing used him as astarter[13] whenDon Mossi had arm trouble. Scheffing wanted a left-hander to pitch against the Yankees, and he chose Aguirre.[citation needed] Aguirre defeated the Yankees, 2–1, throwing a complete game and giving up only five hits (the sole run coming on aMoose Skowron home run).[13][14] Aguirre joined the Tigers starting rotation and finished the 1962 season with a 2.21 ERA in 42 games (22 as a starter),[1] the best in Detroit sinceHal Newhouser in 1946.[15]
Having pitched over 100 innings (216 in total) for the first time in his career,[1] Aguirre led the Major Leagues in ERA (0.33 points lower thanSandy Koufax who was second best),[16] won 16 games,[1] and was selected to the American League All-Star team.[17] He also led the American League in WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched) with a 1.051 average; and led all players in the AL in WAR (wins above replacement).[18] Aguirre also finished 17th in the 1962 American League Most Valuable Player voting.[19]
Aguirre lost his spot in the Tigers starting rotation in 1966, and returned to the bullpen.[1] Before the start of the 1968 season, Aguirre was traded by the Tigers to theLos Angeles Dodgers for a player to be named later.[12] In one season with the Dodgers, appearing in 25 games (all in relief), Aguirre allowed only three runs in 391⁄3 innings for a 0.69 ERA.[20] Despite the good season, Aguirre was released by the Dodgers[12] and spent the final two seasons of his big league career pitching forLeo Durocher's Chicago Cubs,[21] where he was a combined 4–0 in 1969 and 1970. He had a 2.60 ERA in 41 appearances in 1969, but appeared in only 17 games the following year with a 4.50 ERA.[1] The Cubs released him during the 1970 season, on July 6.[12]
In 16 MLB seasons, Aguirre finished with a record of 75–72 in 1,3752⁄3 innings pitched, with 856 strikeouts (compared to only 479 walks) and an ERA of 3.25.[1]
Aguirre spent three years (1972–74) as acoach for the Cubs. He was initially hired as the team's bench coach, tasked with serving as an intermediary between irascible managerLeo Durocher, his players and the Chicago media. The post was created in the aftermath of a player revolt against Durocher in 1971.[22] After Durocher's firing in July 1972, Aguirre continued on the Cubs' staff asbullpen coach (1973) and pitching coach (1974).[23] He managed in theOakland Athletics' organization in 1975–76[citation needed]. He managed theTucson Toros in 1975, with a second place finish in the Triple-APacific Coast League at 72–71.[24]
Aguirre had a reputation as one of baseball's worst-hitting pitchers. He had an .085 lifetime average, going 33-for-388 at the plate, with no home runs, striking out 236 times while drawing 14 walks.[1][5]
In 1979, with the encouragement and support of Jack Masterson, an executive withVolkswagen of America, and attorney John Noonan, Aguirre founded Mexican Industries, Inc. He has mortgaged his home for $350,000 to use as startup funds for the new business. The company, based in Detroit, operated as a labor-intensive, minority-oriented enterprise that supplied specialized parts to American automobile manufacturers. After a difficult start, Mexican Industries thrived during the 1980s, becoming a multimillion-dollar business and creating hundreds of jobs (primarily for the Hispanics of southwestern Detroit's "Mexicantown"). He started with eight employees and had over 1,000 by the mid-1990s, with revenue in excess of $100 million. In 1987 Aguirre was named "Businessman of the Year" by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.[25][2]
Aguirre made himself available to the Mexican-American community in Detroit, known as Mexican Village or Mexicantown. He involved himself with individuals lives, and also pushed the city's governmental leaders to give their attention to this community and other minorities. He created scholarship funds for local schools, awarding $50,000 a year to deserving students; and helped pay for after-hours programming for inner city students after-school activities.[2] When a new plant for Mexican Industries was being dedicated by Detroit's mayorDennis Archer, he said that Aguirre's name "'is like magic and gold wherever I go and wherever I've been.'"[5]
On July 21, 1993, Aguirre received the Roberto Clemente Award for Excellence.[4]
Aguirre died on September 5, 1994, following a two-year battle with prostate cancer. He is buried in San Gabriel in the churchyard of the (Roman Catholic)Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, "where he worshiped as a boy."[26]Upon his death, control of the privately owned company Aguirre had founded passed to his adult children. In 1999, Mexican Industries, Inc., was unionized (following several unsuccessful attempts over the previous two decades) by theUnited Auto Workers labor union underBob King. In 2001, the firm filed for bankruptcy, laid off its workers, and subsequently closed its doors. According to union activists, "Workers blame[d] the owners, not only for hostility toward their union but for mismanaging the company."[27]
· Baseball Almanac| Preceded by | Chicago Cubspitching coach 1974 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
