- Ozzie Virgil, Sr.
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Ozzie Virgil Utility player Born: May 17, 1932
Monte Cristi, Dominican RepublicBatted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut September 23, 1956 for the New York Giants Last MLB appearance June 27, 1969 for the San Francisco Giants Career statistics Home runs 14 RBIs 73 Batting average .231 Teams Career highlights and awards - first Dominican to play in Major League Baseball
Osvaldo José (Pichardo) Virgil (born May 17, 1932 in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic) broke the color barrier for Detroit in 1958. He served in the U.S. Marines from 1950 to 1952. He is a former utility player who played in Major League Baseball between 1956 and 1969 for the New York Giants (1956–57), Detroit Tigers (1958, 1960–61), Kansas City Athletics (1961), Baltimore Orioles (1962), Pittsburgh Pirates (1965) and San Francisco Giants (1966, 1969). Basically a third baseman, Virgil played all positions except pitcher and center field. He batted and threw right-handed.
In a nine-season major league career, Virgil posted a .231 batting average with 14 home runs and 73 RBI in 324 games played. He also played for the minor league Rochester Red Wings in the International League.[1]
After his playing career ended, Virgil spent 19 seasons as a coach for the Giants (1969–72; 1974–75); Montréal Expos (1976–81); San Diego Padres (1982–85); and Seattle Mariners (1986–88). From 1977 through 1988, he served as the third-base coach on the staff of Baseball Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams.
Contents
Honors
- He has the distinction of being the first Dominican to play in Major League Baseball.[1]
- On June 6, 1958 he became the first non-white player to play for the Detroit Tigers.[1]
- Osvaldo Virgil National Airport serves the province of Montecristi, in the north of the Dominican Republic. This airport was opened in 2006 for tourism with flights from other Dominican airports.
See also
- First black MLB players by team and date
- List of second generation MLB players
- Players from Dominican Republic in MLB
References
- ^ a b c Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. "Bob Matthews Sports Article (January 27, 2008)". http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080127/SPORTS0101/801270328/1007/SPORTS. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
Categories:- Baltimore Orioles players
- Detroit Tigers players
- Kansas City Athletics players
- New York Giants (NL) players
- Pittsburgh Pirates players
- San Francisco Giants players
- Major League Baseball third basemen
- Major League Baseball third base coaches
- Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic
- 1932 births
- Living people
- Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) players
- Águilas Cibaeñas players
- San Francisco Giants coaches
- Montreal Expos coaches
- San Diego Padres coaches
- Seattle Mariners coaches
- Dominican Republic baseball biography stubs
- Baseball infielder stubs
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