- Néstor Chávez
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Néstor Chávez Pitcher Born: July 6, 1947
Chacao, VenezuelaDied: March 16, 1969 (aged 21)
Maracaibo, VenezuelaBatted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut September 9, 1967 for the San Francisco Giants Last MLB appearance September 30, 1967 for the San Francisco Giants Career statistics Win-loss record 1-0 Strikeouts 3 Earned run average 0.00 Teams - San Francisco Giants (1967)
Néstor Isaías Chávez Silva was a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the San Francisco Giants (1967).
Chávez was born on July 6, 1947 in Chacao, Miranda State, Venezuela. He was signed as an amateur free agent in 1964 after going for a 34-3 record at the college. Chávez was nicknamed "Látigo" (whip) in his homeland, both for his stunning and sharp fastball.
Listed at 6 feet (1.83 m), 170 pounds (77 kg), Chávez was one of the best pitching prospects in the Giants farm system. At nineteen, he was called up to the big club after a combined 47-20 mark in the minors. In two games with the Giants, he compiled a 1-0 record with three strike outs and a 0.00 ERA in five innings. After the season he had shoulder surgery and was sidelined for more than a year.
On March 16, 1969, Chávez was ready at the airport in order to start his rehabilitation in the minors. That never happened. He died in Maracaibo, Zulia State, in one of the worst aircraft tragedies in Venezuelan history, Viasa Flight 742 struck power lines while taking off, killing all 84 aboard and 70 on the ground. He was 21 years old.
See also
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
- Home Page (in Spanish)
Categories:- 1947 births
- 1969 deaths
- People from Miranda
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
- San Francisco Giants players
- Waterbury Giants players
- Phoenix Giants players
- Decatur Commodores players
- Springfield Giants players
- Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Venezuela
- Venezuelan baseball pitcher stubs
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