Tony Ordeñana

Antonio Rodríguez Ordeñana ["Or-deh-nyana"] (October 30, 1918 - September 29, 1988) was a Major League Baseball shortstop who appeared in one game for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1943. The 5'9", 158 lb. rookie was a native of Guanabacoa, Cuba.

Ordeñana is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II. His major league debut was on October 3, 1943, and he was in the starting lineup at home against the Philadelphia Blue Jays...the last game of the season. The Pirates lost the game 11-3, but Ordeñana went 2-for-4 and drove in all three runs against starter and winner Rogers McKee. Ordeñana truly was a "one-game wonder"...excellent in the field as well as with the bat. He recorded two putouts, five assists, no errors, and participated in one double play.

Ordeñana died at the age of 69 in Miami, Florida.

Trivia

*Five other players made their major league debut on the same day as Ordeñana...Norm Brown, Hank Camelli, Cookie Cuccurullo,
Chris Haughey, and Gil Hodges. (October 3, 1943)
*His nickname was "Mosquito."

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/ordento01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Pordet101.htm Retrosheet]