Santo Alcala

Infobox MLB player
name = Santo Alcala


width = 300
caption =
team = Retired
number = 53
position = Starting pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1952|12|23
birthplace = San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = April 10
debutyear = 1976
debutteam = Cincinnati Reds
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value = 14-11
stat2label = Earned run average
stat2value = 4.76
stat3label = Strikeouts
stat3value = 140
teams =
* Cincinnati Reds (by|1976-by|1977)
* Montreal Expos (by|1977)

Santo Anibal Alcala (born December 23, 1952) is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher, born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. He was signed by the Cincinnati Reds as an amateur free agent. Alcala signed on to play Minor League Baseball in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He batted and threw right-handed during his baseball career.

Major League Baseball career

The Cincinnati Reds traded Alcala to the Montreal Expos on May 21, 1977, for players to be named. The Expos later sent Shane Rawley and Angel Torres, on May 27th, 1977, to the Cincinnati Reds to complete the trade. In 1978, Alcala was selected off waivers by the Seattle Mariners, only to be sent back to the Expos in the same year. [citeweb|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/alcalsa01.shtml|publisher=www.baseball-reference.com|title=Transactions of Santo Alcala|accessdate=2008-07-09] Alcala made his major league debut on April 10, 1976 with the Cincinnati Reds at age 23. On that day, Alcala pitched to four hitters. All four hitters got a hit off of Alcala, with three earned runs going to Alcala on the day of his Major League debut. [citeweb|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN197604100.shtml|publisher=www.baseball-reference.com|title=Apr 10, 1976, Astros at Reds Box Score and Play by Play |accessdate=2008-07-09] In 1976, Alcala pitched one shutout. Despite winning 11 games in 1976, Alcala had an earned run average of 4.70, with a strikeout to walk ratio of 67-67. While Alcala's team, the Reds, went on to the World Series, Alcala didn't have any playoff appearances. In 1976, Alcala's age 23 made him the second youngest player on an aging baseball team. [citeweb|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1976.shtml|publisher=www.baseball-reference.com|title=1976 Cincinnati Reds |accessdate=2008-07-09] In 1977, Alcala had a 5.74 earned run average before being traded to the Expos, where he recorded a 4.69 earned run average. On the day of his final major league appearance, Alcala pitched a scoreless inning in relief, bringing his total 1977 earned run average to 4.83. [citeweb|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197709250.shtml|publisher=www.baseball-reference.com|title=Sep 25, 1977, Phillies at Expos Play by Play and Box Score |accessdate=2008-07-09]

At the time of his retirement Alcala had a 14-11 record, a 4.76 ERA, 121 walks, and 140 strikeouts. Alcala was 8 for 71 hitting, with a lifetime batting average of .113. His lifetime fielding percentage was .978.

References