César Gutiérrez

César Dario Gutiérrez (January 26, 1943 - January 22, 2005), also nicknamed "Cocoa", was a shortstop in Major League Baseball who played with the San Francisco Giants (1967, 1969) and Detroit Tigers (1969-71). He was born in Coro, Falcón State, Venezuela.

Career

Nominally a "good field-no hit" shortstop, Gutiérrez never represented a danger for any pitcher. He was a career .235 hitter with 26 RBI and no home runs in 223 games.

Related Topics:
Pitcher - RBI - Home run - Games

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Gutiérrez's most productive season came in 1970, his only season as a regular, when he posted career-highs in batting average (.243), RBI (22), runs (40), hits (101), doubles (11), triples (6), stolen bases (4) and games played (135). Also in that season, the modest shortstop saved himself from major league anonymity. On June 21st, in the second game of a doubleheader between Detroit and the Cleveland Indians, Gutiérrez hit a perfect 7-for-7 including a triple, to set an American League mark (and tie a major league record) for hits in a game without making an out. The Tigers won 9-8 in twelve innings. Gutiérrez's batting average shot up 31 points that day, from .218 to .249.

Related Topics:
1970 - Runs - Hits - Doubles - Triples - Stolen base - Cleveland Indians - American League - Out - Batting average

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In 1971 Gutiérrez played only 40 games as an infield backup, retiring at the end of the season. Later, he served as a coach and scout with several teams.

Related Topics:
Coach - Scout

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Gutiérrez died in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela, four days short of his 62nd birthday.

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