César Tovar

César Leonardo Tovar (July 3, 1940 - July 14, 1994), nicknamed "Pepito" and "Mr. Versatility", was an infielder/outfielder and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for the Minnesota Twins (1965-72), Philadelphia Phillies (1973), Texas Rangers (1974-75), Oakland Athletics (1975-76) and New York Yankees (1976).'

Related Topics:
July 3 - 1940 - July 14 - 1994 - Infielder - Outfielder - Major League Baseball - Minnesota Twins - Philadelphia Phillies - Texas Rangers - Oakland Athletics - New York Yankees

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Tovar was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He was signed by the Cincinnati Redlegs in 1959 and, after being traded to Minnesota in late 1964, made his debut on April 12, 1965. The Twins made ample use of his ability to play a variety of positions; by 1967, Tovar divided his fielding season between third base (70 games), center field (64), second base (36), left field (10), shortstop (9) and right field (5), setting an American League record of 164 games played and leading the league with 649 at-bats. In addition, he was among the top 10 batters in runs, hits, doubles, triples, stolen bases, on base percentage, hit by pitch and sacrifice hits. He improved his batting average through 1971, when he batted .311 and led the league with 204 hits. On September 19, 1972 Tovar hit for the cycle, but it was only one of many striking accomplishments in his career.

Related Topics:
Caracas, Venezuela - Cincinnati Redlegs - 1959 - April 12 - 1965 - 1967 - Third base - Center field - Second base - Left field - Shortstop - Right field - American League - Games played - At-bats - Runs - Hits - Doubles - Triples - Stolen base - On base percentage - Hit by pitch - Sacrifice hit - Batting average - 1971 - 1972 - Hit for the cycle

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On September 22, 1968, Tovar became the second player to play every position in a game, joining Bert Campaneris (Kansas City Athletics, 1965), Scott Sheldon (Texas Rangers, 2000) and Shane Halter (Detroit Tigers, 2000). No National League player has ever done it. Tovar started the game on the mound against Oakland and pitched one scoreless inning in which he struck out Reggie Jackson; the first batter he faced was Campaneris.

Related Topics:
1968 - Bert Campaneris - Kansas City Athletics - Scott Sheldon - 2000 - Shane Halter - Detroit Tigers - National League - Pitched - Reggie Jackson

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Tovar is regarded as the all-time AL leader in breaking up no-hit attempt with five. On April 17, 1967, Tovar's single was the only hit against the Washington Senators' Barry Moore. On August 10, 1969, Mike Cuellar of the Baltimore Orioles extended his streak of consecutive batters retired to 35 before surrendering a ninth-inning single to Tovar, which also broke up Cuellar's bid for a no-hitter. Earlier in the season (May 15), he broke up the no-hit bid of another Baltimore pitcher, Dave McNally. Tovar was responsible for spoiling two other no-hitters during his career: against the Washington's Dick Bosman (August 14, 1970) and the Yankees' Jim "Catfish" Hunter (May 31, 1975).

Related Topics:
No-hit - 1967 - Washington Senators - Barry Moore - 1969 - Mike Cuellar - Baltimore Orioles - Dave McNally - Dick Bosman - 1970 - Jim "Catfish" Hunter - 1975

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In 1967, the Triple Crown Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Yastrzemski received all but one vote for the American League MVP award; the lone dissenting ballot was marked in favor of Tovar.

Related Topics:
1967 - Triple Crown - Boston Red Sox - Carl Yastrzemski - MVP award

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On May 18, 1969, Tovar combined with Rod Carew to set a major league record for most steals by a club in one inning with five, in the second inning against a Detroit battery of Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan. Carew stole 2nd, 3rd and home; Tovar stole 3rd and home ahead of Carew. The two steals of home in the same inning also tied a record.

Related Topics:
1969 - Rod Carew - Detroit - Mickey Lolich - Bill Freehan

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In 1971, Sport magazine polled major league players to identify the game's most competitive player. Pete Rose won; the runners-up were Frank Robinson, Bob Gibson, and César Tovar.

Related Topics:
1971 - Pete Rose - Frank Robinson - Bob Gibson

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After a colorful tenure as a Twin, Tovar platooned with the young Mike Schmidt at third base for the Phillies in 1973. After that, he gave the Rangers, Athletics and Yankees, three years of his versatile good services.

Related Topics:
Mike Schmidt - 1973

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In his 12-year career, Tovar batted .278 with 46 home runs, 435 RBI, 1546 hits, 834 runs, 253 doubles, 55 triples, and 226 stolen bases in 1448 games.

Related Topics:
Home run - RBI

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César Tovar died in Caracas, Venezuela at 54 years of age.

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