Show Us Your Davalillos

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Okay --I am finally over the fact that Vic did not make the HOF but lets honor one of the great players of the 50s(minors), 60s, 70s and 80s(and perhaps the 90s in the Mexican league).

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Posted By: Bob

Fun thread idea!

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Posted By: Chris Counts

I love those 64-65 Kahn's cards! Here's the Wikipedia entry on Vic. He had quite an interesting career ...

"Vic Davalillo, born Víctor José Davalillo Romero (July 31, 1936 in Cabimas, Zulia State), is a Venezuelan baseball player and former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians (1963-1968), California Angels (1968-69), St. Louis Cardinals (1969-70), Pittsburgh Pirates (1971-73), Oakland Athletics (1973-74) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1977-80). Davalillo batted and threw left-handed. He is the youngest brother of former big leaguer Pompeyo Davalillo.
In a 16-season career, Davalillo was a .279 hitter (1122-for-4017) with 36 home runs, 329 RBI, 509 runs, 160 doubles, 37 triples, and 125 stolen bases in 1,458 games. Davalillo was noted for his ability to get on base and his speed in center field. He was a fan favorite during his years with the Indians, and became a valuable role player later in his career.

"Davalillo won the first batting title in the Double-A Jacksonville Suns history (.346, 1962). A lifetime .300 hitter in the Mexican League, Davalillo was the league's top hitter at .384 in 1977. Between 1957 and 1987, Davalillo played in the Venezuelan Winter League for the Leones del Caracas (1957-74, 1987), Portuguesa (1975) and Tigres de Aragua (1976-85). He set lifetime league records that still stand in batting average (.325), hits (1505), games played (1280), at-bat (4633), runs (668), doubles (196) and career seasons (30). Beside this, he won four batting titles and set record in hits (100) in a season. Davalillo retired at 50 years of age. Interesting coincidence: Davalillo's 24 pinch hits in 1970 broke the National League record at the time. The previous record holder was also his manager in 1970: Red Schoendienst. (Davalillo's record has itself been broken since then)."

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Posted By: Randy Trierweiler

Have you ever seen this one Jim?

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Posted By: Paul S

Bad centering from a not-too-popular set, but hey, it's the Dav-Man!

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Randy,

I have never seen that card--wow!

Bob,

Love the Kahn's--I do have bothy of those Davs.

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Here is Vic's rookie card.

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Posted By: Paul S

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Posted By: Anthony

Jim- weren't you a Giants fan growing up? Why Vic Davalillo?

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Hi Anthony,

Loved the Giants although somewhat less after they moved to SanFran.

I fashioned myself as a speedster growing up(you would never know it now) and identified with the fleet-footed rookie early on. I also liked the sound of his name(crazy reason but true).

How many players played organized baseball in 50s, 60s,70s,80s and almost the 90s?

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Posted By: Jim VB

There are some, but the list isn't long. Minoso, of course. Tim McCarver played in the majors in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, but barely played at both extremes. Nolan Ryan played in the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's and was still going strong at the end. If Griffey plays a couple more years, he'll have played in the 80's, 90's, 00's, and 10's.

The difference with Davalillo is the long stints in the Mexican league before, during and after his major league career. He was 26 as a rookie, yet still played 16 years in the bigs, even though he took two years off to play Mexican ball.


Every decade change, there are a few guys whose career covers 22 years. I'll try to come up with a better list.

As a Yankee fan, I always hated Davilillo. It seemed as a kid, he caused tremendous problems for them

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Posted By: howard

Wasn't Vic also a pretty decent pitcher when he was younger?

Howard

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Posted By: Jim VB

OK. It didn't take much research. From SI.com in 2000.

Players who played in
at least four decades


Player Years

Mike Morgan 1978-pres
Rickey Henderson 1979-pres
Jesse Orosco 1979-pres
Nolan Ryan 1966-93
Carlton Fisk 1969-93
Rick Dempsey 1969-92
Bill Buckner 1969-90
Jerry Reuss 1969-90
Jim Kaat 1959-83
Minnie Minoso 1949-80*
Tim McCarver 1959-80
Willie McCovey 1959-80
Early Wynn 1939-63
Mickey Vernon 1939-60
Ted Williams 1939-60
Bobo Newsom 1929-53
Jack Quinn 1909-33
Eddie Collins 1906-30
Nick Altrock 1898-33*
Deacon McGuire 1884-12
Jack Ryan 1889-13
Kid Gleason 1888-12
Jim O'Rourke 1876-04
Dan Brouthers 1879-04
Jack O'Connor 1887-10
* Five decades

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Posted By: leon

If you count playing and managing in the majors Connie Mack was in for 8 different decades....

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Interesting stuff guys.

Howard,

Yes--Vic started out as a pitcher in the minor leagues.

JimVB,

My last time back to the house I grew up in I looked at my scrapbook and there was an article from Newsday entitled "Birdie's(Tebbetts) Littlest Indian Gives Bouton Big Pain" and it described how Vic went 4 for 4 against Bouton who was quoted as saying "if anybody figures out how to get him out please let me know".

I think Vic played in Mexico or Venezuelan winter ball until at least age 50 would be 1989.

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Posted By: Jim VB

Jim C.,

I lived in NYC as a kid. My first baseball memories were the Mantle/Maris HR race in 1961. I was 6 at the time. After a couple of good years, the Yankees dropped from the pinnacle to the depths. During those years of the mid-late 60's I watched the other AL teams get revenge for years of Yankee dominance. Meanwhile the Yankees continued to look for "the next Mantle." (Would it be Tom Tresh? Roger Repoz? Bobby Murcer?)

The whole time there were a handful of players who seemed to play their best against the Yanks. My memory says among that group were Frank Howard, Hank Aguirre, Dick Radatz and Vic Davalillo. I'm sure there were more, but that's who I remember.

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Jim VB,

I can relate. My friend and I had an ongoing battle as to who was better Tom Tresh or Vic Davalillo.