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Ozzie Virgil Sr.

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Virgil and the second or maternal family name is Pichardo.
Ozzie Virgil
Virgil with the San Diego Padres in 1983
Utility player
Born: (1932-05-17)May 17, 1932
Monte Cristi Province, Dominican Republic
Died: c. September 29, 2024(2024-09-29) (aged 92)
Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 23, 1956, for the New York Giants
Last MLB appearance
June 27, 1969, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
Batting average.231
Home runs14
Runs batted in73
Teams

Osvaldo José Virgil Pichardo (May 17, 1932 – c. September 29, 2024) was a Dominican professional baseball player and coach. He was the first person from the Dominican Republic to play in Major League Baseball (MLB), appearing in 324 MLB games between 1956 and 1969 as a utility player for the New York / San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Frequently a third baseman, Virgil played every position except pitcher and center field. He batted and threw right-handed, was 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 174 pounds (79 kg).[1]

Early life

Virgil was born in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic on May 17, 1932. His family emigrated to the United States when he was 13 and settled in the Bronx, where Virgil graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School.[2][3] He served in the United States Marines from 1950 to 1952.[2]

Career

Virgil began his 17-season professional playing career in 1953.[2] He made his MLB debut for the New York Giants on September 23, 1956; he became the first person born in the Dominican Republic to play in the National League.[4] On January 28, 1958, the Giants traded Virgil and Gail Harris to the Detroit Tigers for Jim Finigan and $25,000. Virgil became the first player of African descent to play for the Tigers on June 6, 1958.[5][6]

Charlie Metro, his manager on the 1960 Denver Bears, had this to say about him: "Ozzie Virgil Sr. was from the Dominican Republic. He came to my ball club at Denver, and then Detroit picked him up. He had a fantastic record for us. Ozzie was hitting about .400, and in a part-time role. I played him everywhere—third, second, outfield. He had 77 hits and 55 runs batted in, and was batting .381, when they took him up to the big leagues. I was crazy about him. He did everything well. Later, when I was putting together the Kansas City Royals, I was going to draft him as a player-coach out of the Giants organization, where he was with their Triple-A club, but I spoke up out loud. Tom Sheehan, a scout and front office guy for the Giants, overheard me, so they put him on the big league club and protected him."[7]

In a nine-season big-league career, Virgil posted a .231 batting average with 174 hits, 14 home runs and 73 RBI.[1] After his playing career ended, Virgil spent 19 seasons as a coach for the Giants (1969–1972; 1974–1975); Montreal Expos (1976–1981); San Diego Padres (1982–1985); and Seattle Mariners (1986–1988). From 1977 to 1988, he served as the third-base coach on the staff of Baseball Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams.[2]

Personal life

Virgil's son, Ozzie Jr., played as a catcher in all or parts of 11 MLB seasons and was a two-time All-Star in the National League.[2]

Osvaldo Virgil National Airport opened in 2006 in the Monte Cristi Province.[2][4]

Virgil's death was announced on September 29, 2024. He was 92.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Ozzie Virgil". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Brecker, Ryan. "Ozzie Virgil Sr". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Craig Muder. "VIRGIL PAVED THE WAY FOR DOMINICAN STARS OF TODAY". National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
  4. ^ a b Venn, David (September 23, 2023). "Virgil paved path as MLB's 1st Dominican-born player". mlb.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Austin, Dan (January 28, 2015). "The day the Detroit Tigers gave up their color barrier". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  6. ^ Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. "Bob Matthews Sports Article (January 27, 2008)". Retrieved January 27, 2008.[dead link]
  7. ^ Metro, Charlie (2002). Safe by a Mile. University of Nebraska Press. p. 237. ISBN 0-8032-8281-8.
  8. ^ Ramsey, Jared (September 29, 2024). "Ozzie Virgil Sr., Detroit Tigers trailblazer who broke color barrier, dies at 92". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "Falleció Osvaldo Virgil, primer dominicano en llegar a Grandes Ligas" (in Spanish). ESPN. September 29, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
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