Major League Baseball (MLB) announced on all its social media the unfortunate news regarding the death of Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda.
According to the MLB, the Puerto Rican hitter, following a career in which he overcame several knee injuries and served a prison sentence for drug trafficking following his retirement, has died. He was 86 years old.
The San Francisco Giants and Cepeda’s family also announced his death Friday night. A moment of silence was observed and an obituary was displayed on the scoreboard at Oracle Park midway through the game once morest the Los Angeles Dodgers.
His wife Nydia said in a statement issued by the club: “We are comforted that he is at peace.”
“Our beloved Orlando passed away peacefully tonight at home, listening to his favorite music and surrounded by his loved ones,” he said.
Cepeda was a regular at Giants home games during the 2017 season until he dealt with some health issues. He was hospitalized in the San Francisco Bay Area in February 2018 following a heart attack.
Orlando Cepeda
One of the first Puerto Ricans to shine in the Major Leagues, Cepeda was the first designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox. He attributes his enthronement in the Hall of Fame in 1999, elected by the Veterans Committee, to that stay, according to the MLB website.
He was also the National League Rookie of the Year in 1958 with the Giants and the National League Most Valuable Player in 1967 with the St. Louis Cardinals, both unanimously. Playing as a first baseman and outfielder, he was selected to seven All-Star Games.
Nicknamed “Peruchín,” “Baby Bull” or “Cha-Cha,” Cepeda signed with the New York Giants and, over a career spanning 17 seasons, he amassed a .297 average with 379 home runs and 1,365 RBIs in 2,124 games.
With information from MLB
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2024-07-02 17:40:01
