Antonio Torres (baseball) facts for kids

Antonio Eduardo Torres López (born August 18, 1931 – died December 16, 2023) was a famous Colombian baseball player and coach. People often called him "Manía." He was an Outfielder, a player who catches balls hit far into the field. Later, he became a manager, leading the Colombia national baseball team in many big international games during the 1970s.

Antonio Torres's Baseball Journey

Early Life and Nickname

Antonio Torres was born in Cartagena, Colombia. When he was a boy, he looked up to a great pitcher named Carlos "Petaca" Rodríguez. Antonio would even copy Petaca's funny faces while playing! This is how he got his own nickname, "Manía." As a teenager, he played for the Cundinamarca team in a national amateur championship. He was one of the first Colombian players to join a professional baseball organization when he signed with the Baltimore Orioles.

Playing in Colombia

In the Colombian Professional Baseball League, Antonio "Manía" Torres played for the Indios de Cartagena for two seasons. Later, in 1950, he moved to Vanytor de Barranquilla. With Vanytor, he took part in the 1958 Pan American Series. This was an exciting international club tournament where his team played against teams from Nicaragua and Mexico. During this tournament, he even started managing Vanytor after their coach went back to the United States. He also managed another team, Cinco Estrellas de Granada, in Nicaragua in 1957.

Leading the National Team

"Manía" Torres became a very important manager for the Colombia national baseball team. He led the team in many major international events. These included eight Amateur World Series, two Pan American Games, and two Bolivarian Games. His team, sometimes called the "Sons of Mania," achieved something amazing at the 1973 Bolivarian Games. They won a gold medal! This was Colombia's first gold medal in a competition usually won by Venezuela. Overall, he helped Colombia win three silver medals and three bronze medals in different tournaments.

After Coaching

After his successful coaching career, Antonio Torres continued to help baseball in Colombia. He worked as a recruiter, finding talented foreign players to come and play in the Colombian leagues.

Life After Baseball

Antonio Torres retired from baseball when he was 65 years old. After that, he became involved in politics, working with a political group. He passed away on December 16, 2023, at his home in Cartagena, after a period of illness. After his death, the Colombian Olympic Committee honored him with an award. This award recognized his huge contributions to baseball in Colombia.