Dámaso García facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dámaso García |
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| Second baseman | |||
| Born: 7 February 1957 Moca, Dominican Republic |
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| Died: 15 April 2020 (aged 63) San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic |
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| debut | |||
| June 24, 1978, for the New York Yankees | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 12, 1989, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .283 | ||
| Home runs | 36 | ||
| Runs batted in | 323 | ||
| Stolen bases | 203 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Dámaso Domingo García Sánchez (born February 7, 1957 – died April 15, 2020) was a professional baseball player from the Dominican Republic. He was a second baseman and is best known for playing with the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1980s. The Blue Jays are a team in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Before playing baseball, Dámaso García was a talented soccer player. In 1974, he was the captain of a club team called Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra. That same year, he also captained the Dominican Republic national football team. He led them at the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo.
Playing Baseball in the Major Leagues
Dámaso García started his major league baseball career in 1978. He played for the New York Yankees. He played in 29 games over two seasons. Before the 1980 season, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
From 1980 to 1986, García was the main second baseman for the Blue Jays. He was a very good hitter. His batting average was over .300 twice, in 1982 and 1983. In 1982, his average was .310, which was one of the best in the American League.
García was also very fast. He stole 54 bases in 1982, which was the second-highest in his league. He stole 46 bases in 1984. His great play earned him a spot in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game twice, in 1984 and 1985. He also won the Silver Slugger Award in 1982. This award goes to the best offensive player at each position.
In 1986, García had a tough time hitting well. One day, after a game, he burned his uniform. He hoped this unusual action would help him play better. His manager, Jimy Williams, was not happy about this. This event made things difficult between García and the Blue Jays. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves before the 1987 season.
After leaving the Blue Jays, García played briefly for the Braves in 1988. He also played for the Montreal Expos in 1989. He tried to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees again, but he did not make their teams. Dámaso García then retired from baseball. He finished his career with a .283 batting average. He hit 36 home runs and had 323 runs batted in. He also scored 490 runs and stole 203 bases.
Later Life and Passing
About a year after he stopped playing baseball, Dámaso García began to have problems with his vision. Doctors found a serious illness in his brain. In 1991, he had surgery to remove it. Doctors thought he might not live much longer.
The illness affected García's ability to speak clearly and do some things, like driving. But he recovered enough to throw the first pitch at a Blue Jays playoff game in 1992. He also started a special baseball camp in the Dominican Republic. This camp was for children who have haemophilia, a condition that affects his oldest son.
Dámaso García passed away on April 15, 2020, in San Pedro de Macorís. He was 63 years old.
See also
- List of players from Dominican Republic in Major League Baseball
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- In Spanish: Dámaso García para niños
