José Uribe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids José Uribe |
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| Shortstop | |||
| Born: January 21, 1959 San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic |
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| Died: December 8, 2006 (aged 47) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
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| debut | |||
| September 13, 1984, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 1993, for the Houston Astros | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .241 | ||
| Home runs | 19 | ||
| Runs batted in | 219 | ||
| Teams | |||
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José Altagracia González Uribe (born January 21, 1959 – died December 8, 2006) was a baseball player from the Dominican Republic. He played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball from 1984 to 1993. He spent most of his ten-year career with the San Francisco Giants. He even played for the Giants in the 1989 World Series against the Oakland Athletics.
Early Career
José Uribe was born in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic. He first signed with the New York Yankees in 1977. However, he didn't play any minor league games for them. He later signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980. After playing four seasons in their minor league system, he joined the Cardinals in September 1984. In eight games with the Cardinals, Uribe had a batting average of .211. He also had three runs batted in and scored four runs.
A New Name and a New Team
In February 1985, Uribe was part of a big trade. He, along with David Green, Dave LaPoint, and Gary Rajsich, went to the San Francisco Giants. In return, the St. Louis Cardinals received Jack Clark.
Before joining the Giants, José changed his name. His full name was José González Uribe. González was his father's name, and Uribe was his mother's maiden name. He decided to use just José Uribe. He said there were "too many Gonzálezes in baseball!" Because of this, people jokingly called him "the player to be named later." This is a funny baseball term for a player who will be decided on after a trade.
Playing for the San Francisco Giants
Uribe became the main shortstop for the Giants for eight seasons. He helped them win the National League Western Division in 1987. He also helped them win the National League pennant in 1989. That year, he led the league with 85 double plays.
In the 1987 National League Championship Series, Uribe had a key hit. In Game 5, he hit a two-run single with the bases loaded. This gave the Giants a 4–3 lead. He then stole third base and scored. The Giants won that game 6–3, taking a 3–2 lead in the series. However, San Francisco lost the last two games.
Uribe was very popular with the fans at Candlestick Park. They had a special chant for him when he came to bat. Fans on one side of the stadium would shout "OOH!" Then, fans on the other side would respond with "REE-bay!". Years later, Giants fans used the same chant for Juan Uribe, who was José's second cousin. José Uribe also won the 1988 Willie Mac Award. This award honors a player's spirit and leadership.
After an injury-filled 1991 season, Uribe lost his starting job in 1992. He then signed with the Houston Astros for the 1993 season. He played in 45 games that year before ending his career.
Personal Life
José Uribe's first wife, Sarah, sadly passed away at a young age. He later married Wendy Guerrero. They had four children together.
José Uribe tragically died in a car accident on December 8, 2006. He was 47 years old. The accident happened near his hometown in the Dominican Republic. He was a second cousin of former major league infielder Juan Uribe.
| Preceded by Chris Speier |
Willie Mac Award 1988 |
Succeeded by Dave Dravecky |
