Juan Berenguer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Juan Berenguer |
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Berenguer in 1987
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: November 30, 1954 Aguadulce, Coclé, Panama |
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| debut | |||
| August 17, 1978, for the New York Mets | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 4, 1992, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 67–62 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.90 | ||
| Strikeouts | 975 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Juan Bautista Berenguer [beh-ren-gher'] (born November 30, 1954) is a former professional baseball player from Panama. He was a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 15 seasons. Juan played for eight different teams from 1978 to 1992. He was known for his strong fastball and his intimidating look on the pitcher's mound.
Juan was listed at 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed 200 pounds. He batted and threw with his right hand. His teammates and fans gave him fun nicknames like 'Pancho Villa' and 'Señor Smoke'. Fans also called him 'El Gasolino' because of his fast pitches.
Juan Berenguer's Baseball Journey
Juan Berenguer was signed by the New York Mets in 1975. He was an amateur free agent, meaning he wasn't drafted. He made his MLB debut with the Mets in 1978. Early in his career, Juan sometimes struggled to control his fastball. In 1981, the Mets traded him to the Kansas City Royals.
Becoming a World Series Champion
Juan played for several teams before joining the Minnesota Twins. His best season was in 1987 with the Twins. He had a great record of 8 wins and only 1 loss. His earned run average (ERA) was 3.94, which is a good score for a pitcher. He also earned four saves for his team.
The Minnesota Twins won the American League championship that year. They went on to win the 1987 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. This was a huge moment for Juan and the team. During the 1987 playoffs, Juan even recorded a music video called “The Berenguer Boogie.” In the video, he danced and sang while wearing a trench coat.
Juan had already won a World Series ring before this. He was part of the 1984 Champion Detroit Tigers team. Even though he didn't play in that specific World Series, he was still a member of the winning team.
Life After Major League Baseball
After his time in MLB, Juan Berenguer continued to play baseball in the minor leagues. He played in the Mexican League for a couple of years. Then, he returned to Minnesota and played for independent teams like the Minneapolis Loons. He also played winter baseball in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
After retiring from baseball completely, Juan returned to Minnesota. He worked in marketing for a local TV station. He also became a salesman at a car dealership in Bloomington, Minnesota. Juan's son, Chris, also played sports. He was a hockey player for the Sioux Falls Stampede.
