Pedro Borbón facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pedro Borbón |
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Borbón in 1969
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: December 2, 1946 Santa Cruz de Mao, Dominican Republic |
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| Died: June 4, 2012 (aged 65) Pharr, Texas, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 9, 1969, for the California Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 25, 1980, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 69–39 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.52 | ||
| Strikeouts | 409 | ||
| Saves | 80 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Pedro Borbón Rodriguez (born December 2, 1946 – died June 4, 2012) was a professional baseball pitcher from the Dominican Republic. He was famous for playing in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was a key player for the Cincinnati Reds team, known as the "Big Red Machine." This team won four National League pennants and two World Series championships between 1970 and 1976.
Pedro Borbón was known for being able to pitch in many games. He played in more games than any other pitcher in the National League from 1970 to 1978. He also played for the California Angels, San Francisco Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals. In 2010, Borbón was honored by being added to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Pedro Borbón was born in Santa Cruz de Mao, a town in the Dominican Republic. His parents were Ramón Jimenez and Ana Teresa Borbón.
He started his baseball journey in 1964. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as a young player. Two years later, the California Angels chose him in a special draft.
Major League Career Highlights
Pedro Borbón played his first Major League game on April 9, 1969. He played for the California Angels against the Seattle Pilots. He came into the game as a relief pitcher and helped his team win. He pitched three innings without giving up any runs. He also got his first career win in that game. That season, he played in 22 games for the Angels.
Joining the Big Red Machine
In November 1969, Pedro Borbón joined the Cincinnati Reds. This trade was a big moment for his career. He became one of the best relief pitchers for the Reds. The Reds team was so good, they were called the "Big Red Machine."
From 1972 to 1977, Borbón was among the top five pitchers in the National League for games played. He pitched at least 121 innings in each of those six seasons. He worked with another reliable Reds pitcher, Clay Carroll. No other pitcher in the National League played in more games than Borbón from 1970 to 1978.
The Reds' manager, Sparky Anderson, often changed pitchers. This earned him the nickname "Captain Hook." Borbón and Carroll were a big part of this strategy.
Teammate's View
Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Pérez, who played with Borbón, spoke highly of him. He said Borbón was a "rubber arm." This means he could pitch often without getting tired. Pérez added that Borbón was not scared of anything. He enjoyed Borbón's company both on and off the field.
Postseason Success
Pedro Borbón was also excellent in important playoff games. In four National League Championship Series, he had a great record. He won one game and had a very low ERA of 1.26 in 10 games. He finished seven of those games.
He was especially good in the 1976 National League Championship Series. He pitched 4 and 1/3 innings without giving up any runs. The Reds won that series easily. He also pitched well in three World Series. He played in 10 World Series games. The Reds won the World Series in 1975 and 1976 with Borbón on the team.
Later Career
After playing for the Reds for almost a decade, Borbón was traded. In 1979, he joined the San Francisco Giants for the rest of that season. Before the 1980 season, he was released by the Giants. He then signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched in ten games for the Cardinals before being released again. This marked the end of his Major League career.
Fun Stories and Legacy
Besides being a great pitcher, Pedro Borbón was known for his fun personality. He was also a licensed barber!
One funny story about Borbón is an urban legend from Cincinnati. People joked that he put a "losing curse" on the Reds after he was traded in 1979. The story said the curse would last until the last person from that Reds management team left. The Reds then won the 1990 World Series after that person left. In 2002, Borbón said this was just a joke and not true.
Another famous story happened in 1973. After a fight between teams, Borbón accidentally put on a New York Mets hat. When he realized it, he quickly took it off and bit a piece of the hat!
Pedro Borbón was also mentioned in the movie Airplane!. In the movie, a character hears a voice in his head saying, "Pinch hitting for Pedro Borbón...Manny Mota...Mota...Mota." His son said Borbón always talked about that joke. Many people remembered him because of it.
Life After Baseball
Even after he stopped playing in Major League Baseball, Pedro Borbón kept pitching. He played in winter leagues in his home country, the Dominican Republic. He also played in semi-pro leagues in Texas, where he lived. This showed he was still a "workhorse" even after his professional career.
In 2010, Pedro Borbón was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame. He often returned to Cincinnati for team events. He also helped teach young players at baseball camps in Ohio. He sometimes taught with his former Reds teammate, Clay Carroll.
Pedro Borbón's son, Pedro Borbón, Jr., also became a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for nine seasons from 1992 to 2003.
Pedro Borbón passed away from cancer on June 4, 2012. He was 65 years old and died at his home in Pharr, Texas.
