Rafael Robles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rafael Robles |
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1971 Topps baseball card #408
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| Shortstop | |||
| Born: October 20, 1947 San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic |
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| Died: August 13, 1998 (aged 50) New York, New York |
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| debut | |||
| April 8, 1969, for the San Diego Padres | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 10, 1972, for the San Diego Padres | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .188 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 3 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Rafael Orlando Robles Natera (born October 20, 1947 – died August 13, 1998) was a professional baseball player. He played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball (MLB). Rafael was born in San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic. He played for the San Diego Padres team.
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Rafael Robles: A Baseball Story
Rafael Robles started his baseball journey in the Dominican Republic. He was a talented player who dreamed of playing in the big leagues.
Joining Major League Baseball
Rafael was first signed by the San Francisco Giants in 1967. This was his first step toward becoming a professional player. Later, the San Diego Padres chose him in the 1968 MLB expansion draft. This meant he would join the Padres team.
He played for the San Diego Padres from 1969 to 1970. He also played for them again in 1972.
His Big League Debut
Rafael Robles made history for the San Diego Padres. He was the very first player to bat for the team. This happened on April 8, 1969.
He led off the game against pitcher Don Wilson. Rafael reached base because an opposing player made a mistake. Then, he quickly stole second base. This was an exciting start to the Padres' history!
Playing Style and Career
Rafael Robles was known for his defense at shortstop. He was considered an average fielder. This means he was good at catching and throwing the ball.
However, he was a below-average hitter. His batting average was .188. He played in 47 games during his time in the major leagues.
Life After Baseball
Rafael Robles passed away in New York, New York when he was 50 years old. His son, Orlando Robles, is a music artist. He is known by his stage name, YoungSosa.
Orlando has often spoken about his father's baseball career. He is very proud of his dad's achievements as a professional baseball player.
