Vital Statistics:
Born: Aug. 18, 1934 in Carolina, Puerto Rico
Died: Dec. 31, 1972
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates (1955-1972)
Inducted into Hall of Fame: 1973
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary position: Right field
Career Highlights:
- Won four National League batting titles and amassed exactly 3,000 hits for the Pirates.
- A prototype right fielder, he won 12 Gold Gloves and set a record by leading the NL in outfield assists five times.
- Didn't bat lower than .312 for eight consecutive seasons from 1960-67, including a .351 average in 1967.
- Won championships with the 1960 and 1971 Pirates.
- A 12-time All-Star, he hit 240 career home runs.
- NL MVP in 1966.
- Died at age 38 during the 1972 offseason when his plane crashed delivering relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He was elected into the Hall the next year, as writers waived the typical five-year waiting period.
