The flashy Puerto Rican was the Giants’ regular shortstop in the early 1960s. He had his best season in 1962, when he played every game, led NL shortstops in fielding, and batted .259 with 77 RBI. The Giants won the pennant, and in the WS loss to the Yankees he hit .368.
Traded to the Pirates for shortstop Dick Schofield in 1965, he began a new career as a utility man and pinch hitter. In 1969 he led all NL pinch hitters with 19 hits, only one short of the league record. In the 1971 WS, he drove in the deciding run in the Pirates’ 2-1, seventh game win over the Orioles.
