Michael Diaz | |
---|---|
Catcher / First baseman / Outfielder | |
Born: San Francisco, California, U.S. | April 15, 1960|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
Professional debut | |
MLB: September 15, 1983, for the Chicago Cubs | |
NPB: April 19, 1989, for the Lotte Orions | |
Last appearance | |
MLB: October 2, 1988, for the Chicago White Sox | |
NPB: June 16, 1992, for the Chiba Lotte Marines | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .247 |
Home runs | 31 |
Runs batted in | 102 |
NPB statistics | |
Batting average | .281 |
Home runs | 93 |
Runs batted in | 264 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Michael Anthony Diaz (born April 15,1960) is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball between 1983 and 1988,for the Chicago Cubs,Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox. He also played four seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) from 1989 to 1992. After starting his career as a catcher,he split his time about equally between first base and the outfield.
He was traded along with Bill Campbell from the Cubs to the Philadelphia Phillies for Gary Matthews,Bob Dernier and Porfi Altamirano on March 27,1984. [1]
A fan favorite in Pittsburgh,he earned the nickname "Rambo" due to his prodigious power &Stallone-esque physique. He even appeared on his own "Rambo" poster [2] with the proceeds going to Pittsburgh's Children's Hospital. Following his major league career,he played four seasons in Japan,from 1989 until 1992,for the Lotte Orions (who in 1992 became the Chiba Lotte Marines). He was nicknamed "Rambo-san" there due to a perceived resemblance to Sylvester Stallone. [3] In 1990,he became the first foreign player to catch a game in NPB in 12 years. [3]
Randall Carlito Simon is a Curaçaoan former professional baseball first baseman. He has played all or parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB),LVBP and one in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) between 1997 and 2006. Simon's debut season came with the Atlanta Braves in 1997,for whom he played until 1999. He also played for the Detroit Tigers (2001–2002),Pittsburgh Pirates,Chicago Cubs (2003),Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2004),the NPB's Orix Buffaloes (2005),Texas Rangers (2006) Philadelphia Phillies (2006–2007). Upon his release from the Phillies in spring training,Simon played in the Mexican League,for the Rojos del Águila de Veracruz and Potros de Tijuana. He also played in the Northern League for the Gary SouthShore RailCats in 2010 and Rockford RiverHawks in 2011.
Alexander Ramón Ramírez Quiñónez,nicknamed Ramichan,is a Venezuelan-born Japanese former professional baseball outfielder who had a long career in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He is the first foreign-born player to record 2,000 hits while playing in NPB.
Frank M. "Wildfire" Schulte was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for the Chicago Cubs,Pittsburgh Pirates,Philadelphia Phillies,and Washington Senators from 1904 to 1918. He helped the Cubs win four National League (NL) championships and two World Series.
Andrew James Van Slyke is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder and coach.
Tadahito Iguchi,nicknamed "Gucci",is a Japanese served professional baseball second baseman and former manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Matthew Henry Murton is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Oakland Athletics,and Colorado Rockies. Murton also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.
Bill "Mad Dog" Madlock,Jr. is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman from 1973 to 1987. Madlock is notable for being a four-time National League batting champion. His four batting titles as a third baseman was a record until Wade Boggs attained his fifth in 1988. Since 1970,only Tony Gwynn has won more National League batting titles (eight). Madlock is also one of only three right-handed hitters to have won multiple National League batting titles since 1960,Roberto Clemente having also won four and Tommy Davis having won back-to-back titles in 1962 and 1963.
Vance Aaron Law is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1980–81),Chicago White Sox (1982–84),Montreal Expos (1985–87),Chicago Cubs (1988–89),and Oakland Athletics (1991). He also played one season in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chunichi Dragons in 1990. Law batted and threw right-handed. He is the son of Cy Young Award winner Vern Law. He served as head baseball coach at Brigham Young University from 2000 to 2012.
Curtis Vernon Wilkerson is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a utility player for the Texas Rangers,Chicago Cubs,Pittsburgh Pirates,and Kansas City Royals from 1983 to 1993.
Gary Eugene Redus is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds,Philadelphia Phillies,Chicago White Sox,Pittsburgh Pirates,and Texas Rangers.
Gary Andrew Varsho is an American former professional baseball outfielder,manager,and coach,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Pittsburgh Pirates,Cincinnati Reds,and Philadelphia Phillies.
Paul Edward Popovich is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball from 1964 through 1975 for the Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jeffrey Daniel Robinson is an American former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played nine seasons for the San Francisco Giants,Pittsburgh Pirates,New York Yankees,California Angels and Chicago Cubs.
Leon Lee is an American former professional baseball player and manager,primarily known for his career in Japan. He played first base,third base,and catcher during his career,batting and throwing right-handed. Lee had a ten-year career in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). At the conclusion of his playing career,he was considered one of the greatest foreign players to have played in the NPB. Later,he became the first African-American manager in Japanese baseball history.
Wesley Polk Chamberlain is an American former professional baseball right fielder/left fielder. He played all or parts of six seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB),from 1990 through 1995,for the Philadelphia Phillies (1990–95) and Boston Red Sox (1995). He also played one season in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB),for the Chiba Lotte Marines (1996). During Chamberlain's playing days,he stood 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m),weighing 210 pounds;he batted and threw right-handed.
The 1983 Philadelphia Phillies season included the Phillies winning the National League East title with a record of 90–72,by a margin of six games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. They defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers,three games to one in the NLCS,before losing the World Series to the Baltimore Orioles,four games to one. The Phillies celebrated their centennial in 1983,were managed by Pat Corrales (43–42) and Paul Owens (47–30),and played their home games at Veterans Stadium.
Hisanori Takahashi is a Japanese former professional baseball pitcher. He began his professional career in NPB with the Yomiuri Giants,and played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Pittsburgh Pirates,and Chicago Cubs.
NeftalíO. Soto is a Puerto Rican professional baseball first baseman for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and in NPB for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
Gregory Polanco,nicknamed "El Coffee",is a Dominican professional baseball right fielder for the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2014 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and he also played in NPB for the Yomiuri Giants.
American expatriate baseball players in Japan have been a feature of the Japanese professional leagues since 1934. American expatriate players began to steadily find spots on Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) rosters in the 1960s. More than 600 Americans have played NPB,although very few last more than a single season in Japan.