Chico Ruiz

For the Atlanta Braves infielder, see Chico Ruiz (Braves infielder).

Chico Ruiz
Ruiz in 1962.
Infielder
Born: December 5, 1938(1938-12-05) Santo Domingo, Cuba
Died: February 9, 1972(1972-02-09) (aged 33) San Diego, California
Batted: Switch	Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 13, 1964 for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
August 3, 1971 for the California Angels
Career statistics
Batting average	.240
Home runs	2
Runs batted in	69
Teams
Cincinnati Reds (1964-1969) California Angels (1970-1971)

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Ruiz and the second or maternal family name is Sablon.

Hiraldo Ruiz Sablon (December 5, 1938 in Santo Domingo, Cuba - February 9, 1972 in San Diego, California), was a professional baseball player who played as an infielder in the Major Leagues from 1964-1971. He would play for the Cincinnati Reds (1964–69) and California Angels (1970–71).

He is the only Major League player ever to pinch-hit for Johnny Bench. Bench went 0-for-3 in his Major League debut on August 28, 1967, before Ruiz pinch hit for him in the 9th inning with a runner on second base. The Reds lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-2.^[1]

In a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 21, 1964, Chico Ruiz stole home with Frank Robinson batting for the game's only run. At the time, the Phillies had a 6 ¹⁄₂-game hold on first place with just twelve games to play. The Phillies then proceeded to lose ten straight games and finish tied for second place. Phillies third baseman Dick Allen stated in "Crash, The Life and Times of Dick Allen," by Tim Whitaker, that the play "broke our humps."^[2] Chico Ruiz's steal of home has evolved into a popular culture legend. Some Philadelphia sports fans still refer to the "Curse of Chico Ruiz" as the reason for many of their teams' misfortunes. A Novel titled '64 Intruder by Gregory T. Glading centers on what might have happened had Chico Ruiz been called out on the play.

Chico Ruiz died when he drove his car into a sign pole while driving alone outside of San Diego during the early morning hours of February 9, 1972.

References

1. ^ BaseballLibrary.com, Johnny Bench page.
2. ^ Whitaker, Tim (1989). Crash, The Life and Times of Dick Allen. Ticknor & Fields. p. 55. 

External links

Biography portal

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
• Story on steal against Phillies.
• Chico Ruiz at Find a Grave

Persondata
Name	Ruiz, Chico
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	December 5, 1938
Place of birth	Santo Domingo, Cuba
Date of death	February 9, 1972
Place of death	San Diego, California