Jose Moreno | Former New York Mets Infielder Dies At 61

Jose Moreno, former utility player for the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and California Angels, died September 6, 2019 in Santo Domingo due to pulmonary complications. He was 61.

Moreno broke in with the Mets in 1980. His shining moment in Queens came on August 26, 1980, against the San Diego Padres. Pinch-hitting for pitcher Mark Bomback in the 5th inning, Moreno hit a two-run homer that was part of an epic 18-inning marathon. He was used exclusively as a pinch-hitter for the remainder of the season, and in December, he was traded ironically to the Padres for former Cy Young Award winner Randy Jones.

He is the only player in the history of the Dominican Winter League to achieve a 30-30-30 season (RBIs, runs scored, and stolen bases). He played 14 seasons in the Dominican from 1974-75 through 1989-90 that included three championships with Escogido.

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Baseball Happenings Podcast - Peter Kerasotis - Author of 'Alou: My Baseball Journey'

Peter Kerasotis, the co-author of Felipe Alou's new biography, "Alou: My Baseball Journey" appears on the latest edition of the Baseball Happenings Podcast to discuss how he finally convinced the 83-year-old Alou to tell his life story.

Alou: My Baseball Journey - University of Nebraska Press

Kerasotis illuminates Alou's status as a pioneer for Dominican baseball players, detailing how he persevered through Jim Crow segregation as the first player to leave the island and make it to the major leagues. He reveals Alou's tremendous character through the grace in which he handled the many obstacles throughout his six decades in baseball that ultimately led to him becoming the first Dominican manager in major league history.

Baseball Happenings Podcast - Peter Kerasotis Interview

Click here to listen on Spotify

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Pascual Perez ex-Yankee fatally stabbed in home invasion

Pascual Perez, former pitcher for the New York Yankees, was killed at his home on Thursday in the Dominican Republic. His death was the result of an apparent home invasion, where he was fatally stabbed in the neck. He was 55.

Pascual Perez signed card - Baseball Almanac

Perez made his debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1980, but gained notoriety in 1982 when he was traded to the Atlanta Braves and failed to report for his first start. Perez drove around I-285 multiple times looking for the stadium, but eventually ran out of gas, drawing the ire of manager Joe Torre. He earned the nickname, “I-285,” for the incident. Perez recovered from his blunder and went on to make the All-Star team the following season. He continued to pitch with the Braves until 1985.

The Infamous I-285 Incident

He mysteriously disappeared from baseball for the entire 1986 season, but resurfaced with the Montreal Expos in 1987, where he had the most success in his career, going 28-21 from 1987-89. The Yankees signed him as a free agent prior to the 1990 season, and he pitched a rain-shortened no-hitter against the Texas Rangers in his first start of the year. Despite the high expectations from his pinstripe debut, injuries kept him from taking the field regularly during his two-year tenure with the Yankees. His Yankee career came to an abrupt end when he was suspended in 1992 from baseball for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The Dominican pitcher, who was known for his flamboyant style of play, also had two brothers, Carlos and Melido, who pitched in the big leagues.

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Marmol Implodes as Netherlands Wins In Extra Innings

Carlos Marmol, you might have to relocate after surrendering two runs during the 11th innings to a Netherlands team that fielded just three players with Major League experience. Grossly overmatched at the plate, the Netherlands squad struck out 14 times going into the 11th inning. After the Dominican Republic scored a run in the top of the 11th inning, Marmol was summoned to close the game. Game, set, match, right? Not for the Dominicans in the 2009 World Baseball Classic!

Immediately after taking the mound, Marmol gave up a leadoff double to pinch-hitter Sidney de Jong, who hit the first extra base hit for the Netherlands in this year's Classic. After getting Curt Smith to ground out, Marmol then allowed a bloop single to former Oriole Eugene Kingsale which scored de Jong. With the speedy Kingsale on first base, Marmol wildly threw the ball away from first baseman Willie Aybar to advance Kingsale all the way to third base. Looking visibly shaken by the error, he regained his composure long enough to strike out Sharlon Schoop. After intentionally walking Randall Simon, Marmol ran Yurendell de Caster to a 2-2 count, when de Caster hit a one hopper to Aybar that went off of his glove, allowing Kingsale to score.

In a match of David and Goliath proportions, the Netherlands proved they weren't a fluke, winning not once, but twice over the star studded Dominican Republic. The dejected look in the dugout of the Dominican team said it all, as the Netherlands team ran wildly over the field celebrating their unlikely victory. The Netherlands will play Puerto Rico on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the next round of the World Baseball Classic.

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Juan Marichal 'Dominican Dandy' Interview

Hall of Famer Juan Marichal was in New York recently for a few public appearances. We sat down to talk about his memories of playing in New York early in his career and what he enjoys most about attending the BAT dinner.

In this interview below, he shared  his memories of playing in the 1964 All-Star game at Shea Stadium, his current work with ESPN Deportes, his thoughts on the Dominican entry in the World Baseball Classic, and how he was signed by the legendary Horacio Martinez.

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