{"id":1161,"date":"2009-04-25T12:48:50","date_gmt":"2009-04-25T19:48:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2009\/04\/25\/los-logros-de-cesar-tovar-cesar-tovar%e2%80%99s-achievements\/"},"modified":"2009-04-25T12:48:50","modified_gmt":"2009-04-25T19:48:50","slug":"los-logros-de-cesar-tovar-cesar-tovar%e2%80%99s-achievements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2009\/04\/25\/los-logros-de-cesar-tovar-cesar-tovar%e2%80%99s-achievements\/","title":{"rendered":"Los Logros de C\u00c3\u00a9sar Tovar (C\u00c3\u00a9sar Tovar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Achievements)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Carlos Guill\u00c3\u00a9n hit for the cycle at Tropicana Field on August 1st, 2006, in a Detroit Tigers victory 10-4 over the Tampa Bay Rays, it had been 34 years since September 19th, 1972. That date C\u00c3\u00a9sar Tovar became the first venezuelan hitting for the cycle in MLB.<\/em><\/p>\n

Cuando Carlos Guill\u00c3\u00a9n bate\u00c3\u00b3 la escalera en el Tropicana Field, el 01 de agosto de 2006, en victoria de Detroit 10-4 sobre Tampa Bay, hab\u00c3\u00adan transcurrido 34 a\u00c3\u00b1os desde el 19 de septiembre de 1972, cuando C\u00c3\u00a9sar Tovar se convirti\u00c3\u00b3 en el primer venezolano en batear la escalera en las Grandes Ligas. Los Mellizos de Minnesota vencieron a los Rangers de Texas 5-3 en el Metropolitan Stadium. Tovar anot\u00c3\u00b3 2 carreras y empuj\u00c3\u00b3 2 como abridor de la alineaci\u00c3\u00b3n. Guill\u00c3\u00a9n anot\u00c3\u00b3 3 y empuj\u00c3\u00b3 2 como quinto bate.<\/p>\n

Luego Magglio Ord\u00c3\u00b3\u00c3\u00b1ez conect\u00c3\u00b3 216 imparables en la temporada de 2007 y rebas\u00c3\u00b3 la marca de 204 imparables de C\u00c3\u00a9sar Tovar como el venezolano con m\u00c3\u00a1s hits en una campa\u00c3\u00b1a. Hab\u00c3\u00adan transcurrido 36 a\u00c3\u00b1os de la temporada de 1971 cuando Tovar se convirti\u00c3\u00b3 en el primer venezolano en batear m\u00c3\u00a1s de 200 hits en una campa\u00c3\u00b1a.<\/p>\n

Sin embargo hay otros logros de Tovar que han durado m\u00c3\u00a1s en ser batidos y debido a las caracter\u00c3\u00adsticas actuales del juego resulta dif\u00c3\u00adcil pensar que puedan ser igualados o mejorados por otros venezolanos. El 22 de septiembre de 1968 en el Metropolitan Stadium C\u00c3\u00a9sar Tovar se convirti\u00c3\u00b3 en el segundo pelotero en jugar las 9 posiciones en un juego de Grandes Ligas donde Minnesota venci\u00c3\u00b3 a Oakland 2-1. En el primer inning Tovar sac\u00c3\u00b3 el cero y ponch\u00c3\u00b3 a Reggie Jackson. En el tercero anot\u00c3\u00b3 la primera carrera de los Mellizos. Jug\u00c3\u00b3 las nueve posiciones en orden creciente desde pitcher hasta right fielder. Como lanzador abridor, ir\u00c3\u00b3nicamente el primer bateador que enfrent\u00c3\u00b3 fue Dagoberto Campaneris, qui\u00c3\u00a9n se hab\u00c3\u00ada convertido en el primer pelotero en jugar las nueve posiciones en un juego el a\u00c3\u00b1o anterior. Cuando sali\u00c3\u00b3 como receptor en el segundo episodio llam\u00c3\u00b3 la atenci\u00c3\u00b3n de todos porque la parte inferior de la pechera casi rozaba el suelo mientras estaba de pie. Fue un momento inolvidable porque a mucha gente les record\u00c3\u00b3 un juego de peque\u00c3\u00b1as ligas.<\/p>\n

Quiz\u00c3\u00a1s el m\u00c3\u00a1s reluciente de sus logros reside en el hecho de haber conectado el \u00c3\u00banico imparable en 5 juegos que su equipo perdi\u00c3\u00b3 sin anotar carreras. En el segundo de una doble cartelera efectuada en Washington el 30 de abril de 1967, Tovar conect\u00c3\u00b3 el \u00c3\u00banico imparable de Minnesota en el sexto inning ante Barry Moore. Los Senadores ganaron 3-0. El 15 de mayo de 1969, luego de 1 out en el noveno inning, Tovar le bate\u00c3\u00b3 el \u00c3\u00banico hit que permitiera Dave McNally en ruta a una victoria 5-0 de Baltimore sobre Minnesota en el Metropolitan Stadium.<\/p>\n

El 10 de agosto de 1969 Tovar acab\u00c3\u00b3 con el no hit no run de Miguel Cuellar al batearle imparable al jard\u00c3\u00adn izquierdo en el noveno inning. Los Orioles de Baltimore derrotaron a los Mellizos de Minnesota 2-1 en el Memorial Stadium.<\/p>\n

El 13 de agosto de 1970 Tovar abre el juego con sencillo ante Dick Bosman, el \u00c3\u00banico que permiti\u00c3\u00b3 el lanzador en todo el juego. Washington 1 Minnesota 0. RFK Stadium.<\/p>\n

El 31 de mayo de 1975 C\u00c3\u00a9sar Tovar despach\u00c3\u00b3 sencillo al centro luego de dos outs en el sexto episodio, fue el \u00c3\u00banico imparable de los Rangers de Texas ante Jim Catfish Hunter. Los Yanquis ganaron 6-0 en Arlington Stadium.<\/p>\n

Quiz\u00c3\u00a1s una de las marcas m\u00c3\u00a1s dif\u00c3\u00adciles de batirle a Tovar sea la de temporada tras temporada recoger implementos de b\u00c3\u00a9isbol de abril a septiembre con la excusa de que los necesitaba para practicar en el invierno. Al final de la temporada su locker estaba lleno con alrededor de 80 bates, 50 docenas de pelotas y 30 guantes. La realidad era que todo ese material era para repartirlo entre los ni\u00c3\u00b1os de las barriadas caraque\u00c3\u00b1as cuando, no m\u00c3\u00a1s bajar del avi\u00c3\u00b3n se presentaba a las caimaneras a jugar con ellos.<\/p>\n

Otra de las marcas de f\u00c3\u00a1brica de Tovar era su disposici\u00c3\u00b3n a jugar en cualquier posici\u00c3\u00b3n donde fuese requerido. Por lo general era en el infield al principio de su carrera y en los jardines. Siempre enfrentaba los juegos con mucha determinaci\u00c3\u00b3n y entusiasmo.<\/p>\n

Como abridor de la alineaci\u00c3\u00b3n, buscaba embasarse de cualquier forma, en los momentos m\u00c3\u00a1s dif\u00c3\u00adciles, cuando el pitcher contrario estaba m\u00c3\u00a1s indescifrable met\u00c3\u00ada el codo y recib\u00c3\u00ada un pelotazo. Ni siquiera si el pitcher era Nolan Ryan dudaba en meter el codo.<\/p>\n

La noche cuando Cesar Tovar falleci\u00c3\u00b3 (14 de julio de 1994), los Mellizos lo informaron y decretaron un minuto de silencio en el Metrodome.<\/p>\n

English Translation<\/strong><\/p>\n

When Carlos Guill\u00c3\u00a9n hit for the cycle at Tropicana Field on August 1st, 2006, in a Detroit Tigers victory 10-4 over the Tampa Bay Rays, it had been 34 years since September 19th, 1972. That date C\u00c3\u00a9sar Tovar became the first venezuelan hitting for the cycle in MLB. The Minnesota Twins defeated the Texas Rangers 5-3. Tovar scored 2 runs an batted in 2 more runs as leadoff batter. Guill\u00c3\u00a9n scored 3 runs and batted in 2 runs as fifth in the line up.<\/p>\n

Then Magglio Ord\u00c3\u00b3\u00c3\u00b1ez got 216 hits in the season of 2007. He had left behind the 204 hits record established by Cesar Tovar in the 1971 season when he became the first venezuelan to hit more than 200 hits in a Major League Baseball season.<\/p>\n

Besides of these, there are other achievements by Tovar that have lasted longer and due to the way baseball is played nowadays, it`s difficult to think that those record could be improved or even matched by other venezuelans. On September 22nd, 1968 at the Metropolitan Stadium, Tovar became the second player, in MLB history, to perform in the 9 positions in a game where Minnesota defeated Oakland 2-1. Tovar pitched in the first inning, he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t accept any run and struck out Reggie Jackson. In the third frame he scored the first run of the Twins. He played the nine positions in increasing order from pitcher to rightfielder. As starting pitcher, the first batter he faced was, ironically Bert Campaneris who became the first one to play the nine positions in an MLB game the year before. When he played as catcher in the second inning it was just a hysterical sight. He came out in his catcher\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s garb, the bottom of his chest protector almost dangled on the ground. He looked like a Little Leaguer.<\/p>\n

Maybe the most brilliant of his achievements resides in the fact that he was the one with his team\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s only hit in 5 games lost scoreless.<\/p>\n

In the second game of a doublehedaer played at Washington on April 30th, 1967; Tovar batted the Minnesota only hit in the 6th inning before Barry Moore. The Senators won 3-0.<\/p>\n

On May 15th, 1969, after 1 out in the ninth inning, Tovar got the only hit that Dave McNally allowed in route to a 5-0 victory for the Baltimore Orioles over the Minnesota Twins in the Metropolitan Stadium.<\/p>\n

On August 10th, 1969; Tovar finished the Miguel Cuellar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no-hitter with a single to leftfield in the ninth inning. Baltimore defeated Minnesota 2-0 at Memorial Stadium.<\/p>\n

On August 13th, 1970; leads off the game with a single before Dick Bosman, the only one he would allow in the game. Washington 1 Minnesota 0. RFK Stadium.<\/p>\n

On May 31st, 1975; Tovar batted the only hit of the Texas Rangers after two outs in the sixth frame. Jim Catfish Hunter won the game 6-0 for the New York Yankees at Arlington Stadium.<\/p>\n

Maybe one of the hardest records to steal from Cesar Tovar would be the one related to collecting baseball implements season after season, from April through September with the excuse that he needed them to practice in winter. At the end of the season his locker was crowded with about 80 bats, 15 dozens of balls, and 30 gloves. The truth was that all of that material was to give it to the kids in Caracas to play with. Tovar got off from the plane and immediately went to play sandlot ball with the kids.<\/p>\n

Another of Tovar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s trademarks was his availability to play in whatever position he was required. At first, it was usually in the infield, afterwards it was in the outfield. He always faced the games with a lot of determination and enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

As a leadoff hitter, he always tried to get on base no matter how. In the most difficult moments, when the opposing pitcher was unhittable he showed his elbow and got hit by the ball. Not even if Nolan Ryan was the pitcher he hesitated in showing his elbow.<\/p>\n

The night when Cesar Tovar passed away (July 14th, 1994), the Twins announced his death and held a moment of silence at the Metrodome.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Carlos Guill\u00c3\u00a9n hit for the cycle at Tropicana Field on August 1st, 2006, in a Detroit Tigers victory 10-4 over the Tampa Bay Rays, it had been 34 years since September 19th, 1972. That date C\u00c3\u00a9sar Tovar became the first venezuelan hitting for the cycle in MLB.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t