Lo recuerdo con el uniforme anaranjado de las \u00c3\u0081guilas del Zulia en un juego dominical por la ma\u00c3\u00b1ana. En esa \u00c3\u00a9poca trabajaba como relevista y en esas labores consigui\u00c3\u00b3 su triunfo 109 que lo ubica como el pitcher con m\u00c3\u00a1s victorias en la Liga Venezolana de B\u00c3\u00a9isbol Profesional.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Nunca supe el porque de su apodo. Imagino que hay alguna relaci\u00c3\u00b3n con el ave del mismo nombre, aut\u00c3\u00b3ctona de los llanos, el porte y la elegancia\u00c2\u00a0 del pitcher tal vez hicieron recordar estas caracter\u00c3\u00adsticas de los carraos.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Jos\u00c3\u00a9 de la Trinidad Bracho naci\u00c3\u00b3 en Maracaibo, Zulia, el 23 de julio de 1928, y falleci\u00c3\u00b3 el 16 de junio de 2011 en su hogar de Maracaibo. El mal de Alzheimer lo afect\u00c3\u00b3 en la \u00c3\u00baltima etapa de su vida.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0El Carrao ten\u00c3\u00ada la sapiencia y la determinaci\u00c3\u00b3n para ser un gran pitcher y as\u00c3\u00ad lo demostr\u00c3\u00b3 en la liga venezolana. Se ajustaba a las dificultades y ten\u00c3\u00ada la capacidad para realizar lanzamientos desde diferentes \u00c3\u00a1ngulos del brazo. Su lanzamiento m\u00c3\u00a1s emblem\u00c3\u00a1tico era el tenedor que en aquella \u00c3\u00a9poca muy pocos lo sab\u00c3\u00adan lanzar y eso le daba un arma adicional para sacar de paso a los bateadores.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Su mejor temporada en la LVBP fue la de 1961-62. Entonces gan\u00c3\u00b3 15 juegos y perdi\u00c3\u00b3 5. Permiti\u00c3\u00b3 130 hits en 160 innings. Ponch\u00c3\u00b3 97 y concedi\u00c3\u00b3 44 boletos. Dej\u00c3\u00b3 una efectividad de 2.25 en 21 juegos. Esos 15 son la marca de m\u00c3\u00a1s juegos ganados en una temporada para un lanzador en la liga venezolana. Tambi\u00c3\u00a9n en esa temporada implant\u00c3\u00b3 la marca de m\u00c3\u00a1s juegos completos en la liga en una temporada (14).<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Solo actu\u00c3\u00b3 en \u00c2\u00a0cuatro temporadas en el exterior. Su gran temor a los aviones le impidi\u00c3\u00b3 muy probablemente jugar en la Gran Carpa. Su mejor campa\u00c3\u00b1a en las ligas menores sucedi\u00c3\u00b3 en 1955 cuando jug\u00c3\u00b3 para el Havana Sugar Kings, filial de los Rojos de Cincinnati en la Internacional League AAA. Esa vez gan\u00c3\u00b3 9 juegos y perdi\u00c3\u00b3 5. 21 juegos. 18 aperturas. 8 juegos completos. 2 blanqueos. 132 innings. 115 hits. 54 carreras. 48 limpias. 3.27 de efectividad. 8 jonrones. 41 boletos. 62 ponches. 6 golpeados. 1 balk. A la defensiva hizo 7 outs. 16 asistencias. 0 errores. 2 dobleplays.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0En la LVBP jug\u00c3\u00b3 para Cervecer\u00c3\u00ada Caracas (de 1948 a 1952). Leones del Caracas \u00c2\u00a0(1952-53, 54-55, y desde 1955 hasta 1959). Pastora (53-54) Navegantes del Magallanes (54-55 y 64-65).Oriente (de 1959 a 1963). Orientales (1963-64). La Guaira (1964 a 1967). Lara (66-67 y 67-68), Zulia (1970 a 1973).<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Fue campe\u00c3\u00b3n de la LVBP con Cervecer\u00c3\u00ada (48-49 y 51-52). Leones del Caracas (52-53, 56-57). Pastora (53-54). La Guaira (64-65 y 65-66).<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0En una ocasi\u00c3\u00b3n lo fueron a entrevistar a su casa y mientras ve\u00c3\u00adan los albumes con los recortes de prensa, el periodista le pregunt\u00c3\u00b3: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153\u00c2\u00bfY usted no perd\u00c3\u00ada?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Claro, pero esos recortes los tiene el otro pitcher\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Aquella ma\u00c3\u00b1ana dominical se adentraba en el mediod\u00c3\u00ada cuando me fui al abasto \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Barlovento\u00e2\u20ac\u009d ubicado a una cuadra del estadio de Cuman\u00c3\u00a1. Mientras el dependiente ve\u00c3\u00ada el juego, vino a relevar el Carrao. Ped\u00c3\u00ad dos sobrecitos de barajitas. En el segundo sali\u00c3\u00b3 la imagen de Jose de la Trinidad Bracho con su expresi\u00c3\u00b3n adusta que transmit\u00c3\u00ada placidez en la mirada. Salt\u00c3\u00a9 con la barajita en la mano cuando el Carrao domin\u00c3\u00b3 con un rolling al cuadro al primer bateador que enfrent\u00c3\u00b3. Descansa en paz Jos\u00c3\u00a9 Carrao Bracho.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Alfonso L. Tusa C.<\/p>\n
English translation<\/p>\n
I remember him with the orange jersey of the Zulia Eagles in a Sunday morning game in the venezuelan winter league. At that time he worked as a reliever. By doing that type of work he got his 109th<\/sup> win which became him the winningest pitcher in the venezuelan winter league.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0I never knew the reason of his nickname. I imagine there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s some relation with the bird called Carrao, which inhabits some regions of Venezuela. The presence and elegance of the pitcher maybe made remember these characteristics proper of the Carraos birds.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0Jos\u00c3\u00a9 de la Trinidad Bracho was born in Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela, on July 23rd, 1928. He died on June, 16th, 2011 at his home in Maracaibo. He was 82. The Alzheimer disease had affected him during the last years.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0El Carrao had the wisdom and determination to be a great pitcher and he demonstrated it in the venezuelan winter league. He adjusted to hard moments and had the capability for performing deliveries from distinct arm angles. His most emblematic delivery was the fork ball. In that time a few pitchers knew how to throw it. The fork ball gave El Carrao and additional weapon to fool the batters.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0His best season in the venezuelan winter league was in 1961-62. That season El Carrao won 15 games and lost 5. Allowed 130 hits in 160 innings. Struckout 97. Gave 44 walks. He had an ERA of 2.25 in 21 games. Those 15 wins are the record in the venezuelan winter league for the winningest pitcher in one season. In the same season El Carrao also set the record for the most complete games for a pitcher in one season. (14)<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0He only played in four seasons in the minor leagues. His panic to the airplanes probably took him apart from playing in MLB. His best season in the minor leagues was in 1955 while playing for the Havana Sugar Kings, the Cincinnati Reds affiliate in the International League AAA. That time he won 9 games and lost 5. 21 games. 18 starts. 8 complete games. 2 shutouts. 132 innings. 115 hits. 54 runs. 48 earned. 3.27 ERA. 8 home runs. 41 walks. 62 struckouts. 6 hit by pitcher.1 balk. As a defender he made 7 outs. 16 assists. 0 errors. 2 doubleplays.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0In the venezuelan winter league he played for Cervecer\u00c3\u00ada Caracas (from 1948 to 1952). Caracas Lions (1952-53, 54-55, and from 1955 to 1959). Pastora (53-54). Magallanes Navigators (54-55 and 64-65).Oriente (from 1959 to 1963). Orientales (1963-64). La Guaira (1964 to 1967). Lara (66-67 and 67-68), Zulia (1970 to 1973).<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0He won championships in the venezuelan winter league with Cervecer\u00c3\u00ada (48-49 and 51-52). Caracas Lions(52-53, 56-57). Pastora (53-54). La Guaira (64-65 and 65-66).<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0Once in an interview at home, while seeing the albums with the newspapers reports of the games, the journalist asked him: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Did you never lost a game?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sure, but those reports are in the rival pitcher\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s album\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0That Sunday morning touched noon when I went to a grocery store just a block away from Cumana\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ballpark. As the guy in charge of the store watched the game on TV, El Carrao came to relieve. I asked for two baseball cards envelopes. In the second one I got the image of Jose de la Trinidad Bracho with that sober expression that showed peace in his gaze. I jumped with the card in my hand when El Carrao dominated the first batter he faced with a grounder to short stop.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0Rest in peace Jose Carrao Bracho.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Alfonso L. Tusa\u00c2\u00a0 C<\/p>\n Alfonso\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s work has been featured in Venezuela\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s daily newspaper, El Nacional and in the magazine Gente en Ambiente, and he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s collaborated on several articles for newspapers, including the daily paper Tal Cual. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s also written three books and biographies for SABR\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s BioProject.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Lo recuerdo con el uniforme anaranjado de las \u00c3\u0081guilas del Zulia en un juego dominical por la ma\u00c3\u00b1ana. En esa \u00c3\u00a9poca trabajaba como relevista y en esas labores consigui\u00c3\u00b3 su triunfo 109 que lo ubica como el pitcher con m\u00c3\u00a1s victorias en la Liga Venezolana de B\u00c3\u00a9isbol Profesional. \u00c2\u00a0Nunca supe el porque de su apodo. […]<\/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":[3835,14970,14967,14966,14959,5269,14576,2233,14962,7468,14971,4268,14963,14965,14968,14964,14969],"class_list":["post-14540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-aaa","tag-anaranjado","tag-aviones","tag-boletos","tag-carrao","tag-cincinnati","tag-efectividad","tag-havana","tag-juegos-18","tag-juegos-completos","tag-la-trinidad","tag-los-rojos","tag-mal-de-alzheimer","tag-maracaibo","tag-recuerdo","tag-sugar-kings","tag-temor"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/75"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14540"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14540\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}