78 Facts About Orlando Cepeda

Orlando Manuel Cepeda Pennes, nicknamed "the Baby Bull" and "Peruchin", is a Puerto Rican former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for six teams from 1958 to 1974, primarily the San Francisco Giants.

Orlando Cepeda had been succeeded as Rookie of the Year by fellow Giant Willie McCovey, and in the ensuing years the team had struggled to fit both first basemen into their lineup, unsuccessfully trying to shift each of them to left field at different points.

Orlando Cepeda posted five seasons each with 30 home runs and 100 RBI.

Orlando Cepeda ranked ninth in NL history in games at first base, and eighth in assists and double plays.

Orlando Cepeda was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.

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Orlando Cepeda was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, to Pedro Anibal Cepeda and Carmen Pennes.

Orlando Cepeda's father was a professional baseball player in Puerto Rico, where he was known as "Perucho" and "the Bull", and was widely considered one of the best players of his generation.

Orlando Cepeda saw his father play baseball for the first time in 1946, and was instantly interested in the game.

Orlando Cepeda was black and the bulk of his career was played before Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line in 1947, Perucho Cepeda could not play in the major leagues.

Orlando Cepeda became a fan of Minnie Minoso, following his career in the Cuban League, Negro leagues, major leagues, and the Caribbean.

When he was 10 years old, Orlando Cepeda began to sell newspapers in order to participate in a baseball tournament organized for the paper boys.

Orlando Cepeda practiced with the team for three months but did not make the roster.

Orlando Cepeda then began playing basketball, but he tore cartilage in his knee and underwent surgery.

Orlando Cepeda began practicing baseball again, noticing that his physical strength had significantly improved in two years.

Orlando Cepeda contracted malaria, which eventually precipitated his death at age 49.

Orlando Cepeda was transferred to the Salem Rebels, but he had trouble adapting because he did not speak English.

Orlando Cepeda encountered discrimination due to racial segregation under the Jim Crow laws.

Orlando Cepeda wanted to quit and return to Puerto Rico, but Zorilla convinced him to play for the Kokomo Giants, a team in the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League.

Orlando Cepeda then signed a Class A contract with Springfield, accepting it on condition that he be allowed to play with the Minneapolis Millers in spring training.

Orlando Cepeda had a slow start, but his performance improved as the season advanced, and the team retained him in their roster.

Orlando Cepeda was invited to the team's spring training along with other prospects, including Felipe Alou and Willie Kirkland.

Orlando Cepeda signed his first major league contract ten minutes before debuting in the league, earning $7,000 for the season.

Orlando Cepeda's average remained steady throughout the season, never falling below.

Orlando Cepeda was unanimously selected the NL Rookie of the Year, becoming the second player, after Frank Robinson in 1956, to receive a unanimous vote.

Orlando Cepeda was selected the Most Valuable Giant in a poll conducted by the San Francisco Examiner.

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In 1959, Orlando Cepeda reported to spring training with more confidence than the year before.

Orlando Cepeda opened the season hitting in nine straight games, with 15 hits in his first 35 at bats.

Orlando Cepeda was selected as a starter in both All-Star games during the season.

Orlando Cepeda was briefly moved to third base to open a spot for Willie McCovey in the starting lineup, but was moved to the outfield after committing errors in the position.

Orlando Cepeda subsequently moved from Daly City to the Sunset District, seeking a house within the city.

Orlando Cepeda moved twice this year, first to 19th and Pacheco and then to 48th and Pacheco, where he and McCovey bought a building next to the ocean.

On December 3,1960, Orlando Cepeda married Annie Pino in a ceremony that took place in a small church of San Juan.

In 1961, Orlando Cepeda had what he considers the best statistics of his career.

Orlando Cepeda was selected to play in the All-Star Game starting lineup.

Orlando Cepeda finished second in the Most Valuable Player voting, after Frank Robinson.

In 1961 and 1962, Orlando Cepeda had strong years; however, he had serious problems with manager Alvin Dark, to the point of almost skipping some games.

Orlando Cepeda immediately confronted him; after this, Dark avoided summoning the Hispanic players to any team meeting.

Orlando Cepeda received treatment from Gene Sollovief, a Russian doctor who implemented a weight and exercise regime.

Orlando Cepeda returned to Puerto Rico, undergoing further physical therapy.

Orlando Cepeda began the season strongly, driving in seven runs in the first four games.

Orlando Cepeda was named the National League Most Valuable Player.

Orlando Cepeda was the second NL player, after Carl Hubbell, to win the award unanimously.

Orlando Cepeda was the first Latin player to win the home run and RBI titles.

Orlando Cepeda, who had a low average in the 1967 World Series, hit a home run that gave the Cardinals a two games to one lead.

Orlando Cepeda reported late to spring training in 1969, not showing up until one day before the Cardinals' first exhibition game.

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Orlando Cepeda moved to Atlanta with uncertainty, wondering if the effect of the Jim Crow laws was still present, but his concerns disappeared once they settled.

Orlando Cepeda attended 1969 spring training in West Palm Beach, being welcomed to the team by Hank Aaron.

In 1971, Orlando Cepeda began the season with solid offense, hitting 10 home runs before May was over.

Orlando Cepeda was attended to by Dr Funk, the Atlanta Falcons' orthopedicist.

Orlando Cepeda remained in Oakland three months before returning to Puerto Rico.

Orlando Cepeda decided not to call, intending to retire from baseball.

Orlando Cepeda became the first player to sign a contract to exclusively play as a designated hitter.

Orlando Cepeda went to Puerto Rico and prepared to play in 1974, but the team decided to release him and Luis Aparicio during spring training as part of a focus on younger players.

Orlando Cepeda was selected as an All-Star seven times, appearing in 11 games.

Orlando Cepeda was the first Puerto Rican to start in an All-Star Game and to be selected in two positions, serving as a first baseman and left fielder.

Orlando Cepeda tried a comeback in the LBPPR, but noticed that his body couldn't perform well, opting to retire instead.

Later that year, Orlando Cepeda traveled to Colombia to direct a baseball clinic; once there, he met a group of drug dealers who convinced him to put bags containing five pounds of cannabis in two boxes containing hand-made clothing.

Orlando Cepeda returned to Puerto Rico, waiting ten days before contacting the airport to see if the boxes had arrived.

When Orlando Cepeda arrived to collect his cargo, he was told that they could not be released, since the shipping cost had not been covered; the shipment actually weighed 170 pounds, far more than he had been expecting.

In 1978, after three days at trial, Orlando Cepeda was declared guilty of the drug possession charges and sentenced to five years of imprisonment.

Orlando Cepeda served ten months in jail time and the balance of his sentence on probation.

Orlando Cepeda began practicing Nichiren Buddhism as a member of the Buddhist association Soka Gakkai International in 1983.

Orlando Cepeda eventually left the house and returned to Puerto Rico with Malcom and Ali and filed a divorce suit.

Orlando Cepeda worked in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and other Latin American countries during his first year, after which the Giants placed him on full-time payroll.

Orlando Cepeda later worked as a goodwill ambassador for the Giants, attending activities in schools, hospitals and community centers, and he represented the Giants in programs aimed at Latin American communities.

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Orlando Cepeda threw the honorary first pitch for the third game of the 1989 National League Championship Series, and for a regular-season game between the Giants and Dodgers on September 17,1997, his 60th birthday.

Orlando Cepeda has his own concession stand at the new Giants stadium which opened in 2000, now called Oracle Park.

Orlando Cepeda belongs to 14 halls of fame, the most by any Puerto Rican athlete: the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, Puerto Rico Baseball Hall of Fame, Laredo Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame, Santurce Hall of Fame, Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame, Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Guayama Hall of Fame, Ponce Hall of Fame, Catano Hall of Fame, Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum, African American Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame.

Orlando Cepeda suffered what was called a “cardiac episode and head injury” and a stroke after falling in a parking lot at the Rancho Solano Golf Course complex in Fairfield, California.

Orlando Cepeda was hospitalized for several months before being released.

In 2020, Orlando Cepeda sued his daughter-in-law alleging "elder financial abuse, fraud, negligence in handling his finances after he granted her power of attorney in 2018, and infliction of emotional distress".

Orlando Cepeda has been recognized nationally for his humanitarian efforts as an ambassador for baseball.

Orlando Cepeda served as an honorary spokesman for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

Orlando Cepeda is recognized nationally for his humanitarian efforts as an ambassador for baseball and the San Francisco Giants.

Orlando Cepeda is a public speaker for the Omega Boys and Girls Club, counseling at-risk children in the San Francisco community.

Orlando Cepeda is revered in the local community and a local band has a song that celebrates him.

Orlando Cepeda continues to be a part of the Giants front office staff and is often involved with the team's spring training activities.

Orlando Cepeda is recognized at Ponce's Parque de los Poncenos Ilustres in the area of sports.