Major League Baseball Player. Three-time All-Star player in the USA, he won the American League batting title in 1954. Born Roberto Avila González in Veracruz, Mexico, he began his career in 1947 with the Mexican League's Pueblo Pericos, where he batted .346 and was one of the first Mexican players to come to the USA, playing second base for the Cleveland Indians from 1949 to 1958. Later he was with the Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Braves, and Boston Red Sox during his 11 seasons in the Major Leagues. He batted .341 to beat Ted Williams and Minnie Minoso for the American League batting title and helped Cleveland win the pennant in 1954. The first Latino to win the batting crown, he played in the All-Star Games in 1952, 1954, and 1955. In over 1,300 games, he had a career batting average of .281, with 80 homers and 457 RBIs. Later, he played in 1960 for Mexico City's Tigers where he batted .333 and set a record with 125 RBIs in his final season. He was inducted into the Mexico Baseball Hall of Fame (Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Profesional de México) in 1971.
Major League Baseball Player. Three-time All-Star player in the USA, he won the American League batting title in 1954. Born Roberto Avila González in Veracruz, Mexico, he began his career in 1947 with the Mexican League's Pueblo Pericos, where he batted .346 and was one of the first Mexican players to come to the USA, playing second base for the Cleveland Indians from 1949 to 1958. Later he was with the Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Braves, and Boston Red Sox during his 11 seasons in the Major Leagues. He batted .341 to beat Ted Williams and Minnie Minoso for the American League batting title and helped Cleveland win the pennant in 1954. The first Latino to win the batting crown, he played in the All-Star Games in 1952, 1954, and 1955. In over 1,300 games, he had a career batting average of .281, with 80 homers and 457 RBIs. Later, he played in 1960 for Mexico City's Tigers where he batted .333 and set a record with 125 RBIs in his final season. He was inducted into the Mexico Baseball Hall of Fame (Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Profesional de México) in 1971.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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