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By Frederic Daigle The Canadian Press
Sat., July 28, 2018
COOPERSTOWN, NY – On Sunday, Vladimir Guerrero will become the first player from the Dominican Republic to be inducted into the Temple of the fame of the national baseball, and only the third player of this country to make the exclusive club, joining the pitchers Juan Marichal and Pedro Martinez. Here's how it happened:
Discovery
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Longtime scout Fred Ferreira spotted Guerrero in 1993. Ferreira was evaluating 30 other Dominican players that day and Guerrero was arrived at the last minute wearing shoes that were not only inconsistent but of different sizes. After seeing throwing balls from the outside field and running 60 yards in 6.6 seconds, Ferreira asked Guerrero to stay and play a game against the top 18 players badessed that day. Unfortunately, Guerrero pulled a muscle from the thigh after hitting a ball at the shortstop – but Ferreira already liked what he was seeing. On the way to the airport, Ferreira stopped at the Guerrero family and offered him a contract. The numbers have changed over the years, but it seems that Guerrero has signed between $ 1,500 and $ 2,500 (all US dollars). He would earn more than $ 125 million during his career
Fans waited three years to get a glimpse of their rookie star on the field. On September 19, 1996 against the Atlanta Braves, he played the first of the 2,147 games of the MLB. In his second home run, facing pitcher Steve Avery, Guerrero slipped a ball on the ground between the shortstop and second base for his first base shot. Like many others during his career, Guerrero hit the first pitch he saw.
Premier of 449
On September 21, 1996, facing the Braves more closely Mark Wohlers, Guerrero started the ninth inning with the 449 career home runs – on a field out of the strike zone, also a familiar sight. Guerrero added 233 homers in eight seasons in Montreal, 173 with the Anaheim Angels, 29 with the Texas Rangers and 13 as the Baltimore Oriole.
First of nine
Guerrero played nine star games and the first was on July 13, 1999 at Fenway Park in Boston. As a reservist after Canada's Larry Walker started in the right field, Guerrero was eliminated in his only appearance on the plate. During his career, Guerrero was seven times titular with five hits in 20 appearances in plate, including only one at home.
Full Cycle
The Expos were borrowed in 2003 by MLB and are not in a position to make a competitive bid to Guerrero when he hit the free agency at the end of the season. On September 14, with the Expos 17 behind the Braves, a crowd of 21,417 spectators at the Olympic Stadium saw Guerrero win a double in the second set, a singles in the third, a triple in the fifth and a double. home runs in the seventh en route to a 7-3 win over the New York Mets. It was the sixth and last cycle of the history of Expos.
Angel in the Field Outside
Not yet 29, Guerrero was the most wanted free agent after the 2003 season. Courted by the Orioles and Mets, Guerrero signed with the Angels for $ 70 million over five seasons. His arrival changed the fortune of the franchise. The Halos have made the series five times in six seasons
Derby King
The night before his eighth appearance at the AT-T Park game in San Francisco in 2007, Guerrero – with coach Angels Dino Ebel doing pitching – 17 total touchdowns, but only three in the final to beat Blue Jay Alex Rios in the home run derby.
Lone Ranger
The Angels did not make the World Series with Guerrero, getting closer in 2009 when they took the Yankees champion to six games in the American League Championship series. After this season, Guerrero left as a free agent on a $ 5.5 million one – year contract with the Texas Rangers that turned out to be a robbery. He hit 29 home homers with 115 RBIs at the age of 35 and the Rangers reached the World Series – where they were swept by the San Francisco Giants
Last Call
Seven Years after hitting their first pursuit of Guerrero. The Orioles have signed it for his last season. He hit .290 with 13 homers and 30 doubles in 562 at-bats. The final totals on the resume that brought him to Cooperstown: 2,590 hits, 449 homers, 477 doubles, 1,496 RBIs, 181 interceptions
Hall call
In his second year of 39 Eligibility, Guerrero was elected to the renowned Baseball Hall with support on 92.9 percent of the votes cast by members of Baseball Writers' Association of America. He will enter the hall in a cap of angels. The induction ceremony and the induction speeches begin at 1.30 pm. Sunday (TV: MLB Network)
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