Antonio Muñoz (baseball) explained

Antonio Muñoz
Birth Date:17 January 1949
Birth Place:Trinidad, Las Villas, Cuba
Position:First baseman
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Statleague:SNB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.302
Stat2label:Hits
Stat2value:2,014
Stat3label:Home runs
Stat3value:355
Hofcolor:Blue
Hoflink:Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame
Hoftype:Cuban
Hofdate:2014

Antonio Nicolás Muñoz Hernández (born January 17, 1949)[1] is a Cuban former baseball player who spent his 24-year career as a first baseman in the Cuban National Series (SNB). Known as "El Gigante del Escambray" (The Giant of Escambray), he played with Azucareros, Las Villas, Sancti Spíritus, and Cienfuegos.[2]

Muñoz won eight home run titles, and was the first player in the history of the National Series to reach 300 home runs. At the time of his retirement, he was the league's all-time leader in nine offensive statistics, including runs scored, doubles, home runs, total bases, walks and intentional walks.[3]

Muñoz was selected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, and was awarded the Hero of the Republic of Cuba by Miguel Díaz-Canel in 2024.[4] Sports Illustrated writer Ron Fimrite described him as a "left-handed Tony Pérez."[5] After Major League Baseball manager Preston Gómez visited Cuba in 1977, he reportedly said that the only thing he wanted to take back with him was "that big hillbilly in my suitcase," referring to Muñoz.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: "Solo me faltó jugar en las Grandes Ligas" . 15 September 2024 . Vanguardia . 23 January 2024.
  2. News: Otro título al pecho de Antonio Muñoz . 5 Septiembre . 15 September 2024 . es . 3 May 2024.
  3. Web site: Antonio Muñoz: El Gigante del Escambray. . Nuestra pasión beisbolera . 15 September 2024 . es.
  4. News: Muñoz and Román: Work heros from the sports world . Radio Habana Cuba . 30 April 2024.
  5. News: Fimrite . Ron . In Cuba, It's Viva El Grand Old Game . Sports Illustrated . 6 June 1977.
  6. Web site: The All-Time Cuban Team - Part 2 (Serie Nacional) . Cuban Baseball Digest. 13 May 2021 .