Latin legend Orlando Cepeda dies at 86: Who was the former Rookie of the Yea, MVP, and Hall of Famer?

Regarded as one of the greatest Latin American players to ever grace an MLB field, the former Giants star was as prolific as he was consistent across a glittering career that lasted almost two decades. He will be missed.

MLB Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda has passed away

According to an announcement from Major League Baseball on Friday, Hall of Fame slugger Orlando Cepeda has died at age 86. Unanimously selected as the NL Rookie of the Year in 1958 with the Giants, Cepeda made his mark in MLB from Day 1 and quite frankly never stopped, eventually picking up the NL MVP in 1967, the same season in which he led the Cardinals to a World Series title.

Known as “The Baby Bull”, Cepeda registered 379 home runs, while batting .297, and featuring in 11 All-Star teams across 17 seasons. In a statement released by his wife, Nydia, the legendary slugger was honored and remembered. “Our beloved Orlando passed away peacefully at home this evening, listening to his favorite music and surrounded by his loved ones. We take comfort that he is at peace,” read the statement.

A closer look at Orlando Cepeda’s career

Regarding what his career looked like, Cepeda, a native of Puerto Rico, had stints with a variety of teams during his career including the New York/San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, Oakland A’s, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals. Yet it’s got to be said that it was the nine seasons that he spent with the Giants that made him a household name. Speaking about that time in recent years, Cepeda noted the difference between himself and the legendary Willie Mays who was synonymous with the franchise’s time in New York.

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“Right from the beginning, I fell in love with the city. There was everything that I liked. We played more day games then, so I usually had at least two nights a week free. On Thursdays, I would always go to the Copacabana to hear the Latin music. On Sundays, after games, I’d go to the Jazz Workshop for the jam sessions. At the Blackhawk, I’d hear Miles Davis, John Coltrane. ...I roomed then with Felipe Alou and Rubén Gómez, but I was the only one who liked to go out at night. Felipe was very religious and quiet, and Ruben just liked to play golf, so he wasn’t a night person. But I was single, and I just loved that town,” he said.

Sadly, it was not to last as following a period of seemingly unfair treatment from then manager Alvin Dark, Cepeda was traded to the Cardinals in 1966 for left-hander Ray Sadecki It was to be the beginning of a sensational period for him as he went on to play arguably the best season of his career, notching an OPS+ of 164 with 25 home runs and an NL-leading 111 RBI en route to the above mentioned MVP award and a World Series title. Ultimately, when the curtain finally came down on his illustrious career, it was to the tune of 2,351 hits, 379 home runs, 417 doubles, 142 stolen bases, 1,365 RBI, and 50.1 WAR. Needless to say, his Hall of Fame induction at Cooperstown which occurred in 1999 was simply a formality. May Orlando Cepeda rest in peace.