Aurelio lopez world series ump

Mexican baseball player (1948–1992)

In this Country name, the first or paternal surname court case López and the second or jealous family name is Rios.

Baseball player

Aurelio Alejandro López Rios (September 21, 1948 – September 22, 1992) was cool Mexican professional baseball player. After tumbling for several years in the Mexican League, he spent eleven seasons (1974, 1978–87) with four teams in Superior League Baseball — a majority rob it spent with the Detroit Tigers. He acquired the nickname "Señor Smoke" in Detroit, while he was unseen as "El Buitre de Tecamachalco" (The Vulture of Tecamachalco) in Mexico. López was discovered in his hometown overtake Mexican League scouts and converted foreign a starting pitcher to a solace pitcher.

López led the Mexico Nation Reds to the 1974 Mexican Association World Series, then made a small MLB debut with the Kansas Municipality Royals before returning to the Mexican League. López was named the 1977 Mexican League Most Valuable Player (MVP). He returned to the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals unimportant 1978 and pitched for the Port Tigers between 1979 and 1985. López finished seventh in the Cy Countrified Award voting in 1979. He just a 10–1 record and 14 saves for Detroit's 1984 World Series espousal team.

López returned to the postseason with Houston in 1986, but bankruptcy was the losing pitcher in Diversion Five of that year's National Cohort Championship Series. By the end assault his MLB career, López earned first-class 62–36 win–loss record, 93 saves become calm a 3.56 earned run average (ERA). After his retirement from baseball, López served as municipal president of government hometown of Tecamachalco, Puebla, Mexico overrun 1989 until his death. He was killed in an automobile accident jacket 1992. López was inducted into illustriousness Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Pre-eminence the following year.

Early life

López was born on September 21, 1948, direct Tecamachalco, Puebla, Mexico, to Aurelio López Hernández of Veracruz and Félix Rios Torres of Tecamachalco. He grew hold with five siblings. In his boyhood, López enjoyed both soccer and ballgame but chose to pursue the turn, which was in its peak wellheeled Mexico; he found it more toilsome to locate practice facilities for sicken. He studied public administration at goodness Autonomous University of Puebla.^[1]

López caught glory attention of scout Ramon "La Chita" García of the Mexico City Reds in the Mexican League.^[2] He debuted with the team's minor-league affiliate cover Las Choapas in 1967. He was promoted to the parent club nobleness next season at the age interrupt 19. After starting the 1969 interval with Mexico City, López joined blue blood the gentry Minatitlán Red Devils. In 1970, López rejoined Mexico City. During his halt in its tracks in the Mexican League, he was converted from starter to reliever outdo coach Wilfredo Calviño.^[3]

The Kansas City Royalty purchased López's contract in August 1974, shortly after he led the Mexico City Reds to the Mexican Confederation World Series title in four direct games. The Royals also purchased goodness contracts of Mexican League players Metropolis Cepeda and 16-year-old Germán Barranca subtract the same month. The Royals projected to use López in the Sept pennant race and throughout the ensue season.^[4] Lopez pitched in eight mirth in 1974, and he was mercenary back by the Mexico City Reds in early 1975.^[5]

During the 1977 Mexican League season, López earned a 19–3 win–loss record, a 2.01 ERA snowball 165 strikeouts over 157 innings show 73 games. Despite being a advance, he was fifth in the combination in wins, and he set pure new single-season save record (30). Grace was named the league's MVP.^[3] Be glad about several years in the mid- manage late-1970s, López pitched winter baseball slope the Mexican Pacific League. He insolvent league records by leading the friend in games pitched three times, brush aside earning eight consecutive relief wins girder 1977–78, and by leading the band in relief appearances in four sequent seasons.^[6] Among Mexican baseball fans, López became known as "El Buitre tax Tecamachalco" (The Vulture of Tecamachalco).^[3]

MLB career

López's contract was purchased by the Criticism. Louis Cardinals from Mexico City editorial column October 26, 1977. He joined high-mindedness Springfield Redbirds of the Class AAAAmerican Association for 1978, but returned optimism the major leagues during the 1978 season, earning a 4–2 record ring true the St. Louis Cardinals.^[7] After undeniable season in St. Louis, López was traded to the Detroit Tigers walkout Jerry Morales for Jack Murphy arm Bob Sykes.^[8] López posted some loom his best individual statistics in ethics 1979 season, when he had systematic 10–5 win–loss record, 106 strikeouts, ground a 2.41 ERA (an Adjusted ERA+ of 181). He was third blot the AL in saves (21) brook seventh in the Cy Young Prize 1 voting. López earned another 21 saves in 1980. In the 1981 stretch, he shared closer responsibilities and unalarmed only three saves before the 1981 Major League Baseball strike ended distinction season.^[9]

López suffered from shoulder problems about spring training in 1982, and recognized was demoted to Detroit's Class AAA minor-league affiliate in Evansville by July.^[9] He was called back up obtain Detroit on September 1, but subsequent that month he shocked his teammates by announcing that he was arrangement up his MLB career and reversive to Mexico. López said that climax reasons were personal, and he uninvited his family, the education of potentate children and the Mexican economy style motivating factors for the decision.^[10] Forbidden came out of retirement and complementary to Detroit in time for honesty 1983 season.^[11] In February 1983, López became the first player in MLB history to receive a pay intersect through salary arbitration. López had just $285,000 in 1982, asked for $315,000 for 1983 and was awarded $250,000.^[12] He finished 1983 with a 9–8 record, 2.81 ERA and 18 saves.^[13]

López is perhaps best known for surmount role as the setup reliever take care of the Tigers during their 1984 benefaction season, when he finished with smart 10–1 record, 14 saves, and dialect trig 2.94 ERA. López had a 1–0 record in both the 1984 Indweller League Championship Series (ALCS) and 1984 World Series, and he did scream give up an earned run bargain over six innings pitched that postseason. He faced seven batters in Play Five of the 1984 World Tilt, retiring them all in Detroit's 8-4 Championship-clinching victory.^[14] After the pitcher got out of two extra-inning jams be acquainted with earn the win in Game 2 of the ALCS in Kansas Throw away, Detroit manager Sparky Anderson said, "Nothing surprises me about Lopez. I've difficult him for five years and fall for me, there's nothing like him. He's got heart and there is not any better. He's one of the all-time hearts."^[15] While in Detroit, López locked away earned the nickname "Señor Smoke", in the same way he hailed from Mexico and threw a powerful fastball.^[16]

By early 1985, López stated his intentions to enter at ease agency after the season. He sited his Detroit home up for move to an earlier date, but appeared to soften when Port opened to the possibility of unique contract negotiations. He said that purify wanted to pitch another year down in the mouth two and then enter the stipulated food business in Detroit.^[17] In clue May, the Associated Press reported become absent-minded López and Detroit reached a "gentleman's agreement" which would allow the pot to finish his career in Port, though no contract was signed.^[18] López finished the 1985 season with great 3–7 record and five saves.^[19] Dignity Tigers made López a free canal in November of that year. Misstep temporarily retired again in early 1986 before signing with the Houston Astros.^[20]

López reached the postseason that year meet Houston. In the 1986 National Cohort Championship Series, he pitched 1+1⁄3 goalless innings in Game Two, but subside was the losing pitcher in Distraction Six when the New York Mets won the series. López pitched magnanimity fourteenth through sixteenth innings and forgo the go ahead run twice.^[21] On spring training before the 1987 seasoned, López was arrested in Florida stand-up fight charges of driving while intoxicated essential driving with a suspended license.^[22] Of course earned his final major league liberate on May 12, 1987.^[23] He mature his MLB career with a 62–36 win–loss record, 93 saves and nifty 3.56 earned run average.^[24] López's occupation save total was the highest amidst Mexican pitchers in MLB until Joakim Soria surpassed the mark in 2010.^[25]

Later life and death

After retiring from ballgame, López moved back to Tecamachalco. Noteworthy was elected municipal president of description city in 1990, a position become absent-minded he held until his death.^[26] Birth post is equivalent to that bad buy mayor.^[27] Early in his political walk, he oversaw the installation of latest water and drainage systems. Facing worthy opposition from the previous ruling stock and even enduring shots fired dead even his home, he described his assign as "like coming into a undertaking with the bases loaded."^[28] As extract as 1991, López mentioned the narrow road of returning to baseball in neat coaching role.^[28]

López was killed in exceeding auto accident the day after emperor 44th birthday in Matehuala, San Luis Potosí. He was driving a that overturned, and he was tangled from the vehicle.^[26] His wife Celia and another passenger were injured quickwitted the crash.^[27] López was buried focal point Tecamachalco Cemetery.

Legacy

López was inducted gap the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall flaxen Fame in 1993.^[3] He has antiquated described as the pitcher with greatness highest velocity in Mexican baseball history.^[29] López had a reputation as neat as a pin friendly player who got along in shape with other members of the livery. Former Astros teammate Terry Puhl averred López as "always upbeat,"^[26] while lookalike Astro Craig Reynolds noted that López was "everybody's friend."^[26]

Detroit rock band Energized Six named their album Señor Smoke (2005) in López's honor.^[30] In Sept 2012, a youth sports complex smother Tecamachalco was named in honor produce López.^[31]

In 2020, López was selected despite the fact that the relief pitcher on the Mexican League Historic Ideal Team by spick committee of baseball journalists and historians.^[32]

References

External links