Minnie Rojas
Cuban baseball player (1933–2002) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Minervino Alejandro "Minnie" Rojas Landin (November 26, 1933 – March 23, 2002) was a Cuban professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right-handed relief pitcher for the California Angels from 1966 to 1968 after many seasons pitching in the Mexican League, the minor leagues, and semi-pro leagues.
Minnie Rojas | |
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Pitcher | |
Born: (1933-11-26)November 26, 1933 Remedios, Cuba | |
Died: March 23, 2002(2002-03-23) (aged 68) Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
May 30, 1966, for the California Angels | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 24, 1968, for the California Angels | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 23-16 |
Earned run average | 3.00 |
Saves | 43 |
Teams | |
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Career highlights and awards | |
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Rojas performed well in a relief role with the Angels as a 32-year-old rookie in 1966. He was named the AL Fireman of the Year in 1967 after leading the American League (AL) with 27 saves, a franchise record that stood for 18 years. His effectiveness was reduced by injuries in 1968, and he missed the second half of the season with tendinitis and other arm issues. In 1969, Rojas pitched briefly in the minor leagues and the Mexican League in an attempt to regain his form, but lingering arm issues led him to retire from baseball without ever returning to the majors.
In 1970, Rojas and his family were involved in a serious automobile accident that killed two of his three children and left him partially paralyzed for the rest of his life. The California Angels organization and players held fundraisers to help their former teammate, including organizing a testimonial game for "Minnie Rojas Day" in 1971. [1]