Sandy Valdespino
Born: 1/24/1939 in San Jose de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba
Died: 2/26/2023 in Moultrie, GA, USA
MLB Debut: 1965-04-12 | Final Game: 1971-09-28
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: Hilario Valdespino
Biography
Sandy Valdespino was a professional baseball player who made his mark in Major League Baseball during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Born in 1939, Valdespino played primarily as a position player from 1965 until his final game on September 28, 1971. Over the course of his career, he participated in 382 games, demonstrating a combination of speed and versatility on the field. He recorded 176 hits, including 7 home runs, and drove in 67 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .23. Valdespino also showcased his base-running abilities, accumulating 14 stolen bases.
Valdespino's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball characterized by the emergence of new talent and evolving playing styles. Although not a superstar, he contributed to his teams with a solid presence and was known for his hustle and adaptability. His time in the league coincided with significant events in baseball history, including the integration of the sport and the rise of more power-hitting players. Valdespino's contributions to the teams he played for, notably the Minnesota Twins and the San Francisco Giants, left a lasting impression on the fans and the game itself.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 382 | 765 | 96 | 176 | 23 | 3 | 7 | 67 | 14 | 57 | 129 | 0.230 | 0.286 | 0.295 | 0.581 | -1504.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | MIN | AL | 108 | 245 | 38 | 64 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 7 | 20 | 28 | 0.261 | -247.4 |
| 1966 | MIN | AL | 52 | 108 | 11 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 0.176 | -586.0 |
| 1967 | MIN | AL | 99 | 97 | 9 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 22 | 0.165 | -634.8 |
| 1968 | ATL | NL | 36 | 86 | 8 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 20 | 0.233 | -35.7 |
| 1969 | HOU | NL | 41 | 119 | 17 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 15 | 19 | 0.244 | -205.4 |
| 1969 | SE1 | AL | 20 | 38 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0.211 | -205.4 |
| 1970 | ATL | AL | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1971 | KCR | AL | 18 | 63 | 10 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.317 | 204.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.273 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | WS | MIN | 5 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.273 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 217 | 146 | 288 | 12 | 8 | 1 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | MIN | OF | 57 | 47 | 94 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 1966 | MIN | OF | 23 | 20 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | MIN | OF | 65 | 9 | 40 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | ATL | OF | 20 | 20 | 40 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | HOU | OF | 29 | 28 | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | SE1 | OF | 7 | 7 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1970 | ML4 | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | KCA | OF | 15 | 15 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Left Field | 200 |
| Right Field | 20 |