Zoilo Versalles
Born: 12/18/1939 in Havana, La Habana, Cuba
Died: 6/9/1995 in Bloomington, MN, USA
MLB Debut: 1959-08-01 | Final Game: 1971-09-28
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 146 lbs
Full name: Zoilo Casanova Versalles
Biography
Zoilo Versalles was a talented position player who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball during his career from 1959 to 1971. Born in 1939, Versalles was known for his dynamic playing style and versatility on the field. Over the course of 1,400 games, he amassed 1,246 hits, showcased his power with 95 home runs, and contributed 471 RBIs to his teams. His batting average of .242 reflected the challenges of an era that leaned heavily on pitching, yet he still managed to steal 97 bases, demonstrating his speed and agility.
Versalles achieved All-Star status twice during his career, underscoring his status as one of the prominent shortstops of his time. He played a key role in the Minnesota Twins' success in the 1960s, including their memorable 1965 World Series appearance against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His contributions on both offense and defense helped shape the Twinsโ identity during a pivotal period in the franchise's history. As a player who navigated the transition from the deadball era to the more modern approaches of the 1970s, Versalles remains a notable figure in the annals of baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1400 | 5141 | 650 | 1246 | 230 | 63 | 95 | 471 | 97 | 318 | 810 | 0.242 | 0.290 | 0.367 | 0.657 | -4925.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | WSN | AL | 29 | 59 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 0.153 | -396.4 |
| 1960 | WSN | AL | 15 | 45 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0.133 | 0.0 |
| 1961 | MIN | AL | 129 | 510 | 65 | 143 | 25 | 5 | 7 | 53 | 16 | 25 | 61 | 0.280 | -429.2 |
| 1962 | MIN | AL | 160 | 568 | 69 | 137 | 18 | 3 | 17 | 67 | 5 | 37 | 71 | 0.241 | -1127.5 |
| 1963 | MIN | AL | 159 | 621 | 74 | 162 | 31 | 13 | 10 | 54 | 7 | 33 | 66 | 0.261 | 236.8 |
| 1964 | MIN | AL | 160 | 659 | 94 | 171 | 33 | 10 | 20 | 64 | 14 | 42 | 88 | 0.259 | 794.6 |
| 1965 | MIN | AL | 160 | 666 | 126 | 182 | 45 | 12 | 19 | 77 | 27 | 41 | 122 | 0.273 | 1537.5 |
| 1966 | MIN | AL | 137 | 543 | 73 | 135 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 36 | 10 | 40 | 85 | 0.249 | -467.5 |
| 1967 | MIN | AL | 160 | 581 | 63 | 116 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 50 | 5 | 33 | 113 | 0.200 | -2310.4 |
| 1968 | LAD | NL | 122 | 403 | 29 | 79 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 6 | 26 | 84 | 0.196 | -1472.7 |
| 1969 | CLE | AL | 72 | 217 | 21 | 49 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 3 | 21 | 47 | 0.226 | -500.7 |
| 1969 | WS2 | AL | 31 | 75 | 9 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 0.267 | -500.7 |
| 1971 | ATL | NL | 66 | 194 | 21 | 37 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 22 | 2 | 11 | 40 | 0.191 | -670.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 28 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0.286 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | WS | MIN | 7 | 28 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0.286 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 53 | 42 | 83 | 96 | 4 | 17 |
| 3B | 65 | 51 | 58 | 97 | 12 | 11 |
| SS | 1265 | 1227 | 2126 | 3645 | 268 | 727 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | WS1 | SS | 29 | 19 | 41 | 59 | 6 | 13 |
| 1960 | WS1 | SS | 15 | 15 | 30 | 42 | 5 | 6 |
| 1961 | MIN | SS | 129 | 126 | 229 | 371 | 30 | 74 |
| 1962 | MIN | SS | 160 | 157 | 335 | 501 | 26 | 127 |
| 1963 | MIN | SS | 159 | 157 | 301 | 448 | 30 | 87 |
| 1964 | MIN | SS | 160 | 158 | 271 | 427 | 31 | 89 |
| 1965 | MIN | SS | 160 | 158 | 248 | 487 | 39 | 105 |
| 1966 | MIN | SS | 135 | 135 | 195 | 377 | 35 | 69 |
| 1967 | MIN | SS | 159 | 152 | 229 | 454 | 30 | 81 |
| 1968 | LAN | SS | 119 | 116 | 204 | 380 | 28 | 62 |
| 1969 | CLE | 2B | 46 | 37 | 72 | 83 | 4 | 16 |
| 1969 | CLE | 3B | 30 | 20 | 28 | 42 | 2 | 8 |
| 1969 | CLE | SS | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1969 | WS2 | 2B | 6 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| 1969 | WS2 | 3B | 5 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | WS2 | SS | 13 | 9 | 10 | 33 | 3 | 2 |
| 1971 | ATL | 2B | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | ATL | 3B | 30 | 29 | 29 | 45 | 8 | 2 |
| 1971 | ATL | SS | 24 | 23 | 32 | 60 | 5 | 11 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 53 |
| Third Base | 65 |
| Shortstop | 1265 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Gold Glove | SS |
| 1965 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 1965 | TSN All-Star | SS |
| 1963 | Gold Glove | SS |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 1st | 275.0 | 280 | 19 |
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 21th | 8.0 | 280 | 0 |