The Eastern Stars - Mark Kurlansky [108]
Tony Fernández
Octavio Antonio Castro Fernández was born on June 30, 1962, in Barrio Restauración. The Blue Jays signed him on April 24, 1979. He debuted in the major leagues on September 2, 1983, for the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1990 he was traded to the Padres, then traded to the Mets in 1992, to the Reds as a free agent in March 1994, to the Yankees in December 1994, to the Indians in 1996, back to the Blue Jays in 1997, and to the Brewers in February 2001; he played his final game for the Brewers, on October 7, 2001. He played shortstop as well as a smaller number of games as a second baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter. For four consecutive seasons, from 1986 to 1989, he received a Gold Glove and was the American League’s Most Valuable Player. In his seventeen seasons in the major leagues, he hit 414 doubles and 92 triples, had 844 RBIs, and stole 246 bases.
1984
Ramón Romero
Ramón de los Santos Romero was born on January 8, 1959, in Barrio Restauración. A left-handed pitcher, he was signed by the Cleveland Indians on October 1, 1976. He debuted on September 18, 1984, with the Cleveland Indians, and played his final game on September 21, 1985, with the Indians. He had a career 6.28 ERA.
1985
Mariano Duncan
Mariano Nalasco Duncan was born on March 13, 1963, in Angelina. He played mostly second base but also shortstop, outfield, left field, third base, first base, and right field, and was a designated hitter. The Dodgers signed him on January 7, 1982, and he debuted in the major leagues on April 9, 1985, for the Dodgers. He stole 38 bases his rookie year. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. The Philadelphia Phillies signed him as a free agent on April 14, 1995. The New York Yankees signed him as a free agent on December 11, 1995, and they then traded him to the Blue Jays on July 29, 1997. He played his final game on September 17, 1997, for the Blue Jays, for a total of twelve seasons in the major leagues. His batting average was .306 in 1990 and .340 in 1996. He had 233 doubles, 491 RBIs, and 174 stolen bases. After his playing career ended, Duncan became a coach for the L.A. Dodgers.
Manny Lee
Manuel Lora Lee was born on June 17, 1965, in Villa Magdalena. The Mets signed him on May 10, 1982, and he debuted in the major leagues on April 10, 1985, for the Toronto Blue Jays. At ages nineteen and twenty (in 1985 and 1986) he was the youngest player in the American League.
During his eleven-season major-league career, he played shortstop in 522 games, second base in 358 games, third base in 32 games, and right field in 1 game, and was a designated hitter in 25 games. He played his final game on April 26, 1995, for the St. Louis Cardinals.
1986
Juan Castillo
Juan Bryas Castillo was born on January 25, 1962, in Placer Bonito. He was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers on October 11, 1979, and debuted in the major leagues on April 12, 1986, for the Brewers. He played second base, shortstop, third base, and left field, and also was a designated hitter, but was primarily a second baseman, playing a total of 135 games at second base. Castillo played his final game on April 17, 1989. He played for the Brewers for his entire four-season major-league career.
Balvino Galvez
Balvino Jerez Galvez was born on March 31, 1964, in Batey Monte Cristi. He was a right-handed pitcher signed by the Dodgers on September 10, 1981. He debuted in the major leagues on May 7, 1986, for the Dodgers and pitched his final game on October 5, 1986, playing only one season and pitching only 10 games in the major leagues, with an ERA of 3.92. Despite his good year, he was sent down to the minors, then had a stormy but illustrious career in Japanese baseball. In 2001 Galvez was about to go back to the majors to play for the Pirates when he got into an argument with the pitching coach in spring training,