The Eastern Stars - Mark Kurlansky [109]
1988
Ravelo Manzanillo
Ravelo Manzanillo was born on October 17, 1963, in Placer Bonito. He was a left-handed pitcher. He debuted in the major leagues on September 25, 1988, for the Chicago White Sox and played for them until 1994, when the Pirates signed him as a free agent. He spent his final two seasons, 1994 and 1995, playing for the Pirates. Manzanillo played his final game on May 9, 1995, for the Pittsburgh Pirates. His career ERA was 4.43.
1989
Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta Sosa was born on November 12, 1968, in Consuelo. The Texas Rangers signed him on July 30, 1985, and he debuted in the major leagues on June 16, 1989, for the Texas Rangers. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox, then to the Cubs on March 30, 1992, and to the Baltimore Orioles on February 2, 2005. The Rangers signed him as a free agent on January 30, 2007, and he retired at the end of the season, although he still held out hopes for a comeback.
Sosa played mostly outfield and also was a designated hitter. In 1993 he scored more than 30 home runs and stole more than 30 bases, breaking the 30-30 record. In 1998 he was awarded the titles of National League Most Valuable Player and Major League Player of the Year. In 1998 he and Mark McGwire competed for the National League home-run title. Although Sosa’s sixty-second home run in September was hit after McGwire’s, enabling McGwire to win the contest—and Sosa’s 66 home runs that season fell short of McGwire’s 70—Sosa went on to be the only batter in history to hit 60 or more home runs for three consecutive seasons. On June 20, 2007, in his last season, Sosa became one of only five players to hit 600 home runs.
José Canó
Joselito Soriano Canó was born on March 7, 1962, in Boca del Soco. A right-handed pitcher, he was signed by the New York Yankees on March 10, 1980; the Yankees released him on August 6, 1980. The Atlanta Braves signed him as a free agent on December 1, 1981, and released him on June 4, 1982, and again in 1983 and 1985. The Astros signed him as a free agent on April 15, 1987, and he debuted in the major leagues on August 28, 1989, for the Houston Astros, playing his final game on September 30, 1989. In his only major-league season, Canó pitched in six games, starting twice, with a 1-1 win-loss record and an ERA of 5.09.
Juan “Tito” Bell
Juan Mathey Bell was born on March 29, 1964, in Los Cuatro Caminos, San Pedro de Macorís: he was the brother of George Bell. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed him as a free agent on September 1, 1984, but then traded him to the Baltimore Orioles on December 4, 1988. He debuted in the major leagues on September 6, 1989, for the Baltimore Orioles. On August 11, 1992, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. After playing for the Phillies, he spent his final two seasons playing for the Montreal Expos and the Boston Red Sox. His major-league career consisted of seven seasons. Bell played his final game on August 25, 1995, for the Boston Red Sox. He played mostly second base, but also shortstop, outfield, third base, right field, center field, and left field, and was a designated hitter.
1990
José Offerman
José Antonio Dono Offerman was born on November 8, 1968, in Barrio Blanco, San Pedro de Macorís. A switch-hitter and right-handed thrower, he was signed by the Dodgers on July 24, 1986. He debuted in the major leagues on August 19, 1990, for the Dodgers. He has played shortstop, second base, first base, outfield, left field, right field, and center field, and is a designated hitter. He was traded to the Kansas City Royals on December 17, 1995. The Boston Red Sox signed him as a free agent on November 16, 1988. A conditional deal sent him to the Seattle Mariners on August 8, 2002. The Montreal Expos signed him as a free agent on February 26, 2003, and released him on April 1, 2003. The Minnesota Twins signed him as a free agent on February 6, 2004. The Philadelphia Phillies signed him as a free