Card Corner--Vic Davalillo

Vic Davalillo--Topps Company--1973

Little Vic Davalillo was one of my favorite players from my early years as a fan. Why did I like Davalillo so much? First, you have to love the name, pronounced DAV-AH-LEE-YO, which flows through the vocal chords. Then there is Davalillo's Latin American heritage; as someone who is half-Puerto Rican, I've always felt special kinship with Latino ballplayers. And then there is Davalillo's stature as a player; he was never quite the star that some predicted he would be, but he had a fine career as a role player and bench player. I've always liked such "supporting cast" type of players, in part because they have had to work so hard to overcome their everyman struggles, either to remain in the lineup or to merely stay on a major league roster. In Davalillo's case, he regularly had to overcome the preconceived notion that someone five-feet, seven-inches tall couldn't play the outfield or hit well enough to stay in the big leagues.

In 1965, Davalillo made the All-Star team while patrolling center field for the Indians. His newfound All-Star status, coupled with the Gold Glove he won in 1964, led some scouts to predict stardom for the native Venezuelan. Stardom never materialized, but Davalillo didn't exactly flop either. During the first half of his career, he established himself as a fine defensive outfielder with a strong arm. And then in the second half, when his throwing arm became a liability due to injury, he became a smarter and more effective hitter, both in a platoon role and as one of the game's great pinch-hitters. In 1970, Davalillo collected a league-leading 24 pinch-hits for the Cardinals, making him one of the game's most dangerous clutch hitters in the late innings.

In 1971, Davalillo became a huge component of the Pirates' World Championship run. Arguably the Pirates' best bench player in 1971, Davalillo emerged as an effective backup to Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell, giving the two Hall of Famers an occasional breather in the corners of the outfield. In 1972, Davalillo enjoyed an even more productive season--arguably the best of his career.  Although Davalillo started the season on the bench, he moved into the lineup when manager Bill Virdon decided to shift Willie Stargell from the outfield to first base. Davalillo became the Pirates' regular left fielder against right-handed pitching, batted .318 in 368 at-bats, and swiped 14 bases. 

After a slow start in 1973, the Pirates sold Davalillo to the A's, who were looking for a competent left-handed bat to use as a pinch-hitter and designated hitter.  Davalillo batted only .188 in 64 regular season at-bats for the A's, but played a key role in the American League Championship Series against the Orioles. In the decisive fifth game, Davalillo delivered a key RBI triple against Baltimore starter Doyle Alexander, helping the A's to a clinching 3-0 victory.  Davalillo also took part in Oakland's World Series victory over the Mets.

In 1974, Davalillo batted only .174 through Oakland's first 21 games, when the A's decided to give him his unconditional release.  Davalillo had long since gained a reputation for excessive drinking, which combined with his age and lack of hitting, led many to believe that his career had ended.

Fortunately, the pesky veteran hitter decided to continue his career in the Mexican League. Playing for Cordoba and Puebla, Davalillo batted .329 or better in each of his first three seasons south of the border.  In 1977, Davalillo was leading the Mexican League in hitting with a sizzling .384 batting mark. Dodgers superscout Charlie Metro spotted Davalillo and recommended that general manager Al Campanis sign the veteran left-handed hitter for the stretch run.  "I saw him in 20 official at-bats and he got nine hits," Metro recalled. "But what really sold me was that in those 20 at-bats--and every single time I saw him take batting practice--he never once failed to hit the ball when he swung at it."

Davalillo justified Metro's scouting report by batting .313 for the Dodgers in 48 late season at-bats.  Davalillo's most memorable moment as a Dodger occurred in Game Three of the National League Championship Series against the Phillies. Davalillo laid down a surprise two-out bunt single that spearheaded a three-run comeback in the ninth inning.  Davalillo's bunt, perhaps the most important hit of his long career, served as the turning point of momentum in the playoff series.  Spearheaded by Davalillo's timely bunt, the Dodgers went on to beat the Phillies. 

Davalillo's major league career finally came to an end in 1980. He concluded a vagabond but productive career with a .279 batting average, 125 stolen bases, one All-Star Game berth, a single-season pinch-hitting record, World Series appearances with three different teams, and two championship rings. Never a star, he became a journeyman, a term that some unfairly treat with derision, but one that Davalillo made all the more respectable.