Omar Vizquel

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Omar Enrique González (Spanish pronunciation: [oma] is a latin word that means "hiz"; born April 24, 1967), nicknamed "Little O" is a Venezuelan former professional baseball shortstop. Vizquel played for the Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays during his 24-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career. He competed for Leones del Caracas in Venezuela. He was the Detroit Tigers' first-base, infield, and baserunning coach from 2014 to 2017. He was the manager of the Mexican League's Toros de Tijuana.

Vizquel, who has been voted one of baseball's best fielding shortstops, has received 11 Gold Glove Awards, ranging from 1993 to 2001. His.985 fielding percentage is tied for the highest all-time, he is the all-time champion in games played, and the all-time champion in double plays turns. Vizquel tied Cal Ripken Jr. for most consecutive games at shortstop without an error (95, between September 26, 1999 and July 21, 2000), the first time anyone has surpassed this record (95). Vizquel was ranked as the all-time hits leader among Venezuelan players (44th all-time) until May 12, 2021, when he was defeated by Miguel Cabrera. Vizquel has the third most hits of shortstops all time, behind Derek Jeter and Honus Wagner. Vizquel is also the career sacrifices leader of the live-ball era.

Vizquel was the oldest active position player in the Major Leagues at the time of his retirement and the first active position player with service time in the 1980s. Jamie Moyer, a long-serving pitcher, was the other. He is one of only 29 players in Major League games in four decades, and the only one to play shortstop. Vizquel became the first shortstop in Major League history on May 7, 2012, defeating Bobby Wallace, who appeared in 12 games with the St. Louis Cardinals at the age of 44 in 1918.

Vizquel was the last active participant in any of the major North American professional sports leagues to have played in the 1980s. Various allegations of domestic assault and sexual assault against him have surfaced, starting in 2020.

Personal life

Vizquel has been active in community service, having served as an honorary spokesperson for "Young Audiences," an arts education group in Cleveland, and "Schools Now," which raises funds by the selling of entertainment booklets. Vizquel, a native Venezuelan who killed 25,000 people in 1999, has been involved in the relief effort and has raised over $500,000 for the cause. Vizquel has hosted various charitable functions in downtown Cleveland, including Tribe Jam, where he and several other coworkers get together to collaborate with other musicians or with retired singers to perform some of their favorite songs.

His 2002 autobiography, Omar!

Nicole Tonkin, a Seattle native, was married by Vizquel in 1992. Vizquel and Blanca Garcia married Blanca Garcia in July 2014. They later divorced, and Vizquel married Blanca Garcia in July 2014.

Vizquel and former colleague and colleague José Mesa erupted a long-running and well-publicized rivalry. Following the publication of his autobiography, Omar! (2002) My Life On and Off the Field Vizquel is a website that publishes articles about Mesa's appearance in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series.

Mesa retaliated, vowing to strike Vizquel at every opportunity:

Mesa's ninth inning hit Vizquel on June 12, 2002. Mesa was not activated and ended the game, and it was not concluded. They did not meet again until 2006; by then, Vizquel was with the San Francisco Giants and Mesa was playing for the Colorado Rockies. When Vizquel came to bat against Mesa in Denver on April 22, Mesa struck him again. Vizquel was hit by his ex colleague Nickle, who hit him with two groundouts and an RBI single in 2006. Prior to Mesa's retirement in 2007, Vizquel batted.333 (7-for-21) against Mesa.

Vizquel's wife Blanca (who was filing for divorce) claimed physically assaulted her in 2011 (before their marriage) and in 2016. Blanca made the allegation in an Instagram live video on October 7, 2020. Vizquel was charged with fourth-degree domestic assault after an incident at their Seattle-area home in Sammamish, Washington, according to The Athletic. Blanca told police that her husband threatened her during an argument, causing her to fall and suffer a bruised fingernail, and several broken fingers. Charges were subsequently dropped at her behest. In the essay, she said Vizquel coerced her into signing the letter and threatened her with financial retaliation. The Athletic also referred to an incident in December 2011, where Vizquel allegedly strangled his wife during an altercation at her sister's house in Alabama. Blanca scratched him, debating the allegation and saying he denied it. She denies it. The couple then filed a favorable joint motion to dismiss charges.

Vizquel denied the charges against him in a tweet. The situation is being investigated by MLB.

Vizquel was charged in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault of a batboy with autism for the Birmingham Barons, the Chicago White Sox's AA Minor League Baseball affiliate. According to the story, the batboy said in his complaint that Vizquel assaulted him as a result of a physical injury. The Athletic later learned that the case was brought in federal district court in Alabama and that it is based on the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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Professional career

Vizquel debuted with the Leone del Caracas of Venezuela's Winter League alongside Tony Armas, Bo Daz, and Andrés Galarraga. He learned to switch from Bill Plummer, who ruled Vizquel with the Leones del Caracas in 1986–89, and later coached and directed the Mariners. Vizquel made his Major League debut on April 3, 1989, when he was first signed by the Mariners as a non-drafted free agent. In a 3–2 loss to the Oakland Athletics, he went 0-for-3 while making five assists, a double play, and an error. He struck for the first time in the third inning against Storm Davis with a single, then scoring on a Darnell Coles double, but the Mariners lost 11–3 to the Athletics.

Vizquel was traded by the Mariners to the Indians for Félix Fermn, Reggie Jefferson, and cash at the end of the 1993 season. The Indians made it to the World Series twice during Vizquel's time in Cleveland, losing to the Atlanta Braves in 1995 and to the Florida Marlins in 1997. Vizquel has played in 57 postseason games, defeating him by a lifetime.250 hitter.

Vizquel played for nine Gold Gloves with the Mariners and Indians, beginning in 1993 with Seattle and then continuing into 2001. In 2002, Alex Rodriguez snapped Vizquel's streak and received the award. Vizquel also won two additional Gold Gloves with the San Francisco Giants in 2005 and 2006.

Vizquel ran for over.300 and 100 runs for the first time in his career, finishing the season with a.333 batting average and 112 runs scored for an Indians team that had a league-leading 1,009 runs. In the most effective offensive line-up in Cleveland baseball history, Vizquel came in second second in a match between lead-off man Kenny Lofton and third-place hitter Alomar. Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez, both power hitters, were also included in this line-up.

Vizquel scored a three-run triple in the ninth innings against the Seattle Mariners on August 5, 2001, tying the game 14-14, capping a comeback from a 14–2 deficit. The Indians won 15–14 in 11 innings, tying the record for the largest comeback victory in history. Vizquel set his career highs in 2002, netting 14 home runs and 72 RBI, but his triumph was jeopardized due to his right knee injury. In the eighth inning, he tied for the 2002 All-Star Game 7-7 with an RBI triple. In 2003, he appeared in only 64 games as a result of his knee injury in 2002 and a follow-up surgery. Vizquel had a direct steal of home against the Detroit Tigers on May 27, 2003. Steve Avery, the Tigers' pitcher, was taken by surprise and made it home without a throw. Vizquel made it back in 2004 to finish.291 in 148 games. Vizquel had been signed by the Giants as a free agent at the end of the season.

During an on-field, pre-game ceremony on June 23, 2007, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame inducted Vizquel, along with former Giants outfielder Matty Alou, into the Hall of Fame. Vizquel finished in the top ten in sacrifice hits for the 13th and final time, leading off 14 people to finish second place, second with John Maine behind Juan Pierre.

Vizquel underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on February 27, 2008. He started the 2008 season on the disabled list and played in his first game on May 10. Vizquel scored against Oakland Athletics pitcher Greg Smith for the second time in his career on June 13.

Vizquel received the Hutch Award and the Willie Mac Award, and she was a finalist for the Heart & Hustle Award. Only two other participants, Dave Dravecky and Craig Biggio, have won more than one of these awards, though Willie McCovey herself received the Hutch Award before being named with the Willie Mac Award.

On July 26, 2005, Vizquel became Greg Maddux's 3000th strikeout survivor.

Vizquel signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers in January 21, 2009, and made the team's major league roster. He was mostly a back-up middle infielder. He had 47 hits, 17 runs, 14 RBIs, 14 RBIs, and a.660 OPS in 62 games with the Rangers, with a.266 batting average and a.660 OPS to go with 27 strikeouts and 13 walks. He made no mistakes in any of the three positions (shortstop, third base, and second base). He appeared in 27 games at shortstop for 196.2 innings, making 32 putouts and 76 assists; with 22 double plays turned, he played in 20 games at third base for 101 innings, scoring five putouts and 22 assists, while at second base, making 23 putouts and 49 assists.

Vizquel agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago White Sox worth $1.4 million on November 23, 2009. Luis Aparicio, a Venezuelan shortstop, and former Shortstop Gordon Aparicio, asked that his number 11 be temporarily "unretired" for Vizquel during the 2010 season, mainly due to the fact that White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén — like Vizquel and Aparicio, a Venezuelan shortstop — had the right to number #13, the number Vizquel has worn throughout his career, after making the trade official.

Vizquel had the third most hits all time on May 25, 2010, behind Derek Jeter and Honus Wagner. He hit his first home runs of 2010 on June 25, putting him on the short list of players to have hit home runs in four separate decades (with Ted Williams, Willie McCovey, and Rickey Henderson). Vizquel signed a one-year contract on November 2, 2010, retaining Chicago. Vizquel released a single on April 3, 2011, his 2,800th hit in his career. Despite being well into his twenties, Vizquel was still considered one of the best defensive shortstops in the game and seen by his former White Sox teammates as one of the game's most physically fit.

Vizquel has joined the Toronto Blue Jays in a one-year minor league contract for the 2012 season. He pushed the team out of spring training and played his first game against the Cleveland Indians, his former club. His first appearance against the Kansas City Royals was on April 22, his first appearance. On May 1, Vizquel was banned from a game against the Texas Rangers after arguing with the home plate umpire from the bench. Vizquel jokingly danced to insult the umpire before walking out of the octagon. Vizquel hinted at retirement following the 2012 season. Despite being 45 years old and playing in just five games during the season, he said, "I feel excited about going to the ballpark." Well, not every day, because there are going to be days you'll be swollen. However, I do still feel that I want to be here. "I want to participate."

Vizquel made his first two extra-base hits of the season on July 27 in a game against the Detroit Tigers, a double and triple. Vizquel made history by becoming the third oldest player to reach triples (behind Julio Franco and Nick Altrock) and the first player in major league history to earn both double and triple in the same game.

Vizquel scored his 2,874th career hit against the New York Yankees in the first game of a day-night doubleheader on September 19, defeating Babe Ruth for 41st all-time.

Brett Lawrie wore a #17 jersey in the 2012 game against his usual #13. Vizquel's last game, on October 3, 2012, he wore number 13 (the number he wore through most of his career), which he wore to #33 (the number he wore during most of his career). Vizquel went 1-for-3 on his last at bat, his 1,877th hit of his career, putting him ahead of Mel Ott for his 40th position on the all-time hits list. Vizquel resigned after the season and was the last to play in the 1980s.

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