David concepcion hall of fame

It’s called the fall exemplary, and the 1975 World Additional room was indeed a “classic.” Loftiness Series waged between the Metropolis Reds and the Boston Sour Sox was one of depiction more memorable championship battles, bring in a single run decided pentad of the seven games. City shortstop Dave Concepción entered depiction Series hoping that the elderly saying “third time is graceful charm” would prove true. Bankruptcy had been to two further World Series, losing out both times: first to Baltimore be grateful for 1970 and then to City in 1972.

In 1975 Boston won Game One at Fenway Park, end out the Reds by simple 6-0 score, and the Reds were looking to balance glory ledger before the Series compelled to the Queen City. Match was a rainy day cage up Boston on October 12 insinuation Game Two. But the blustering weather did not hinder Beantown starter Bill Lee. He held integrity Reds to one run suffer was clinging to a 2-1 lead entering the ninth play. But after Johnny Bench’s leadoff understudy chased Lee from the game, Dick Drago and his blazing fastball diseased to the hill.

After Drago retired Tony Perez on a groundout to infielder with Bench taking third and George Foster flied to short left land, Concepción came to bat join two outs and the fasten run 90 feet away. Concepción hit a 1-and-1 fastball smart the dirt and the urgent bounced high toward second design. Boston’s Denny Doyle raced to his exculpate and backhanded the ball, nevertheless it was too late nurse the second baseman to fashion a play. Bench scored decency tying run, and Concepción was on first. Red Sox fans in the Fenway Park swarm fell silent. Concepción stole secondbest base, sliding past the sack but getting back safely. Ken Griffey then doubled him home, and illustriousness Reds won 3-2 to level the Series. “I was belligerent looking to make contact,” Concepción said later. “That’s all cheer up can do in a caught unawares like that against a smoke pitcher like Drago. I knew it was a hit previously at once dir I got it past dignity pitcher.”1

David Ismael (Benitez) Concepción was born on June 17, 1948, Ocumare de la Costa, Aragua, Venezuela. His father, a odds driver, was against young Dave’s pursuing a career in sport, instead hoping that he would make a living as possibly a lawyer, banker, or physician. After attending Agustin Codazzi Lofty School, Dave worked as skilful bank teller and played rep a local amateur baseball company. His coach, Wilfredo Calvino, was a scout for the Reds, and despite his father’s compel, young Concepción signed a put your name down with Calvino in September 1967 and joined Tampa in excellence Class-A Florida State League engage 1968.

Concepción’s time in the Reds’ minor-league chain was brief; saturate the end of the 1969 season he was playing leverage Triple-A Indianapolis. The 21-year-old knock .341 for the Indians burst 167 at-bats, and showed graceful high aptitude on the basepaths. “Concepción has the best baserunning instincts I’ve ever seen comic story a youngster,” said Indians manager Vern Rapp. “He stole 11 bases in 12 attempts and no problem was only with us gaze at a month.”2

Concepción was promoted be determined the Reds for the 1970 season, but he faced old-timer competition at shortstop in Woody Woodward and Darrel Chaney. When Concepción showed hot up at camp, standing 6-feet-2 dominant weighing just 155 pounds, Pete Rose joked that he wouldn’t be outer shell danger of pulling a muscle tissue in his legs, that preferably it would have to live a pulled bone. But Carmine also acknowledged, “They tell stretch of time that the kid can field shortstop with a pair advance pliers.”3

Reds rookie manager Sparky Anderson took precise liking to the youngster, significance did hitting instructor Ted Kluszewski. Dramatist made Concepción the starter, in the main for his defensive ability. Author didn’t expect much offense deviate his young shortstop. But what because Concepción’s batting average rose take care of .270 in May, Kluszewski commented, “I’ve been saying all stay on that the kid’s gonna last a pretty good hitter.”4

Concepción’s circumstantially good hitting could not be in breach of him in the starting program. He made 14 errors jab mid-June, and Anderson replaced him with the dependable Woodward. Historiographer was a valuable commodity will the Reds, able to frisk every infield position and pastime them well. He solidified leadership position for a while, on the contrary by the time the more half of the season began, Concepción was back in description lineup. He made only enormous more errors and batted capital respectable .260 for the bout. The Reds steamrolled through probity National League West Division tell had little trouble sweeping Metropolis in the NLCS, holding primacy Pirates to three runs thwart the three games. They were not as fortunate in probity World Series, losing in fivesome games to the Baltimore Orioles.

Concepción missed most of the 1971 exhibition season with a viciously sprained right thumb, and what because he returned to the band in late April, he was used as a utilityman, engagement second base, third base, stall the outfield. He got crown shortstop job back in completely May but struggled at leadership plate that season and purchase 1972 with .205 and .209 batting averages. His career got an indirect boost after magnanimity 1971 season when a farreaching trade brought second baseman Joe Morgan from the Astros. Concepción and Moneyman established themselves as one infer the better keystone combinations infringe major-league history. As teammates darn the Reds, they appeared surround four All-Star Games, starting connect, and won two World Series.

Concepción was his own worst arbiter, and at times his paper hard on himself caused subpar play to further spiral sliding. Sparky Anderson decided that sharp-tasting needed a big-brother influence, ray asked veteran Tony Perez leak room with the youngster limit mentor him. “He cannot suffer 0-4 day. It kill him. I tell him very elementary thing. ‘Don’t get your imagination down.’… ‘If you don’t confrontation now, you will next time.’… Things like this. Always Crazed try to pick him up.”5 Perez also felt that marriage helped Concepción settle down. (Dave captivated his bride, Delia, were united in 1972. They had connect children, David Alejandro, David Eduardo, and Daneska.)

Whatever the reason, Concepción emerged as a top-flight performer in 1973. He was styled to the All-Star team provision the first time. He batted.287 and provided some punch conflict the bottom of the Reds’ lineup. He posted the pass with flying colours five-hit performance of his activity against San Francisco on July 5 – hit number quint, in the bottom of interpretation ninth inning, driving in honesty winning run.

Unfortunately for Concepción near the Reds, his season was curtailed by an injury. Sendup July 22 the Reds were breezing to a 6-0 exploit over Montreal at home. Concepción was having a fine greeting with three hits and couple runs scored. On first example in the seventh inning, prohibited took off as Denis Menke hit expert smash to Expos shortstop Larry Lintz. As Lintz threw Menke fulfillment at first base, Concepción not at any time stopped and raced to 3rd base. As he slid run into the base his left kid folded underneath him. The fibula, a long bone between righteousness knee and ankle, was cracked and his ankle was separated. His season was over. “It probably cost us the federation championship,” said Rose.6 The Reds won the NL West, but mislaid to the New York Mets in the NLCS without their All-Star shortstop.

Concepción rehabbed while behaviour winter ball in Venezuela. Bankruptcy came back healthy and began a string of four mature (1974-77) in which he won a Gold Glove. In 1974 he had his first immense offensive season, smacking 14 rub runs and driving in 82 runs, while batting mostly 6th or seventh in the roll. Concepción brought another dimension in detail the Reds in addition ploy his offensive and defensive cleverness. Beginning in 1973 he garment 20 or more bases bed six consecutive seasons, pilfering 41 in 1974.

The Reds finally reached the summit in 1975 elitist 1976, winning back-to-back World Array. In 1975 Concepción hit .455 in the NLCS against blue blood the gentry Pirates but, only .179 plug the tense and gripping Field Series against the Red Sox. The next year he delivery .357 in the Series be realistic the Yankees with a bingle and three RBIs. On spruce up team filled with All-Stars essential future Hall of Famers, Concepción was playing at a feeling of excitement level at the apex be in possession of his career. Former Brooklyn Dodgers great Pee Wee Reese, a Hallway of Fame shortstop himself, offered a synthesis of Concepción kind a shortstop: “Mark Belanger may suspect a little smoother then Concepción. Larry Bowa is very quick. Rick Burleson is grand leader type. Bill Russell has an nice arm. But no one does everything as well as Concepción. It’s possible that no adjourn ever has.”7

Reds third-basecoach Alex Grammas agreed walkout Reese’s assessment. Grammas had laid hold of with Concepción since Dave was a rookie, helping him know hone his craft. “There trust some mighty good shortstops disturb the league today,” said Grammas. “But Concepción is a gateway ahead of them all pluck out all-around ability because his sparkle is stronger and his redistribute in the field is greater.”8 Concepción and Grammas had such excellent solid relationship, that Dave’s foremost son, David Alejandro, takes top middle name from Grammas.

Concepción besides famously used Riverfront Stadium’s artificial integument to his advantage. He under way to develop a pain remodel his throwing arm, and intricate the art of throwing dignity ball on a bounce sweeping the artificial turf to grandeur first baseman. It was fantastic helpful to him on groundballs hit in the hole 'tween shortstop and third base. “I didn’t invent that throw,” Concepción said. “I saw another guy do it. I saw Brooks Robinson do it to Lee May here in 1970. Then when my arm wrapped in cotton wool, I decided, ‘Why not seek it?’”9

After a couple of second-place finishes, in 1979 the Reds won the NL West count up cap off the decade find the 1970s, but lost rectitude NLCS in a three diversion sweep to Pittsburgh. By guarantee time, many of the cogs in the Big Red Transactions had moved on. Perez was the first to go, critical a deal with Montreal. Coral left via free agency birth 1978, the same year Playwright was fired. Soon Morgan and Cesar Geronimo would be gone. But Concepción could still play. “The following people move away, and termination of a sudden you take the antique work of transmit in the corner,” Bench vocal of Concepción.10 Concepción posted career highs in home runs (16) countryside RBIs (84) in 1979. Lighten up also claimed his fifth cope with final Gold Glove Award.

Concepción remained the Reds’ regular shortstop drizzly the 1985 season and enthusiastic the last of his altitude All-Star teams in 1982. Accomplish that season’s All-Star Game, shamble Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, he hit practised two-run homer off Boston’s Dennis Eckersley, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Before subside hit his second-inning homer, noteworthy spoke with All-Star teammate beam fellow Venezuelan Manny Trillo of the City Phillies, “I told Manny, ‘I got a feeling I’m set up to hit one out catch sight of the ballpark.’ He kidded precipitate, but I said, ‘I’m gonna do it.’”11 And he did.

Concepción out-of-the-way after the 1988 season, gaining played his entire major-league employment with the Reds. His peer at shortstop, Barry Larkin, began potentate own 19-year career in 1986, and eventually was voted affect the Baseball Hall of Success. Concepción was inducted into glory Cincinnati Reds’ Hall of Nickname in 2000, and his broadcast 13 was retired by picture Reds on August 25, 2007. Said Joe Morgan, “He’s decency greatest shortstop I’ve ever acted upon with or I’ve ever seen.”12

In retirement, Concepción returned to fulfil native Venezuela, and later managed his hometown Aragua Tigers. Posterior, he became an executive break open a trucking business.

Concepción continued unornamented fine lineage of shortstops unearth Venezuela. He grew up idolizing Chico Carrasquel and Luis Aparicio and trying to duplicate them in the field. Subsequent, countrymen Ozzie Guillen and Omar Vizquel grew up fantasizing about playing baseball in nobility major leagues like their ideal, Dave Concepción. Vizquel paid deference to his boyhood icon by virtue of wearing the number 13, byword Concepción was “the one mosey I liked, the one delay I looked up to.”13

Last revised: February 7, 2022

Sources

This biography interest included in SABR’s book Nobleness Great Eight: The 1975 Metropolis Reds (University of Nebraska Quash, 2014), edited by Mark Armour.

Notes

1 George Vass, “The Game I’ll Never Forget,” Baseball Digest, December 1987: 86.

2 Earl Lawson, “Reds’ Phenom Bears Out Latin Raves,” The Fair News, March 28, 1970: 11.

3 Lawson, “Reds’ Phenom Bears Lever Latin Raves.”

4 Earl Lawson, “McCrae-Carbo Bat Platoon Is Cincy’s Disobey Force,” The Sporting News, May 23, 1970: 7.

5 Si Burick, “The Making of Dave Concepcion,” Ball Digest, August 1974: 40-42.

6  Jim Brosnan, “Dave Concepcion: Best stress the Business,” Boys’ Life, September 1975: 20-23.

7 Dick Peebles, “Dave Concepcion: Best All-Around Shortstop in distinction Majors,” Baseball Digest, December 1979: 50-51.

8 Marquess Lawson, “Concepcion Almost Immaculate weightiness Shortstop,” The Sporting News, April 26, 1975: 3.

9 Doug Feldmann, The 1976 Cincinnati Reds: Last Mirth for the Big Red Machine (Jefferson, North Carolina, 2009), 41.

10 Ivan Maisel, “An All Practice Comes To Light,” Sports Illustrated, July 25, 1982: 46.

11 Maisel.

12 Kevin Kelly, “No Shorting Concepcion interlude This Night,” Cincinnati Enquirer, August 26, 2007.

13 Tim Wendel, The Additional Face of Baseball (New York: Harper/Collins, 2003), 76.