Antonio Pollorena

Antonio Pollorena Osuna

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 8", Weight 170 lb.

• Born April 17, 1947 in Los Mochis, Sinaloa Mexico

Known as a smart pitcher, Antonio Pollorena began his career slowly, taking a decade to hit his peak. He broke in with the 1965 Fresnillo Mineros (6-5, 4.73) and Jalisco Charros (2-0, 1.80). Used primarily as a reliever by Jalisco, Pollorena was 3-4, 3.79 in 1966 and 1-0, 3.95 a year later. In 1967 he also appeared with the Orizaba Charros farm team (5-5, 3.79).

Antonio entered Jalisco's rotation in 1968 and went 16-10 with a 2.98 ERA at age 21. He tied for third in the Mexican League in victories that season. The next season he went 13-12 and had an ERA of 2.70. A 10-5 record and 2.86 ERA were his fate in 1970. He slipped in 1971 to 3-5, 3.60 and even spent some time back in class A with the Tuneros de San Luis (0-2, 3.21).

Pollorena moved to the Torreon Cotton Dealers in 1972 and set a career high with 16 losses. He won 10 games and his ERA came out to 3.42. He was second in the Liga in losses and seemed to be free-falling. In 1973 the 26-year-old hurler went 10-11 and reduced his ERA to 2.64.

Antonio hit his stride starting in 1974 with a remarkable 25-7 season. He completed 25 of his 32 starts, struck out a career-high 183 and had a 2.18 ERA. Fifth in the Liga in ERA, he led in innings (260), complete games, strikeouts and wins. Only Ramon Bragana (30 victories in 1944) ever won more games in a Mexican League season. Pollorena then rolled out three straight seasons of exactly 20 wins - 20-11, 2.37; 20-9, 2.46 and 20-11, 2.57. He completed at least 23 games each season. In 1976 he led the Liga in both wins and complete games (26). He splipped a bit in 1978, going 15-8, 2.57. Over a five-year period, he had won 100 games for the Cotton Dealers.

Pollorena faded after that - in 1979 he was 5-8 for Torreon and the Leon Braves with a 4.42, almost the highest of his career. From 1980 through 1984 he pitched for the Saltillo Saraperos and had years of 12-14, 3.06; 14-9, 2.84; 11-9, 3.51; 12-7, 2.44 and 5-5, 6.70. Finishing up with his old Torreon club, Antonio won 6, lost 9 and had an ERA of 4.20 in 1985.

Overall, in the Mexican League, Pollorena went 233-170 with a 3.01 ERA and walked just 812 batters in 3454 2/3 innings. As of 2000, he was tied for fifth all-time in the Liga in seasons pitched (22), 13th in games thrown (574), third in starts (474), third in innings, third in wins (behind Ramon Arano and Alfredo Ortiz; since passed by Angel Moreno), 4th in losses, third in complete games (222), tied for third in shutouts (52, 5 behind leader Arano), 4th in strikeouts (1,871), 8th in earned runs allowed (1,155), 4th in homers surrendered (208) and not even in the top 30 in walks despite the number of innings logged (and being fourth in intentional walks to boost his total). In 1991 he was voted into the Salon de la Fama.

Pollorena coached for Mexico in the 1991 Pan American Games and 2003 Baseball World Cup. In the 1991 Pan American Games, he needed four stitches over his eye after being hit by the facemask of Canadian catcher Alex Andreopoulos; the brawl began after Andreopoulos and a Mexican team player exchanged heated words following a close call, with the Mexican player allegedly racist remarks by Andreopoulos.

Antonio Pollorena's Salon de la Fama page

Sources: The Mexican League: Comprehensive Player Statistics by Pedro Treto Cisneros, Viva Beisbol newsletter by Bruce Baskin, 1975-1977 Baseball Guides, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database, 1991 Los Angeles Times