Apolinar Cruz

José Apolinar Cruz

• Born January 8, 1953 in Palacaguina, Madriz Nicaragua
• Died March 8, 2021 in Estelí, Estelí Nicaragua

Biographical Information

Apolinar Cruz hit two home runs in the 1982 Central American and Caribbean Games, tying Pedro José Rodríguez, Sr. and Ruben Machado for the lead. He was with Nicaragua for the 1983 Intercontinental Cup. He hit .273 when Nicaragua won the Silver Medal in the 1983 Pan American Games. He was only 3 for 25 with 3 runs, four walks, 7 strikeouts and no RBI as Nicaragua's starting left fielder in the 1984 Amateur World Series. He also played for Nicaragua in the 1984 Olympics. He had 1,202 hits in the Nicaraguan amateur league; through 2008, he was 18th all-time. He was also second with 886 whiffs; only 1984 Olympic teammate Arnoldo Muñoz had K'd more. He was 8th with 156 homers.