David Garcia (minors01)
David García Ruiz
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 8", Weight 155 lb.
- Born August 16, 1935 in Empalme, Sonora Mexico
Biographical Information[edit]
David García played in the minors for 16 years and also managed for 13.
García debuted in 1953, appearing for the Albany Cardinals, Mexicali Eagles and Dothan Rebels. He spent most of the time with Dothan, hitting .308/.393/.365. He fielded only .911 at shortstop, but this was the median point for the Alabama-Florida League. In 1954, he hit .294/.365/.339 for the Fresno Cardinals, scoring 93 runs. He fielded .933 and his 91 double plays led California League shortstops. Dave batted .283/.365/.365 for the '55 Peoria Chiefs. He was back with Mexicali in 1956 and hit .310/?/.506 with 34 doubles and 15 home runs. The numbers are deceptive as the Arizona-Mexico League was a high-flying loop; he did tie for 9th in doubles.
In 1957, the Sonora native put up a .251/.336/.346 line for the Columbus Foxes; for the first time, he did not start at short for his team, splitting the job. He split 1958 between the York White Roses (.291/?/.354 in 99 G) and Houston Buffaloes (13 for 52, 1 HR, 8 BB), making it to AA, the highest level he would attain. That ended his US career.
In 1959, he returned to his native Mexico. With the Petroleros de Poza Rica, he batted .267/.357/.386 with 83 runs. He struggled with the glove, as his .918 fielding percentage and 50 errors were worst among Mexican League shortstops. In '60, he fell to .238/.325/.306. He followed with a .286/.396/.391 campaign in limited time for the Petroleros. In '62, the Poza Rica shortstop hit .244/.347/.318. He led the league with 14 sacrifice hits and his .953 fielding ranked third at his position. In his fifth season for Poza Rica, he batted .270/.344/.375 but more importantly, became player-manager in late May, starting his managerial career. He fielded .947 at SS, second to Jorge Fitch.
The little infielder would spend the next two seasons strictly as a player. He put up a .275/.347/.366 line for the 1964 Diablos Rojos del Mexico, with 84 runs and 39 doubles. He led the Mexican League in doubles that year. In '65, he hit .290/.378/.316 for the Diablos Rojos to end his LMB playing career. Overall, he had hit .262/.347/.349 in 709 games in Mexico's top league, with 418 runs and 195 RBI. He drew 343 walks while striking out 284 times.
David would still play for three more seasons as a player-manager for the Piratas de Campeche. In 1966, he hit .361/.427/.398 and would have been third in the Mexican Southeast League had he qualified. In '67, he batted .321/.393/.415 while piloting his team to the pennant. In his last playing season, he was 2 for 8 with two doubles. He had hit .300 twice in the US and twice in the Mexican Southeast League, though he had never topped .290 in the Mexican League.
He later was a full-time skipper, winning one more Mexican Southeast League pennant as well as having several stints in the Mexican League itself. In addition to his summer career listed below, he guided the Yaquis de Obregón to the Mexican Pacific League title in 1972-1973 and piloted the club in the 1973 Caribbean Series.
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