Ed Figueroa

Eduardo Figueroa Padilla
(Señor Stopper)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
• High School Escuela Superior Juan A. Corretjer
• Debut April 9, 1974
• Final Game September 27, 1981
• Born October 14, 1948 in Ciales, P.R.

BR page

Biographical Information

Ed Figueroa pitched eight seasons in the majors and was the first (and to date only) Puerto Rican-born 20-game winner in baseball history.

Figueroa helped the Puerto Rican national team win a Silver Medal at the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games. Originally signed by New York Mets scout Nino Escalera in 1966, Figueroa was released in 1968 and missed the entire 1969 campaign due to military service. He was signed by San Francisco Giants scout Pedrin Zorrilla prior to the 1970 season and played in their chain until being dealt to the California Angels during the summer of 1973. He reached the majors with the Angels in 1974, going 2-8 with a 3.67 ERA in 25 games split between the rotation and the bullpen. He was primarily a starter the next year, winning 16 games and posting a 2.91 ERA.

Following the 1975 season, Figueroa was traded to the New York Yankees, along with Mickey Rivers, for Bobby Bonds. He won 19 games in his first year in pinstripes and followed it up with a 16-win season in 1977, as his club appeared in the World Series in both years. He put together his best season in 1978, going 20-9 with a 2.99 ERA and making a pair of World Series starts against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Limited to just 16 games in 1979 by an elbow injury, Figueroa was sold to the Texas Rangers midway through the summer of 1980. He made 8 starts for the Rangers and lost 7 of them. Let go by Texas early in 1981, he caught on with the Oakland Athletics but only played 2 games with them, retiring after appearing in 5 games in their organization in 1982.

Figueroa played for the Gold Coast Suns of the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989 and 1990 and went 1-10 with a 6.86 ERA for the club. He also played for the Arecibo Wolves, Caguas Creoles and Santurce Crabbers of the Puerto Rico Winter Baseball League. He later was an announcer in the Puerto Rican League and coached for the Puerto Rican national team in qualifiers for the 2004 Olympics.

Notable Achievements

• 15 Wins Seasons: 4 (1975-1978)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1978)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1975-1978)
• Won two World Series with the New York Yankees (1977 & 1978; he did not play in the 1977 World Series)

Related Sites

• Ed Figueroa at the SABR Bio Project