Hank Izquierdo

Enrique Roberto Izquierdo Valdes

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 175 lb.

• Debut August 9, 1967
• Final Game September 27, 1967
• Born March 20, 1931 in Matanzas, Cuba
• Died August 1, 2015 in West Palm Beach, FL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Hank Izquierdo broke into pro ball in 1951 and played 5 years in the International League before retiring in 1962 to be the Cleveland Indians bullpen coach. The following year he made a comeback in Minnesota Twins' organization, working his way up from Class A to the big leagues in late 1967. He was 36 at the time of his major league debut. (See the June 24, 1967 and September 9, 1967 Sporting News for more details). The next season, Izquierdo returned to the minors. That year, he was shot in the stomach during a robbery and nearly died, but he ultimately made a return to the diamond.

In July, 1969, while serving as a player-coach for the Oklahoma City 89ers, Izquierdo got into a fight with Ted Simmons, then a minor leaguer with the Tulsa Oilers. The fight turned to blows, Izquierdo tried to strike Simmons with a bat, and he found himself with a season-long suspension imposed by American Association President Allie Reynolds, who personally witnessed the incident.

Izquierdo became a scout for the Minnesota Twins from 1978 to 1987, then scouted for the Chicago Cubs in 1988.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Playoffs	Notes
1970	Rojos del Águila de Veracruz	Mexican League	87-63	2nd
1971	Rojos del Águila de Veracruz	Mexican League		9th		replaced Tony Castano
1972	Leones de Yucatán	Mexican League	72-66	7th
1973	Leones de Yucatán	Mexican League	60-74	12th
1974	Rojos del Águila de Veracruz	Mexican League	62-74	11th
1976	Saraperos de Saltillo	Mexican League		--	--	replaced by Gregorio Luque

Related Sites

• Enrique "Hank" Izquierdo at the SABR Bio Project