Francisco Alcaraz

Francisco Alcaraz (Zurdo, Pancho)

• Bats Left, Throws Left

• Born October 26, 1920 in Empalme, Sonora Mexico
• Died May 1, 1996 in Guaymas, Sonora Mexico

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Francisco Alcaraz was a Mexican League umpire.

Alcaraz was a player for several years. In 1941, he went 5-4 with a 4.36 ERA; the Mexican League at that time was dominated by Negro League and Cuban players and few Mexicans held down a regular roster spot. In 1942, Francisco fell to 7-9, 6.10 with 76 walks in 125 1/3 IP for the Torreon Cotton Dealers. During 1943, he had a 7-9, 4.11 record; it would be his last season pitching regularly in Mexico's top circuit.

Returning to the amateur ranks, Alcaraz became a star in Mexico's leagues, winning awards. He went 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA for Mexico in the 1944 Amateur World Series to help them win a Silver Medal, better than a Cuban team with five future major leaguers in the rotation. Alcaraz tied Luis Zuloaga for the Series lead in wins and was 7th in ERA (between Julio Bracho and José A. Meléndez).

Alcaraz resurfaced in 1949 as a pro, hitting .233 and slugging .308 for the Juarez Indios. He was in the Mexican League in 1950, now as a first baseman with San Luis Potosi, hitting .268/~.376/.280. In 1951, he batted .293/~.414/.379 in 20 games for Monterrey. He also hit .348 for the Tijuana Potros in 17 games in the Southwest International League. He finished up with Tijuana and Nuevo Laredo in 1952, hitting .170 for the former club and .227/~.433/.273 for the latter. He also pitched 7 games for Nuevo Laredo, going 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA.

Overall, Alcaraz hit .252/~.347/.280 in 507 AB in the Mexican League (including his lower stats from his pitching days) and had a record of 20-22, 4.82 in 87 games.

His playing career over, Alcaraz umpired in the Arizona-Mexico League in 1957-1958, then was an umpire in the Mexican League from 1959-1968. From 1967-1971 and 1974-?, he umped in the Mexican Pacific League. He also worked in the Venezuelan League in 1972-1973. From 1977-1982, he worked in a minor Mexican circuit.

In 2007, Alcaraz was inducted into the Salón de la Fama as an umpire.