Héctor Mayer

Héctor Mayer Soto
(Chero)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 172 lb.

• Born November 25, 1927 in Nogales, Sonora Mexico
• Died November 24, 2014 in Nogales, Sonora Mexico

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Shortstop Héctor Mayer spent 13 years playing in the minors and managed for parts of two seasons.

Mayer made his debut in 1949 with the El Paso Texans and Juarez Indios, hitting a combined .157/?/.233 in 121 AB. With El Paso again in 1950, he improved to .264/.376/.341 while fielding .933 at SS. In 1951, he hit .277/?/.372 for El Paso, with 12 triples (tied for 10th-best in the Southwest International League). In 1952, he was in the St. Louis Cardinals chain, hitting .246/.348/.330 in 53 games for the Allentown Cardinals but just .135/.241/.170 in 69 contests with the Houston Buffaloes. His .953 fielding percentage led Interstate League shortstops with 30+ games. In 1953, he played for the Omaha Cardinals (.228/.323/.272 in 84 G) and Rochester Red Wings (.188/.304/.292 in his only 19 games at AAA). His defense was not as sharp, fielding .924 for Omaha, in the middle of Western League pack.

Chero spent all of 1954 with Omaha, hitting .264/.330/.333 and fielding .942. He ended his US career with the 1955 Allentown club, batting .223/.329/.290 with 7 triples, while fielding .953. Mayer then went to his native Mexico to finish his career. In 1956, he hit .269/.353/.336 with 8 triples and 70 runs for the Mexico City Red Devils. He posted a .288/.358/.333 line with 78 runs in '57. He fielded .957 and tied for the Mexican League lead with 78 double plays turned at short. He also led the loop with 13 sacrifice hits.

The Nogales native reached .300 for the only time in 1958, hitting .300/.349/.365 with 70 runs. In 1959, he batted .259/.334/.310 with 85 runs and 9 triples for the Red Devils. He led LMB shortstops in fielding percentage (.965), putouts (244) and double plays (96). His batting line was .254/.376/.287 in 1960, when he took over the managerial reigns for Chile Gomez. In 1961, he hit .295/.384/.335 in 83 games for Mexico City, while losing his manager job to Wilfredo Calvino during the year. That season also marked the end of his playing career.

Sources include The Mexican League: Comprehensive Player Statistics by Pedro Treto Cisneros