Luis Escobar (Colombia)

From BR Bullpen

Luis Fernando Escobar Pocaterra

Biographical Information[edit]

Luis Escobar played for the Colombian national team.

His family fled from Colombia to Venezuela in the 1950s due to the political situation in Colombia. The family then moved to New Jersey. Escobar continued on to college in the US and helped Eastern Kentucky win the Ohio Valley Conference. He then returned to his native Colombia in 1968.

Joining the Colombian national team, he helped them win Silver at the 1970 Bolivarian Games. In the 1971 Pan American Games, he led all players in average at .552; the event included future major leaguers like Fred Lynn. Colombia win Bronze, its first medal in baseball at a Pan American Games (and only one, through 2018).

Escobar hit .387 with two homers in the 1971 Amateur World Series, when Colombia got the Silver, falling behind only Cuba. He tied Rick Cruise of Canada for the most home runs in the event. He also tied Rafael Obando for 3rd in average, trailing Rodolfo Puente and Lázaro Pérez.

Luis returned to the US trying to pursue a pro career and was drafted into the US Army. He trained at Fort Knox and Fort Lewis. Right before he was to be sent to Vietnam, though, his father talked him out of getting involved in warfare. He deserted and returned to Colombia. After his playing career ended, a ballpark was built in Montería, Córdoba and named after him but it was not well-maintained and had to be torn down. He coached baseball to young kids in poor neighborhoods of Montería for years.

As a player, he played every infield and outfield spot.

Primary Source: Las2orillas article on Escobar. Other sources include A History of Cuban Baseball by Peter Bjarkman, Ecured