Luis Gaviria

Luis Carlos Gaviria Lucas (Bartolo)

Biographical Information

Luis Gaviria was a star first baseman for the Colombian national team.

Gaviria's five doubles tied Luis Hernandez for the most in the 1970 Amateur World Series. He helped Colombia to a Bronze in the 1971 Pan American Games, their lone medal in a Pan American Games through 2014. In the 1971 Amateur World Series, his two triples tied Ramon Greene for the most. Colombia won the Silver Medal. In the 1973 FEMBA Amateur World Series, he led in average (.432), hits (19) and slugging (.614) and was named the All-Star 1B but Colombia failed to win a medal, tying for 4th. He helped Colombia win the 1973 Bolivarian Games, their last Gold in a Bolivarian Games in baseball until 2017. Gaviria once missed three years after a throw from Orlando Ramírez hit him in the eye.

After baseball, Gaviria became active as a trade unionist, making his way to president of the national federation of port workers. He also was active in his church, where he played the accordion.

Sources include El Universal interview with Gaviria