Luis Mercado

Luis Alberto Mercado Toro (Pegui, Berto)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 8", Weight 130 lb.

• Born July 5, 1947 in Guayanilla Puerto Rico

Biographical Information

Luis Mercado was a long-time amateur star in Puerto Rico.

Mercado debuted for the Puerto Rican national team in the 1969 Amateur World Series; he led the event with six doubles and tied Fermín Laffita for the most triples (3). His .429 average tied Félix Isasi and teammate Jaime Mercado for 7th. He slugged .667. His 12 runs were one behind leader Owen Blandino. He also appeared in the 1970 Amateur World Series, when Puerto Rico won Bronze. He rapped 16 hits in the 1971 Pan American Games to lead the tournament.

In the 1972 Amateur World Series, he was an All-Star outfielder, joining Cubans Wilfredo Sánchez and Armando Capiró. Puerto Rico manager Roberto Clemente hinted to Mercado that the Pittsburgh Pirates would sign him but Clemente died shortly thereafter and he was not signed. His size had scared off prior scouts, who were more interested in appearance than performance. He won Silver with Puerto Rico in the 1973 FIBA Amateur World Series.

Luis hit .275/.375/.333 in the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games, fielding .933 while Puerto Rico took Bronze. His .500 average led the 1975 Pan American Games. He helped Puerto Rico to Bronze in the 1978 Central American and Caribbean Games. He won another Bronze in the 1979 Pan American Games. His final tourney was the 1980 Amateur World Series.

In 21 seasons in Puerto Rico's top amateur league, he hit .349 and stole 103 bases in 453 games, scoring 345 runs. He topped .400 3 times and won batting titles in 1970 (.396) and 1973 (.444). He was a player-manager in 1982. He later ran baseball clinics with players like Pepe Mangual and Otto Vélez. He is a member of the Puerto Rican Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame and has been honored by the Puerto Rican Olympic Committee.