Rafael Olivares (Venezuela)

Rafael Olivares

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Born February 8, 1925 in Maracaibo, Zulia Venezuela
• Died April 18, 2010

Biographical Information

Rafael Olivares was on the Venezuelan national team that won the 1944 Amateur World Series, splitting short with Adolfredo González. When the Venezuelan League was formed in 1946, he hit .220/?/.244 for the Sabios de Vargas, noted more for his glovework than his bat. In 1946-1947, he batted .228 and slugged .283 for the Navegantes del Magallanes. The next winter, he was at .252 with a .315 slugging for the Patriotas de Venezuela. Joining with Cuco Correa and Chucho Ramos, he turned the second triple play in LVBP history.

Olivares fell to .171/?/.220 in 1948-1949. He had his best offensive season the next campaign, though - .324 with a .486 slugging and 5 homers in 38 games. He was 7th in the LVBP in homers, 5th in average (between John Ritchey and Ray Neil) and 6th in slugging (between Ramón Fernández and Dalmiro Finol). He fell back to .238/?/.328 in 1950-1951. He was 0 for 2 for the 1953-1954 Gavilanes de Occidente to end his career. He had hit .242/?/.318 as a pro with 86 runs and 62 RBI in 193 games.

He later was head coach of the Universidad del Zulia.