Rubén Gómez

Rubén Gómez Colon (El Divino Loco)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.

• School Universidad de Puerto Rico – Recinto de Río Piedras

• Debut April 17, 1953
• Final Game May 2, 1967
• Born July 13, 1927 in Arroyo P.R.
• Died July 26, 2004 in Carolina P.R.

BR page

Biographical information

Ruben Gomez was one of the earliest Puerto Ricans in the major leagues, born the same year as fellow Puerto Rican Vic Power. Gomez pitched ten years in the majors and was among the league leaders in ERA in both of his first two seasons. In his last year, 1967, he was the oldest player in the National League.

Gomez began in the minors in 1948. From 1964 to 1967, he played in Mexico. He pitched for 29 years in Puerto Rico -- no other player has participated in more than 22 seasons in that winter league. It's little surprise that he is the all-time leader there in wins (174), losses (119), games pitched (417) and innings pitched (2,486 1/3). All told, he won more than 400 games as a pro.

He was once chased (literally) from the pitcher's mound into centerfield with a furious Joe Adcock of the Milwaukee Braves on his heels. Gomez hit the big slugger - who had homered in his previous at bat - with a pitch and Joe was convinced that Gomez had intentionally thrown at him. Fortunately for the fleet-footed and much smaller Gomez, he decided not to wait to exchange pleasantries with the plodding, slow-footed Mr. Adcock - who outweighed Gomez by at least 50 pounds! He was a golf pro in Quebec in the late 1960s as well.

Rubén was known in Puerto Rico as El Divino Loco (The Divine Fool).

Notable Achievements

• 15 Wins Seasons: 2 (1954 & 1957)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 4 (1953, 1954, 1957 & 1958)
• Won a World Series with the New York Giants in 1954

Related Sites

• Ruben Gomez at the SABR Bio Project