Diomedes Olivo

Diomedes Antonio Olivo Maldonado (January 22, 1919 – February 15, 1977), nicknamed "Guayubin" for his hometown, was a Dominican professional baseball player and scout. The left-handed pitcher appeared in 85 Major League Baseball pitched over all or part of three seasons between 1960 and 1963 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He was the brother of fellow major leaguer Chi-Chi Olivo, and the father of major league pitcher Gilberto Rondón.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Olivo and the second or maternal family name is Maldonado.
Diomedes Olivo
Pitcher
Born: (1919-01-22)January 22, 1919
Guayubín, Dominican Republic
Died: February 15, 1977(1977-02-15) (aged 58)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 5, 1960, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Last MLB appearance
June 12, 1963, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record5–6
Earned run average3.10
Strikeouts85
Teams

Career

Olivo was listed as 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and 195 pounds (88 kg). Prior to his minor league and Major League career, Olivo spent many years playing in his native Dominican Republic. Diomedes Olivo posted a 55–29 win–loss record in the Double-A Mexican League from 1955–1959,[1] then made his Major League debut with the Pirates at age 41 on September 5, 1960.[2] His age at the time of his MLB debut is the oldest with the exception of Satchel Paige in the post-World War II era.[3] In his first game, he pitched two scoreless innings of relief against the Milwaukee Braves, allowing one hit (to eventual Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews) and two bases on balls.[4]

Olivo's best MLB season came in 1962. At age 43, he worked in 62 games, all but one in relief, and posted a 5–1 record and 2.77 earned run average in 84+1⁄3 innings pitched, with seven saves. He then was included, with shortstop Dick Groat, in a major off-season trade to the Cardinals, but while Groat sparkled in St. Louis, Olivo lost all five decisions and spent part of 1963 in the minor leagues. He retired at age 44 following that season.

During his MLB career, Olivo allowed 112 hits and 39 bases on balls in 107+1⁄3 innings pitched, striking out 85.

He scouted for the Cardinals after retiring from the field, and later held a position in the Ministry of Sports in his native country until his death, from a heart attack, at age 58.

References
  1. McNeil, William F., Baseball's Other All-Stars. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co., 2000, p. 174
  2. Curry, Jack (May 13, 2000). "BASEBALL; Never Too Late To Make Debut In the Majors". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  3. Singer, Tom (August 24, 2009). "Mets recall Takahashi, option Misch". MLB.com. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  4. Retrosheet

Further reading

Articles

Books
  • Bjarkman, Peter C. (2005). Diamonds Around the Globe: The Encyclopedia of International Baseball. Westport, CN: Greenwood Press. pp. 166-167, 180-181. ISBN 0-313-32268-6.
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