Gonzalo Márquez

Who was Gonzalo Márquez?

Gonzalo Enrique Márquez Moya was a professional baseball first baseman. A left-handed batter, he played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs. He was born in Carúpano, Sucre State, Venezuela.

In the 1970 Caribbean Series, he led all players with a .440 batting average and 4 stolen bases, to help the Navegantes del Magallanes win the series, marking the first time a Venezuelan team had taken the title. While Márquez was not a star in the major leagues, he's still greatly remembered by the Oakland fans for his memorable 1972 rookie season. Easily, his participation as a collaborator for his team in that season could be labeled in terms of strategic offensive provider, some like as a "designated pinch-hitter".

In four-season majors career, Márquez batted .235 with one home run, 10 runs batted in, nine runs, three doubles and one stolen base in 76 games. In eight post-season games, he hit 5-for-8 for a .625 BA with two RBI and one run scored. He resumed his player career with the Leones del Caracas club in the Venezuelan Winter League, compiling a record of .288 with 16 homers and 295 RBI in 833 games, from 1965 to 1984.