Néstor Chávez

Who was Néstor Chávez?

Néstor Isaías Chávez Silva was a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the San Francisco Giants.

Chávez was born on July 6, 1947 in Chacao, Miranda State, Venezuela. He was signed as an amateur free agent in 1964 after going for a 34–3 record at the college. Chávez was nicknamed "Látigo" in his homeland, both for his stunning and sharp fastball.

Listed at 6 feet, 170 pounds, Chávez was one of the best pitching prospects in the Giants farm system. At nineteen, he was called up to the big club after a combined 47–20 mark in the minors. In two games with the Giants, he compiled a 1–0 record with three strike outs and a 0.00 ERA in five innings. After the season he had shoulder surgery and was sidelined for more than a year.

On March 16, 1969, Chávez was ready at the airport in order to start his rehabilitation in the minors. That never happened. He died in Maracaibo, Zulia State, in one of the worst aircraft tragedies in Venezuelan history, Viasa Flight 742 struck power lines while taking off, killing all 84 aboard and 71 on the ground. He was 21 years old.