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in Puerto Rico where he became the player-manager for the baseball team at the station. He was discharged from the navy on
September 1, 1945. His promising start did not last once he returned from military service. By this moment his weight had risen to 225 pounds, which led to rumors that he may not
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Standing 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and weighing about 200 pounds (90 kg), Bithorn was a hard-throwing pitcher who commanded attention when he began his delivery with a distinctive windup, raising his long left leg high in the air and throwing a blazing fastball toward home plate.
259:, and was one of five children born to Waldemar G. Bithorn, a municipal employee, and MarĂa Sosa, a public school teacher. The Bithorn family traveled frequently to the United States. MarĂa taught her children English and at one time produced a radio program called
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in
September 1941 and debuted in the Major Leagues on April 15, 1942, making history as the first Puerto Rican big leaguer. Bithorn won nine games and lost 14 in his first season, but he rebounded in 1943 by going 18–12 with an
455:, and that he was on an important mission. Eventually this argument was debunked in court and Castillo Cano was sentenced to eight years in prison for Bithorn's murder. He was buried at Buxeda Cemetery in
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Bithorn's achievement of making it to the majors remained a source of pride in Puerto Rico, and he was honored in 1962 when the biggest ballpark on the island was built and named after him.
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with seven, establishing a record for Puerto Rican pitchers that still stands to this day. During this time, he also formed the second Latin
American pitcher-catcher combination along with
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editions also were played there, including teams from Group C and Group D. In 2013 the World
Baseball Classic Round 1, Pool C was played in the stadium, featuring
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Juan
Torruella resigned only two weeks into the 1938 season, the Senadores chose 22-year-old Bithorn as their new skipper, making him the youngest manager in
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have the same abilities. Upon returning from the war, he returned to the
Chicago Cubs, and went 6–5 in 1946. On January 25, 1947, he was purchased by the
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298:. The Puerto Ricans faced the Richmond BBC, a squad composed entirely of continental American players, including slugging first baseman and future
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451:'s hospital, where he died the next day. Initially, Officer Castillo Cano claimed that Bithorn was violent and also admitted to being part of a
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in
Santurce, and his older two brothers, 11 and 10 years his senior, encouraged and assisted in training him to become an athlete.
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In a four-season career, Bithorn posted a 34–31 record with a 3.16 ERA in 105 pitching appearances (53 as a
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played 22 home games there in the 2003 and 2004 MLB seasons, while Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2006 and 2009
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Of mixed Danish-German-Scottish and
Spanish descent, Bithorn was born as Hiram Gabriel Bithorn Sosa in
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selected him off waivers but only pitched two innings, developing a sore arm that ended his career.
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439:. He was shot by Mexican police officer Ambrosio Castillo Cano on December 28, 1951, in
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223:(March 18, 1916 – December 29, 1951) was a professional right-handed
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On
November 26, 1943, after his second season, Bithorn joined the
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of 2.60 and completing 19 of his 30 starts, leading the league in
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26:
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List of countries with their first Major League
Baseball player
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only to be waived later. On March 22 of the same year, the
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List of players from Puerto Rico in Major League Baseball
785:"Recordemos a los peloteros que han muerto por disparos"
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Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero
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1012:
People shot dead by law enforcement officers in Mexico
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709:
660:"Hi Bithorn – Society for American Baseball Research"
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history. Within three years, Bithorn was pitching at
263:(Puerto Rican Grandmother). The young Hiram attended
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May 4, 1947, for the Chicago White Sox
759:"Hi Bithorn: The life and odd death of Hurricane Hi"
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435:At age 35, Bithorn tried to make a comeback in the
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April 15, 1942, for the Chicago Cubs
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474:, the stadium has also hosted world championship
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722:(New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006), page 30.
33: and the second or maternal family name is
982:Puerto Rican people who died in prison custody
882:Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico
813:Career statistics and player information from
696:El Lanzador: Una Carrera Marcada por la Guerra
313:Bithorn played winter ball for his home team
997:United States Navy personnel of World War II
757:Cieradkowski, Gary Joseph (March 20, 2020).
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1017:People murdered by law enforcement officers
927:Baseball players from San Juan, Puerto Rico
902:Newark Bears (International League) players
255:, a heavily populated area in the city of
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987:Mexican people who died in prison custody
967:Puerto Rican United States Navy personnel
694:(October 14, 2007). "Béisbol romántico".
323:Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League
649:. May 10, 1943. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
490:, and important musical spectacles. The
272:III Central American and Caribbean Games
16:Puerto Rican baseball player (1916-1951)
992:Prisoners who died in Mexican detention
962:Puerto Rican people of Scottish descent
922:Sportspeople from Santurce, Puerto Rico
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947:Puerto Rican people of Spanish descent
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600:Society for American Baseball Research
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957:Puerto Rican people of Danish descent
952:Puerto Rican people of German descent
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336:, pitching for three seasons for the
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13:
733:"Baseball in Wartime - Hi Bithorn"
447:. Bithorn then was transferred to
378:. While in the navy, he served at
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14:
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1002:American people imprisoned abroad
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332:In 1939 Bithorn played in the US
270:In 1935, Bithorn competed in the
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912:Oakland Oaks (baseball) players
857:American people murdered abroad
80:Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
892:Minor league baseball managers
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1007:Prisoners murdered in custody
942:Senadores de San Juan players
917:Oklahoma City Indians players
783:Ramos, Raul (June 10, 2019).
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25:, the first or paternal
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937:Puerto Rican murder victims
862:Binghamton Triplets players
823:Baseball Reference (Minors)
698:(in Spanish). Puerto Rico:
647:The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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470:and across the street from
351:Bithorn was drafted by the
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972:United States Navy sailors
402:, eight shutouts and five
380:Naval Air Station San Juan
221:Hiram Gabriel Bithorn Sosa
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1022:Grand Rapids Jets players
932:People murdered in Mexico
872:Chicago White Sox players
832:Biography at AutĂłgrafo TV
468:Roberto Clemente Coliseum
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877:Hollywood Stars players
692:Edgardo RodrĂguez Juliá
546:Baseball in Puerto Rico
484:World Wrestling Council
472:Plaza Las Américas Mall
294:playing in the city of
897:Nashville Vols players
887:Mexican murder victims
643:"Sidelights on Sports"
623:. baseball-almanac.com
496:World Baseball Classic
480:professional wrestling
437:Mexican Pacific League
737:BaseballinWartime.com
590:Quevedo, Jane Allen.
551:Sports in Puerto Rico
536:List of Puerto Ricans
464:Hiram Bithorn Stadium
457:Carolina, Puerto Rico
315:Senadores de San Juan
237:Major League Baseball
227:who became the first
907:Norfolk Tars players
867:Chicago Cubs players
789:Con Las Bases Llenas
441:El Mante, Tamaulipas
98:, Tamaulipas, Mexico
466:is located next to
265:Central High School
261:Abuelita Borinqueña
131:Last MLB appearance
59:Bithorn, circa 1945
819:Baseball Reference
621:"Hi Bithorn Stats"
528:Puerto Rico portal
500:Dominican Republic
488:Pan American Games
410:185 batters while
385:Pittsburgh Pirates
376:United States Navy
358:earned run average
157:Earned run average
389:Chicago White Sox
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206:Chicago White Sox
89:December 29, 1951
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317:. When San Juan
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449:Ciudad Victoria
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369:Chico Hernández
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309:Baseball career
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147:Win–loss record
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96:Ciudad Victoria
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93:(aged 35)
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793:. Retrieved
791:(in Spanish)
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766:. Retrieved
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742:December 26,
740:. Retrieved
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700:El Nuevo DĂa
695:
663:. Retrieved
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641:Abrams, Al.
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625:. Retrieved
615:
603:. Retrieved
595:
592:"Hi Bithorn"
506:, Spain and
461:
434:
408:striking out
393:
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353:Chicago Cubs
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342:Oakland Oaks
331:
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276:San Salvador
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231:player from
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188:Chicago Cubs
111:
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91:(1951-12-29)
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34:
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23:Spanish name
18:
852:1951 deaths
847:1916 births
605:November 3,
504:Puerto Rico
486:, the 1979
431:Later years
303:Johnny Mize
280:El Salvador
235:to play in
233:Puerto Rico
841:Categories
827:Retrosheet
825:, or
821:, or
817:, or
627:August 23,
562:References
414:171 in 509
288:basketball
284:volleyball
247:Early life
167:Strikeouts
508:Venezuela
121:MLB debut
795:June 30,
768:June 30,
665:June 30,
596:sabr.org
514:See also
362:shutouts
274:held in
257:San Juan
253:Santurce
229:baseball
21:In this
419:⁄
412:walking
396:starter
319:manager
296:Guayama
292:nativos
225:pitcher
106:Batted:
67:Pitcher
31:Bithorn
27:surname
476:boxing
445:Mexico
340:clubs
112:Threw:
404:saves
366:Cuban
180:Teams
151:34–31
114:Right
108:Right
87:Died:
75:Born:
797:2020
770:2020
744:2017
667:2020
629:2018
607:2015
344:and
210:1947
200:1946
196:1943
192:1942
161:3.16
35:Sosa
815:MLB
171:185
29:is
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