Today's POTD looks at the 11-time Gold Glove award winner, who signed a minor league deal with Toronto recently.
Omar Vizquel, in action against the Jays in April of 2010, played his first major league game April 3, 1989 in Oakland with the Seattle Mariners and recorded his first hit, a single against Oakland's Storm Davis, three days later.
Vizquel's first major league homer came at the Kingdome July 23, 1989 against the Jays Jimmy Key.
Vizquel won his first Gold Glove at short in 1993 in what turned out to be his final season in Seattle. He was traded to Cleveland in the off-season for shortstop Felix Fermin, outfielder Reggie Jefferson and cash.
Vizquel won seven straight Gold Gloves after arriving in Cleveland and made his first All-Star appearance in 1998.
Vizquel earned another All-Star appearance in 1999 and finished 16th in American League MVP voting after hitting .333 with 66 runs batted in and 42 stolen bases, one off his career high in 1997.
Vizquel hit a career-high 14 homers and earned his third All-Star berth with Cleveland in 2002 but his Gold Glove award streak came to an end. Texas' Alex Rodriguez took him the golden mitt that year.
After helping Cleveland reach the playoff six times, including two World Series appearances, Vizquel left the Indians after 2004 to sign a free-agent deal with San Francisco.
Vizquel won a pair of Gold Gloves in his first two seasons with the Giants.
Vizquel went back to the American League in 2009 to spend a season with the Texas Rangers before spending the last two years with the White Sox. Wearing #42 briefly at the beginning of his career with the Mariners according to Baseball-Reference.com, Vizquel had worn #13 until coming to the Windy City where he had to wear #11. Manager Ozzie Guillen kept his #13 from his playing days. Clearly, they worship at the alter of Reds shortstop great and fellow Venezuelan Davey Concepion.
Vizquel batted .251 in 58 games with the White Sox in 2011 while playing short, first, second and third base. He is a career .272 hitter with 2,841 hits.
The switch-hitting native of Caracas, Venezuela will battle Mike McCoy and Luis Valbuena for a utility job with the Jays in 2012 as he looks to extend his big league career to a 24th season. He will turn 45 on April 24.
Next up on POTD - tomorrow will be perfect.
Omar Vizquel, in action against the Jays in April of 2010, played his first major league game April 3, 1989 in Oakland with the Seattle Mariners and recorded his first hit, a single against Oakland's Storm Davis, three days later.
Vizquel's first major league homer came at the Kingdome July 23, 1989 against the Jays Jimmy Key.
Vizquel won his first Gold Glove at short in 1993 in what turned out to be his final season in Seattle. He was traded to Cleveland in the off-season for shortstop Felix Fermin, outfielder Reggie Jefferson and cash.
Vizquel won seven straight Gold Gloves after arriving in Cleveland and made his first All-Star appearance in 1998.
Vizquel earned another All-Star appearance in 1999 and finished 16th in American League MVP voting after hitting .333 with 66 runs batted in and 42 stolen bases, one off his career high in 1997.
Vizquel hit a career-high 14 homers and earned his third All-Star berth with Cleveland in 2002 but his Gold Glove award streak came to an end. Texas' Alex Rodriguez took him the golden mitt that year.
After helping Cleveland reach the playoff six times, including two World Series appearances, Vizquel left the Indians after 2004 to sign a free-agent deal with San Francisco.
Vizquel won a pair of Gold Gloves in his first two seasons with the Giants.
Vizquel went back to the American League in 2009 to spend a season with the Texas Rangers before spending the last two years with the White Sox. Wearing #42 briefly at the beginning of his career with the Mariners according to Baseball-Reference.com, Vizquel had worn #13 until coming to the Windy City where he had to wear #11. Manager Ozzie Guillen kept his #13 from his playing days. Clearly, they worship at the alter of Reds shortstop great and fellow Venezuelan Davey Concepion.
Vizquel batted .251 in 58 games with the White Sox in 2011 while playing short, first, second and third base. He is a career .272 hitter with 2,841 hits.
The switch-hitting native of Caracas, Venezuela will battle Mike McCoy and Luis Valbuena for a utility job with the Jays in 2012 as he looks to extend his big league career to a 24th season. He will turn 45 on April 24.
Next up on POTD - tomorrow will be perfect.