First Puerto Rican to play in Major League Baseball
Led National League pitchers with seven shutouts in 1943
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.[1]
Of mixed Danish-German-Scottish and Spanish descent,[1][3] Bithorn was born as Hiram Gabriel Bithorn Sosa in Santurce, a heavily populated area in the city of San Juan, and was one of five children born to Waldemar G. Bithorn, a municipal employee, and María Sosa, a public school teacher. The Bithorn family traveled frequently to the United States. María taught her children English and at one time produced a radio program called Abuelita Borinqueña (Puerto Rican Grandmother). The young Hiram attended Central High School in Santurce, and his older two brothers, 11 and 10 years his senior, encouraged and assisted in training him to become an athlete.[1]
In 1935, Bithorn competed in the III Central American and Caribbean Games held in San Salvador, El Salvador, helping his Puerto Rican teammates bring home a silver medal in volleyball and a bronze in basketball.[1] By this time, he had already begun making a name for himself in baseball in 1932, while pitching on a team of nativos playing in the city of Guayama. The Puerto Ricans faced the Richmond BBC, a squad composed entirely of continental American players, including slugging first baseman and future Hall of FamerJohnny Mize, as the 16-year-old Bithorn led his team to a 10–1 victory over the visiting club.[1]
Baseball career
Bithorn played winter ball for his home team Senadores de San Juan.[1] When San Juan manager 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 Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League history.[1] Within three years, Bithorn was pitching at Wrigley Field.
Bithorn was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in September 1941 and debuted in the Major Leagues on April 15, 1942, making history as the first Puerto Rican big leaguer.[5] Bithorn won nine games and lost 14 in his first season,[5] but he rebounded in 1943 by going 18–12 with an earned run average of 2.60 and completing 19 of his 30 starts,[5] leading the league in shutouts 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 CubanChico Hernández.[6]
On November 26, 1943, after his second season, Bithorn joined the United States Navy. While in the navy, he served at Naval Air Station San Juan in Puerto Rico where he became the player-manager for the baseball team at the station.[5][7] 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 have the same abilities.[5] 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 Pittsburgh Pirates only to be waived later. On March 22 of the same year, the Chicago White Sox selected him off waivers but only pitched two innings, developing a sore arm that ended his career.
In a four-season career, Bithorn posted a 34–31 record with a 3.16 ERA in 105 pitching appearances (53 as a starter), including 30 complete games, eight shutouts and five saves, striking out 185 batters while walking 171 in 5092⁄3innings of work.
Later years
At age 35, Bithorn tried to make a comeback in the Mexican Pacific League. He was shot by Mexican police officer Ambrosio Castillo Cano[8] on December 28, 1951, in El Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico.[5] Bithorn then was transferred to Ciudad Victoria'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 communist cell, 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 Carolina, Puerto Rico.[6][9]
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. Hiram Bithorn Stadium is located next to Roberto Clemente Coliseum and across the street from Plaza Las Américas Mall, the stadium has also hosted world championship boxing fights, major professional wrestling events from the World Wrestling Council, the 1979 Pan American Games, and important musical spectacles. The Montreal Expos played 22 home games there in the 2003 and 2004 MLB seasons, while Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic 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 Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Spain and Venezuela national teams.
^"Hi Bithorn Stats". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
^Abrams, Al. "Sidelights on Sports". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 10, 1943. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
^"Hi Bithorn – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved June 30, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ abcdefEdgardo Rodríguez Juliá (October 14, 2007). "Béisbol romántico". El Lanzador: Una Carrera Marcada por la Guerra (in Spanish). Puerto Rico: El Nuevo Día. p. 138.
^ abDavid Maraniss, Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006), page 30.
^"Baseball in Wartime - Hi Bithorn". BaseballinWartime.com. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
^Cieradkowski, Gary Joseph (March 20, 2020). "Hi Bithorn: The life and odd death of Hurricane Hi". Studio Gary C. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
^Ramos, Raul (June 10, 2019). "Recordemos a los peloteros que han muerto por disparos". Con Las Bases Llenas (in Spanish). Retrieved June 30, 2020.
External links
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
hiram, bithorn, this, spanish, name, first, paternal, surname, bithorn, second, maternal, family, name, sosa, hiram, gabriel, bithorn, sosa, march, 1916, december, 1951, professional, right, handed, pitcher, became, first, baseball, player, from, puerto, rico,. In this Spanish name the first or paternal surname is Bithorn and the second or maternal family name is Sosa Hiram Gabriel Bithorn Sosa March 18 1916 December 29 1951 was a professional right handed pitcher who became the first baseball player from Puerto Rico to play in Major League Baseball 1 2 Hiram BithornPitcherBorn March 18 1916Santurce San Juan Puerto RicoDied December 29 1951 1951 12 29 aged 35 Ciudad Victoria Tamaulipas MexicoBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutApril 15 1942 for the Chicago CubsLast MLB appearanceMay 4 1947 for the Chicago White SoxMLB statisticsWin loss record34 31Earned run average3 16Strikeouts185TeamsChicago Cubs 1942 1943 1946 Chicago White Sox 1947 Career highlights and awardsFirst Puerto Rican to play in Major League Baseball Led National League pitchers with seven shutouts in 1943Standing 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 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Baseball career 3 Later years 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditOf mixed Danish German Scottish and Spanish descent 1 3 Bithorn was born as Hiram Gabriel Bithorn Sosa in Santurce a heavily populated area in the city of San Juan and was one of five children born to Waldemar G Bithorn a municipal employee and Maria Sosa a public school teacher The Bithorn family traveled frequently to the United States Maria taught her children English and at one time produced a radio program called Abuelita Borinquena Puerto Rican Grandmother The young Hiram attended Central High School in Santurce and his older two brothers 11 and 10 years his senior encouraged and assisted in training him to become an athlete 1 In 1935 Bithorn competed in the III Central American and Caribbean Games held in San Salvador El Salvador helping his Puerto Rican teammates bring home a silver medal in volleyball and a bronze in basketball 1 By this time he had already begun making a name for himself in baseball in 1932 while pitching on a team of nativos playing in the city of Guayama The Puerto Ricans faced the Richmond BBC a squad composed entirely of continental American players including slugging first baseman and future Hall of Famer Johnny Mize as the 16 year old Bithorn led his team to a 10 1 victory over the visiting club 1 Baseball career EditBithorn played winter ball for his home team Senadores de San Juan 1 When San Juan manager 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 Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League history 1 Within three years Bithorn was pitching at Wrigley Field In 1939 Bithorn played in the US Minor Leagues pitching for three seasons for the AA clubs Oakland Oaks and Hollywood Stars 4 Bithorn was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in September 1941 and debuted in the Major Leagues on April 15 1942 making history as the first Puerto Rican big leaguer 5 Bithorn won nine games and lost 14 in his first season 5 but he rebounded in 1943 by going 18 12 with an earned run average of 2 60 and completing 19 of his 30 starts 5 leading the league in shutouts 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 Cuban Chico Hernandez 6 On November 26 1943 after his second season Bithorn joined the United States Navy While in the navy he served at Naval Air Station San Juan in Puerto Rico where he became the player manager for the baseball team at the station 5 7 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 have the same abilities 5 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 Pittsburgh Pirates only to be waived later On March 22 of the same year the Chicago White Sox selected him off waivers but only pitched two innings developing a sore arm that ended his career In a four season career Bithorn posted a 34 31 record with a 3 16 ERA in 105 pitching appearances 53 as a starter including 30 complete games eight shutouts and five saves striking out 185 batters while walking 171 in 5092 3 innings of work Later years EditAt age 35 Bithorn tried to make a comeback in the Mexican Pacific League He was shot by Mexican police officer Ambrosio Castillo Cano 8 on December 28 1951 in El Mante Tamaulipas Mexico 5 Bithorn then was transferred to Ciudad Victoria 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 communist cell 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 Carolina Puerto Rico 6 9 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 Hiram Bithorn Stadium is located next to Roberto Clemente Coliseum and across the street from Plaza Las Americas Mall the stadium has also hosted world championship boxing fights major professional wrestling events from the World Wrestling Council the 1979 Pan American Games and important musical spectacles The Montreal Expos played 22 home games there in the 2003 and 2004 MLB seasons while Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic 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 Dominican Republic Puerto Rico Spain and Venezuela national teams See also Edit Puerto Rico portalList of Puerto Ricans List of players from Puerto Rico in Major League Baseball Baseball in Puerto Rico Sports in Puerto Rico List of countries with their first Major League Baseball playerReferences Edit a b c d e f g h Quevedo Jane Allen Hi Bithorn sabr org Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved November 3 2015 Hi Bithorn Stats baseball almanac com Retrieved August 23 2018 Abrams Al Sidelights on Sports The Pittsburgh Post Gazette May 10 1943 Retrieved July 31 2018 Hi Bithorn Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved June 30 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b c d e f Edgardo Rodriguez Julia October 14 2007 Beisbol romantico El Lanzador Una Carrera Marcada por la Guerra in Spanish Puerto Rico El Nuevo Dia p 138 a b David Maraniss Clemente The Passion and Grace of Baseball s Last Hero New York Simon amp Schuster 2006 page 30 Baseball in Wartime Hi Bithorn BaseballinWartime com Retrieved December 26 2017 Cieradkowski Gary Joseph March 20 2020 Hi Bithorn The life and odd death of Hurricane Hi Studio Gary C Retrieved June 30 2020 Ramos Raul June 10 2019 Recordemos a los peloteros que han muerto por disparos Con Las Bases Llenas in Spanish Retrieved June 30 2020 External links EditCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Biography at Autografo TV Hiram Bithorn at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hiram Bithorn amp oldid 1125937962, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
