Leo Cárdenas
| Leo Cárdenas | |
|---|---|
Cárdenas in 1974 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born: December 17, 1938 Matanzas, Cuba | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 25, 1960, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 26, 1975, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .257 |
| Home runs | 118 |
| Runs batted in | 689 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Leonardo Lazaro Cárdenas Alfonso (born December 17, 1938) is a Cuban former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from 1960 to 1975, most prominently as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, where he was the starting shortstop for seven seasons.
A five-time All-Star, Cárdenas was one of the top defensive shortstops of his era. Nicknamed "Mr. Automatic" because his defensive play was so reliable; he won a Gold Glove Award for his defensive prowess in 1965. His 20 home runs in 1966 set a Reds team record for home runs by a shortstop that stood for 30 years. He also played for the Minnesota Twins, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, and Texas Rangers. Cárdenas was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1981.