Orlando Cepeda, a legendary player for the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, has passed away at the age of 86, the Giants announced on Friday. He was the first Puerto Rican player to start an MLB All-Star Game and was eventually elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 by the veterans committee. Cepeda was known as one of the most feared power bats of his era and was a trailblazer for Puerto Rican baseball players.
His death comes just 10 days after the passing of fellow Giants great Willie Mays, with whom he played alongside for nine seasons. The Giants honored Cepeda with a moment of silence before their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers when they announced his passing.
Throughout his career, Cepeda achieved many accolades, including being an 11-time All-Star, an NL MVP, a World Series champion, and a Rookie of the Year. He was a key player for the Giants and had a significant impact on the team. However, his life took a downturn after retirement when he was arrested on drug trafficking charges. He spent time in prison but eventually returned to baseball as a scout and worked to rehabilitate his image.
After narrowly missing out on Hall of Fame induction in his final year of BBWAA eligibility, Cepeda was eventually inducted by the veterans committee in 1999, becoming only the second Puerto Rican player to receive this honor, alongside Roberto Clemente. His legacy in baseball and his contributions to the sport will always be remembered.