sports
Hector Valle, Dodgers Catcher and Puerto Rican Baseball Figure, Dies at 85
Hector Valle, who played nine games for the 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers, died July 11 at age 85. The Vega Baja mayor announced the death and highlighted Valle's role as the first MLB player from the town.
Jul 13, 3:24 AM·1m read1 source
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Hector Valle, a catcher who appeared in nine games for the Los Angeles Dodgers during their 1965 World Series championship season, died Saturday at age 85, Newsweek reported. Hector Marrero Matias, a Puerto Rican journalist, confirmed the death. Mayor Marcos Cruz Molina of Vega Baja announced it the next day in a Facebook post that described Valle as the first native of the town to reach Major League Baseball.
308 with four hits in 13 at-bats and started three games. He was 24 years old and already in his sixth season in the Dodgers organization. Valle later played in the farm systems of the New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals.
215 with eight home runs. Before arriving in the United States, Valle won a silver medal with Puerto Rico at the 1959 Pan American Games. After the 1971 season he continued his career in Mexico and played 22 seasons in the Puerto Rican Winter League, catching two no-hitters for the Indios de Mayaguez.
A statue of Valle stands in front of Isidoro Garcia Park in Mayaguez. He was inducted into the Vega Baja Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
