Bobby Avila, 78; Second Baseman Beat Williams for 1954 Batting Crown
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Bobby Avila, a three-time All-Star who won the American League batting title in 1954, died Tuesday of complications from diabetes and a lung ailment. He was 78.
Avila, known in his homeland as “Beto,” died in a private clinic in the Gulf Coast city of Veracruz.
He played second base for the Cleveland Indians from 1949 to 1958 and also was with the Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Braves, and Boston Red Sox during 11 seasons in the big leagues.
He batted .341 to edge out Ted Williams and Minnie Minoso for the AL batting title and help Cleveland win the pennant in 1954. He was the first Latino to win the batting crown. He played in the All-Star game in 1952, 1954, and 1955.
Avila played in more than 1,300 games, finishing with a career batting average of .281 with 80 homers and 457 RBIs. After his major league career, Avila played in 1960 for Mexico City’s Tigers.
He batted .333 and set a record with 125 RBIs in his final season.
Widely considered the first Mexican to spark major interest in U.S. baseball in his homeland, Avila was inducted into this country’s baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.
