Joe Azcue

Born: 8/18/1939 in Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos, Cuba

MLB Debut: 1960-08-03 | Final Game: 1972-09-29

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: Jose Joaquin Azcue

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Biography

Joe Azcue, born in 1939, was a skilled position player who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball from 1960 until his retirement in 1972. Over the course of his career, he played in 909 games, accumulating 712 hits and a batting average of .252. Known for his versatility, Azcue played primarily as a catcher and was recognized for his solid defensive skills and ability to handle a pitching staff. His offensive contributions included 50 home runs and 304 RBIs, showcasing his ability to drive in runs during crucial moments. Azcue's career was highlighted by his selection to the All-Star team, an honor that underscored his talent during a competitive era in baseball. He played in a time when the sport was evolving, with the integration of players from diverse backgrounds and the rise of power-hitting. Beyond his statistics, Joe Azcue's legacy includes his role in fostering camaraderie among teammates and his contributions to the teams he played for, including the Cleveland Indians and the Kansas City Royals. His journey through the game reflects the dynamic nature of baseball during the 1960s and early 1970s, a time of both change and innovation in America's pastime.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
909	2828	201	712	94	9	50	304	5	207	344	0.252	0.304	0.344	0.648	-2237.1

Career AVG .252 vs. league average .248 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .304 vs. league average .314 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .344 vs. league average .371 across their career seasons — 7.2% below league average.

Career OPS 0.648 vs. league average 0.685 across their career seasons — 5.4% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1960	CIN	NL	14	31	1	3	0	0	0	3	0	2	6	0.097	—	—	—	—	0.0
1962	KC1	AL	72	223	18	51	9	1	2	25	1	17	27	0.229	.257 (-11%)	.326 (-12%)	.393 (-22%)	.719 (-18%)	-730.4
1963	KC1	AL	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1963	CLE	AL	94	320	26	91	16	0	14	46	1	15	46	0.284	.246 (+15%)	.308 (+2%)	.371 (+25%)	.680 (+14%)	0.0
1964	CLE	AL	83	271	20	74	9	1	4	34	0	16	38	0.273	.250 (+9%)	.312 (avg)	.377 (-5%)	.690 (-3%)	-146.8
1965	CLE	AL	111	335	16	77	7	0	2	35	2	27	54	0.230	.245 (-6%)	.310 (-7%)	.371 (-28%)	.682 (-18%)	-1048.7
1966	CLE	AL	98	302	22	83	10	1	9	37	0	20	22	0.275	.248 (+11%)	.309 (+3%)	.376 (+7%)	.685 (+5%)	253.1
1967	CLE	AL	86	295	33	74	12	5	11	34	0	22	35	0.251	.242 (+4%)	.306 (avg)	.357 (+22%)	.663 (+12%)	506.7
1968	CLE	AL	115	357	23	100	10	0	4	42	1	28	33	0.280	.236 (+18%)	.298 (+11%)	.340 (avg)	.638 (+5%)	376.2
1969	CLE	AL	7	24	1	7	0	0	1	1	0	4	3	0.292	—	—	—	—	0.0
1969	BOS	AL	19	51	7	11	2	0	0	3	0	4	5	0.216	.248 (-13%)	.320 (-15%)	.369 (-31%)	.689 (-23%)	0.0
1969	LAA	AL	80	248	15	54	6	0	1	19	0	27	28	0.218	.248 (-12%)	.320 (-8%)	.369 (-31%)	.689 (-20%)	0.0
1970	LAA	AL	114	351	19	85	13	1	2	25	0	24	40	0.242	.253 (-5%)	.325 (-10%)	.385 (-22%)	.711 (-16%)	-1112.9
1972	LAA	AL	3	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.000	—	—	—	—	0.0
1972	ATL	AL	11	14	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	0.143	—	—	—	—	0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
C	868	773	5329	452	44	67

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1960	CIN	C	14	6	66	6	0	0
1962	KC1	C	70	64	363	42	6	5
1963	KC1	C	1	0	5	0	0	0
1963	CLE	C	91	84	564	42	5	13
1964	CLE	C	76	70	510	36	4	2
1965	CLE	C	108	97	714	53	5	2
1966	CLE	C	97	87	588	40	7	3
1967	CLE	C	86	80	636	57	1	4
1968	CLE	C	97	90	699	50	3	11
1969	CLE	C	6	6	46	4	1	2
1969	BOS	C	19	14	90	14	2	3
1969	CAL	C	80	75	437	52	4	10
1970	CAL	C	112	98	587	51	6	10
1972	CAL	C	2	0	4	0	0	0
1972	ML4	C	9	2	20	5	0	2