GaryMrMets
10-27-2005, 07:59 PM
Cruz Remains Among Most Popular Astros
By JAIME ARON
.c The Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) - With socks pulled almost to his knees and batting gloves dangling from both back pockets, Jose ``Cheo'' Cruz still carries the style and swagger from his days as a slash-hitting, swift-fielding outfielder for the Houston Astros in the 1970s and '80s.
The biggest difference? The hat that used to sit atop an oversized hairdo no longer pops off with the slightest movement.
``I don't have my hair long like that any more, but at least I still have my hair,'' he said, removing his cap, stroking his head and breaking into the laugh that's helped make him among the most popular figures in Astros history.
He's one of seven former Houston players whose number has been retired, but the only one suited up for the club's first World Series. Now the club's first-base coach, Cruz has been part of every postseason game the Astros have played as a player or coach. He's been with the organization 22 of its 44 seasons.
So Cruz understands as well as anyone what it means for the franchise to have made it this far, even if the Astros were on the brink of getting swept by the Chicago White Sox going into Game 4 Wednesday night.
``We had so many years of getting close, we finally did it!'' he said prior to Game 3, a 7-5 loss in 14 innings. ``We're happy to be here. It took a long time, but we did it. ... I'm proud to be here, man. This is something.''
Before Game 4, Cruz was to take part in a presentation honoring Major League Baseball's all-time Latino Legends team. A native of Puerto Rico, his brothers Tommy and Hector also were big leaguers and his son Jose Cruz Jr. just finished his ninth season.
The Astros bought Cruz from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975. He hit his stride the next year, becoming among the better outfielders in baseball into the mid-'80s and setting club records for games, hits and team MVP awards that stood until Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio came along.
Fans took to Cruz because of his talent and his pizazz.
Even in the days of rainbow jerseys, he still managed to stand out with a batting stance that featured a high leg kick and hands held high. Then there was his introduction before every at-bat at the Astrodome: ``Now batting, the left fielder, No. 25, Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz,'' with fans joining the chorus.
When the team gave away statues of him this season, he was locked in his unique batting stance and the box featured a picture of the u-filled Dome message board that accompanied his intro.
``Let's put it this way: He was my son's favorite player,'' former teammate Art Howe said. ``He had his own style, but he was a heck of a player.''
An All-Star in 1980 and '85, Cruz received NL MVP votes five times, finishing third in 1980, when Houston won its first division title. He had the NL's third-best batting average '78 and '83 and played beyond his 40th birthday, spending the last of his 19 seasons with the New York Yankees.
``He had the knack for being able to put the bat on the ball,'' former teammate Bob Watson said. ``They would bring in side-arming left-handers and he'd go up there and stroke the ball the opposite way. If they would hang a breaking ball, he'd hit it out of the ballpark. He was one of the better hitters I've seen.''
Cruz batted .292 over 13 seasons in Houston and .284 for his career, with 2,251 hits in 2,353 games. He hit 165 homers, stole 317 bases, scored 1,036 runs and drove in 1,077.
``His offensive numbers are not even as good as they should be because of the Astrodome,'' said Larry Dierker, a former teammate who made Cruz his first-base coach when he became manager in 1997. ``He'd have more home runs, more RBIs, more runs scored - more everything - if he'd played in a more normal ballpark.
``In my opinion, he's the only one in this franchise who should have a retired number,'' added Dierker, whose number also is retired.
Still a fan favorite, Cruz works the crowd before most games, chatting in English and Spanish as he signs autographs and poses for pictures. On Tuesday night, a young girl asked if he remembered visiting her middle school. Someone else inquired about a vintage car he was selling and an older woman boasted about having been a fan since the Colt .45 days.
``Hey, I didn't play for the Colt .45s!,'' he said, cackling again.
10/26/05 16:52 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
By JAIME ARON
.c The Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) - With socks pulled almost to his knees and batting gloves dangling from both back pockets, Jose ``Cheo'' Cruz still carries the style and swagger from his days as a slash-hitting, swift-fielding outfielder for the Houston Astros in the 1970s and '80s.
The biggest difference? The hat that used to sit atop an oversized hairdo no longer pops off with the slightest movement.
``I don't have my hair long like that any more, but at least I still have my hair,'' he said, removing his cap, stroking his head and breaking into the laugh that's helped make him among the most popular figures in Astros history.
He's one of seven former Houston players whose number has been retired, but the only one suited up for the club's first World Series. Now the club's first-base coach, Cruz has been part of every postseason game the Astros have played as a player or coach. He's been with the organization 22 of its 44 seasons.
So Cruz understands as well as anyone what it means for the franchise to have made it this far, even if the Astros were on the brink of getting swept by the Chicago White Sox going into Game 4 Wednesday night.
``We had so many years of getting close, we finally did it!'' he said prior to Game 3, a 7-5 loss in 14 innings. ``We're happy to be here. It took a long time, but we did it. ... I'm proud to be here, man. This is something.''
Before Game 4, Cruz was to take part in a presentation honoring Major League Baseball's all-time Latino Legends team. A native of Puerto Rico, his brothers Tommy and Hector also were big leaguers and his son Jose Cruz Jr. just finished his ninth season.
The Astros bought Cruz from the St. Louis Cardinals in 1975. He hit his stride the next year, becoming among the better outfielders in baseball into the mid-'80s and setting club records for games, hits and team MVP awards that stood until Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio came along.
Fans took to Cruz because of his talent and his pizazz.
Even in the days of rainbow jerseys, he still managed to stand out with a batting stance that featured a high leg kick and hands held high. Then there was his introduction before every at-bat at the Astrodome: ``Now batting, the left fielder, No. 25, Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz,'' with fans joining the chorus.
When the team gave away statues of him this season, he was locked in his unique batting stance and the box featured a picture of the u-filled Dome message board that accompanied his intro.
``Let's put it this way: He was my son's favorite player,'' former teammate Art Howe said. ``He had his own style, but he was a heck of a player.''
An All-Star in 1980 and '85, Cruz received NL MVP votes five times, finishing third in 1980, when Houston won its first division title. He had the NL's third-best batting average '78 and '83 and played beyond his 40th birthday, spending the last of his 19 seasons with the New York Yankees.
``He had the knack for being able to put the bat on the ball,'' former teammate Bob Watson said. ``They would bring in side-arming left-handers and he'd go up there and stroke the ball the opposite way. If they would hang a breaking ball, he'd hit it out of the ballpark. He was one of the better hitters I've seen.''
Cruz batted .292 over 13 seasons in Houston and .284 for his career, with 2,251 hits in 2,353 games. He hit 165 homers, stole 317 bases, scored 1,036 runs and drove in 1,077.
``His offensive numbers are not even as good as they should be because of the Astrodome,'' said Larry Dierker, a former teammate who made Cruz his first-base coach when he became manager in 1997. ``He'd have more home runs, more RBIs, more runs scored - more everything - if he'd played in a more normal ballpark.
``In my opinion, he's the only one in this franchise who should have a retired number,'' added Dierker, whose number also is retired.
Still a fan favorite, Cruz works the crowd before most games, chatting in English and Spanish as he signs autographs and poses for pictures. On Tuesday night, a young girl asked if he remembered visiting her middle school. Someone else inquired about a vintage car he was selling and an older woman boasted about having been a fan since the Colt .45 days.
``Hey, I didn't play for the Colt .45s!,'' he said, cackling again.
10/26/05 16:52 EDT
Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.