Luis Gonzalez to be inducted into Latin American Sports Hall of Fame
PHOENIX -- Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez will be inducted into the Latin American Sports Hall of Fame this Saturday, Jan. 18 in Laredo, Texas. Gonzalez will be the 16th Major League Baseball player to be inducted into the Latin American Sports Hall of Fame that will also honor Tino Martinez as well as seven additional athletes and professionals this Saturday.
Gonzalez is one of only 19 players in Major League history to collect at least 2,500 hits, 500 doubles, 350 home runs and 1,000 RBI, joining Baseball Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Andre Dawson, Lou Gehrig, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Stan Musial, Tony Perez, Cal Ripken, Jr., Frank Robinson, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Dave Winfield and Carl Yastrzemski, as well as Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey, Jr., Chipper Jones, Rafael Palmeiro and Manny Ramirez.
The Cuban-American played 19 years in the big leagues, compiling 596 career doubles, the 15th-highest total in baseball history. He posted a .283 batting average, 2,591 hits, 354 home runs and 1,439 RBI during his career with the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins and D-backs.
The five-time All-Star retired as the D-backs' all-time leader in games played (1,194), hits (1,337), doubles (310), home runs (224), walks (650), runs (780), RBI (774), at-bats (4,488), total bases (2,373), slugging percentage (.529) and on-base percentage (.391).
For his contributions as a player and a member in the community, Gonzalez became the first former player to have his number retired by the D-backs during a pregame ceremony on Aug. 7, 2010.
One of the most popular figures in D-backs history because of the way he interacted with fans and his game-winning single in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series to give the organization its first World Championship, Gonzalez begins his fifth full season as a Special Assistant to D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall.
