Today
I post up a “not so missing” 1974 card for former Houston Astros first
baseman Rafael Batista, who appeared in 12 games in 1973 of what would
be a brief two-year career:
Batista hit .267 with four hits over 15 at-bats for the Astros as a
27-year old making it to the Big Leagues for the first time toiling for
nine years in the Minors.
After spending all of 1974 in the Minors yet again, he made it back in
1975 with 10 games, collecting three hits, all as a pinch-hitter .
Sadly for him that would be all as far as his Major League career went,
though he would go on to play nine seasons in the Mexican League until
the age of 38 playing mainly for the Cordoba Cafeteros.
For his Big League tenure, Batista finished with a .280 average, with
seven hits in 20 at-bats with two runs scored and two RBIs.