by Edgar Martínez and Marvin Ramírez
Tribute immortalizes Orlando Cepeda The San Francisco Giants star, Orlando Cepeda observes the just unveiled statue in his honor. (photos by Marvin J. Ramirez)
Amid tears and high emotions the legendary Orlando Cepeda was immortalized by the San Francisco Giants, when his own statue was unveiled before the eyes of the greatest of the greatest in baseball history, friends and family.
The unveiling of the 9 by 5 foot bronze statue took place before hundreds of fans who participated in a mini Giants’ festival with Latin American food, salsa bands playing, Mexican folkloric dance, and the special presentation of Cepeda’s personal friend, Grammy winner, José Feliciano. Before coming to the public on the skirts of the AT&T Park, Cepeda hosted a smaller private gathering, which included family, friends, and Giants executives and players.
Among those invited were Ms. Vera Clemente, wife of the late Roberto Clemente, who spoke to this reporter at length about her husband’s work to help Nicaragua after the 1972 earthquake, until he lost his life in a plane crash. Ms. Clemente said that she will be visiting Nicaragua soon, a country which she and her children have fallen in love with.
Others present were Juan Marichal, Felipe Alou, Peter Magowan, Patrick “Pat” Gallaghe, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Barry Bonds, Vida Blue and many others.
Passing by the statues of great Giants stars such as Willie Mays, Willie McCovey or Dominican Juan Marichal, teammates for years, Orlando said it never passed his mind that he would one day have a statue in San Francisco’s ballpark.
Orlando Cepeda and his wife Miriam couldn’t hold the tears of emotion when the veil that covered his statue was removed.
“Today is a surprise, an immense honor and for the luck of being born with abilities to play ball, and have my statue in this beautiful park in this city that I love.
For his young fans, Cepeda sent, “A greeting of my part for those who fight to be better and that everything be positive.
Cepeda known as “The Baby Bull,” has been from 1999, a life tenant of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and a complete legend in the baseball Big League.
From his beginning at 20 years of age in 1958, with the Giants of San Francisco, in the same period he was a named Rookie of the Year and more Valuable Player, he was here for the fi rst performance of this team after it moved from New York to San Francisco. His debut was unbeatable on having connected a quadrangular to famous Don Drydale, of today detested by Bay Areas fans, the Dodgers of Los Angeles.
Cepeda scored important achievements between 1958-1966 with the Giants, his golden epoch was he when scored .300, although to his retirement, after transferring to the San Luis, Atlanta Athletics of Oakland, Red Socks of Boston, and ending with the Royals of Kansas City (1974), his global and final average was .297, with .379 for full runs, 1,365 runs produced in 2,124 challenges.
He was chosen for 11 Star Games but he only took part in nine. Of the World Series in which Cepeda took part, the most painful could have been the one in which San Francisco lost in seven games against the New York Yankees in 1962.
