Manny Sanguillen
Panamanian catcher who helped the Pirates win two World Series and hit .296 for his career.
Manuel De Jesus Sanguillén Magan (born March 21, 1944) is a Panamanian former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher in 1967 and from 1969 through 1980, most notably as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams that won five National League Eastern Division titles in six years between 1970 and 1975 and won the World Series in 1971 and 1979, twice over the Baltimore Orioles. He also played one season for the Oakland Athletics.
- Character
- Defensive Catcher
- Primary Team
- Pittsburgh Pirates (1969–1980, 1967)
- Era
- Late 1960s – Late 1970s
- Status
- Retired / Hall of Fame Inductee (2024)
- Key Achievement
- 2x World Series Champion (1971, 1979) vs. Baltimore Orioles
- Defensive Record
- Led NL in assists once; 51.4% caught stealing rate in 1971
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Sanguillén was born in Colón, Panama. He grew up in a tough barrio and didn't touch a baseball until he was nineteen, when he heard a pastor preaching sermons on a street corner, joined the Evangelical Baptist Church, and became a member of the church team. Two years later he was signed to play professional baseball. He was a close friend of Roberto Clemente. In 1972, Sanguillén missed the plane carrying Clemente on a relief mission to Nicaragua because he had misplaced his car key, and was devastated when the plane crashed. Against the advice of the Pirates general manager, he insisted on helping recover bodies, diving from dawn till midnight despite sharks in the water.
In Their Own Story
In the 1971 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, Sanguillén delivered one of his finest performances. Over seven games, he recorded an impressive .379 batting average with 11 hits, second only to teammate Roberto Clemente's 12. That same year, he finished third in National League catcher games caught (135) and led the league in assists (72). His defensive prowess continued into 1979, where he contributed a crucial two-out, game-winning single and RBI in Game 2 of the World Series against the Orioles, helping secure his second championship ring with Pittsburgh.
Reader's Guide
A three-time All-Star, Sanguillén's lifetime batting average of .296 is the fourth-highest by a catcher since World War II, and tenth-highest for catchers in Major League Baseball history. He was notorious for being a 'bad-ball' hitter, rarely walking, and was the only player since 1900 with at least six straight seasons with 475 plate appearances and fewer than 22 walks. He was a fast baserunner for a catcher and a good defensive player with a strong throwing arm. He currently operates 'Manny's BBQ', a barbecue-style concession stand at PNC Park, greeting fans and signing autographs.
Did You Know?
- Sanguillén was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame in 2024.
- He was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in 2019.
- He edged out Johnny Bench on The Sporting News National League All-Star Team in 1971, the only time between 1967 and 1975 that Bench was not selected.
- Sanguillén was the Pirates' catcher on September 20, 1969 when Bob Moose pitched a no-hitter.
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