Cesar Geronimo

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gerónimo was born in El Seibo, Dominican Republic. His father was a driver for a car service. At age 14, his parents sent him to a seminary with hopes he would become a priest. He didn't start playing baseball until he was 17. In 1967, after scouts saw him play on his father's softball team, he was signed by the New York Yankees. The Yankees tried to make him a pitcher, but in spring training 1968 he ended that experiment. Later that year he was drafted by the Houston Astros in the Rule 5 Draft. He made his major league debut with the Astros on April 16, 1969. His first hit came five days later, a single off the Reds' Wayne Granger on April 21, 1969, pinch-hitting for pitcher Jim Bouton. On November 29, 1971, he was traded to the Reds with Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, Denis Menke, and Joe Morgan, but Gerónimo was a player to be named later and was sent to complete the deal on December 3, 1971. He won four consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1974 to 1977. He was the starting center fielder of Reds teams that won five divisional championships, three National League pennants, and the 1975 and 1976 World Series. In the 1975 World Series, he hit .280 with two home runs, and the final out was a fly ball to left field by Carl Yastrzemski caught by George Foster. His most productive season was 1976, with career-best totals in batting average (.307), hits (149), bases on balls (56), triples (11), stolen bases (22), and on-base percentage (.382). The following season he hit a career-high 10 home runs. He played his last three seasons (1981-1983) in a reserve role with the Kansas City Royals. He holds the distinction of being the 3,000th strikeout victim of both Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan.

In Their Own Story

The most iconic moment of Gerónimo's career unfolded during Game Five of the 1975 World Series against the Boston Red Sox. With the series hanging in the balance, he stood in center field at Riverfront Stadium. As Carl Yastrzemski launched a fly ball toward right-center, Gerónimo tracked it down perfectly, securing the catch for the final out to clinch the World Series title. This image became legendary, cementing his legacy beyond his statistics. The following year, 1976, marked his most productive season statistically; he posted career-best numbers including a .307 batting average, 149 hits, 56 walks, 11 triples, and an .382 on-base percentage. In the next season alone, he hit a career-high 10 home runs. Despite these offensive peaks, his defensive prowess remained his hallmark, with a .988 fielding percentage across all three outfield positions throughout his 15-year career.

Reader's Guide

Gerónimo was known as 'the Chief'. He batted .258 with 51 home runs and 392 RBI in 15 seasons. Defensively, he posted a .988 fielding percentage at all three outfield positions. After retiring, he worked for the Japanese Hiroshima Carp as a coach in their Dominican baseball academy and has been on the board of trustees of the Dominican Republic Sports & Education Academy. In July 2008 he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

Did You Know?

• Gerónimo didn't start playing baseball until he was 17 years old.
• He was signed by the New York Yankees after scouts saw him play on his father's softball team.
• He was the 3,000th strikeout victim of both Bob Gibson and Nolan Ryan.