Carlos Delgado

Lore & Background

Delgado was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to Carlos 'Cao' Delgado and Carmen Digna Hernández. He grew up in the El Prado section of Aguadilla. There, he attended elementary school alongside his three siblings. Both his father, 'Don Cao', and his grandfather, Asdrúbal 'Pingolo' Delgado, were well-known figures in the town. Delgado has said that this made him feel 'protected,' but that it also demanded that he had to behave properly. Delgado attended Agustín Stahl Middle School and José de Diego High School, from which he graduated in 1989. Delgado has expressed his strong feelings of pride in being an Aguadillano, noting everything he holds dear is found in the municipality, and his off-season house is located there. He is friends with many people who live there, many of whom he played Little League baseball with.

In Their Own Story

The July night was humid, the kind of Miami summer heat that makes the air feel like warm water pressed against your face. The scoreboard read 3-3, bottom of the eighth, two outs, runner on second. Delgado walked to the plate with his usual unhurried stride, tapping the dirt with the bat, adjusting his helmet. The pitcher wound up. Delgado extended his arms, let the ball sit deep in the zone, and then loaded up—hips turning, barrel sweeping in that long, full arc. The crack was different from the other hits that night. Heavier. Slower. The ball rose in a lazy, spinning climb over the outfield, and the crowd noise swelled from a murmur to a roar in the span of three seconds. Delgado didn't celebrate. He just stood in the on-deck circle, watching the ball land, and gave a small nod to the runner rounding third. That was the whole thing. No fist pump. No slide. Just the quiet certainty of a man who had done it a hundred times before and would do it a hundred more.

Reader's Guide

Carlos Delgado signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1988. He made his major league debut on October 1, 1993. Though he did not play in the 1993 postseason, he was awarded a World Series ring. Originally a catcher, Delgado played in left field for the Blue Jays in 1994 and 1995, before switching to first base. Starting in 1997, he hit at least 30 home runs in ten consecutive seasons. He won the Hank Aaron and The Sporting News Player of the Year Awards in 2000, and the Silver Slugger Award in 1999, 2000, and 2003. On September 25, 2003, Delgado became the 15th major league player to hit four home runs in one game. He is the only player to hit four home runs with only 4 at-bats in a game. Following the 2004 season, Delgado became a free agent. On January 25, 2005, he signed with the Florida Marlins. On November 23, 2005, the Marlins sent Delgado and $7 million to the New York Mets for Mike Jacobs, Yusmeiro Petit, and Grant Psomas. Delgado played for the Mets from 2006 to 2009. On October 31, 2008, the Mets exercised Delgado's $12 million option.

Did You Know?

• Delgado holds the Major League Baseball record for career home runs by a Puerto Rican player with 473.
• He is one of only six players in MLB history to hit 30 home runs in ten consecutive seasons.
• Delgado is the only player to hit four home runs with only 4 at-bats in a game.
• He set an MLB record by reaching base safely in his first 10 plate appearances of the 2002 season.
• Delgado was the first visiting player to hit three splash home runs at AT&T Park.