San Francisco Giants legend Baseball Hall of Fame Orlando Cepeda “passed away peacefully” on Friday night, his family confirmed in a statement to the team. He was 86 years old.
“Our beloved Orlando passed away peacefully this evening at home, surrounded by his loved ones and listening to his favorite music,” his wife, Nidia, said in a statement. Giants on friday.
Orlando Cepeda of the San Francisco Giants during spring training. (Getty Images)
“I’m glad he’s resting in peace.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
No cause of death was released. The devastating news of Cepeda’s death comes just over a week after the death of his former Giants teammate. Willie Mays.
“It’s shocking again,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said of a tough month for the franchise. “Again, a great guy. A beloved player. The statue out front. The numbers he had. We have a lot of legends here. He was certainly at the center of it all. It’s kind of amazing to be that close to Willie.”
(L) Orlando Cepeda and Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants, September 11, 1963, at the Polo Grounds in New York City. (Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images, via Getty Images)
Nicknamed “Baby Bull,” Cepeda played first base for 17 seasons in the major leagues, starting with the Giants. He also played for St. Louis, Atlanta, Oakland, Boston and Kansas City. In the spring of 1969, Cepeda was traded from the Cardinals to the Braves for Joe Torre.
MLB legend Willie Mays dies at age 93
Cepeda was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 1958 with San Francisco and the National League MVP in 1967 with St. Louis, and played in three World Series, winning one in 1967. He led the National League with 46 home runs and 142 RBI in 1961. An 11-time All-Star, Cepeda had a career batting average of .297 with 379 home runs.
“Orlando Cepeda was one of the greatest hitters of his generation. He played for three of the National League’s most historic franchises, was an 11-time All-Star and played alongside Hall of Famers throughout his career,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
Orlando Cepeda, wearing number 30 of the San Francisco Giants, takes a pitch during an MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, on May 20, 1961. The Dodgers catcher was Norm Shelley, wearing number 34, and the umpire was Dusty Boggess. (Hi Peskin/Getty Images)
“Orlando was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1958, his major league debut with San Francisco, and his uniform number 30 was later retired by the Baby Bulls. In 1967, he was the National League MVP. St. Louis Cardinals World Championship Season
Click here to get the FOX News app
Manfred added, “Orlando overcame obstacles throughout his life to build a Hall of Fame-worthy career. This beloved Puerto Rican native was one of many players of his generation who helped transform baseball into a multicultural sport. On behalf of MLB, we offer our deepest condolences to his family, his friends across the baseball world and his fans in Puerto Rico, San Francisco, St. Louis, Atlanta and many other places.”
After his playing career, Cepeda was convicted of marijuana smuggling in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1976 and sentenced to five years in prison. Though he served less than a year in prison, the conviction likely cost him his chances of being inducted into the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame.
He was subsequently elected by the Veterans Affairs Committee in 1999.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital X’s sports coverage,subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
