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Ralph Joseph "Putsy" Caballero (born November 5, 1927) is a retired infielder in Major League Baseball. Caballero played eight seasons in Major League Baseball, all for the Philadelphia Phillies during the Whiz Kids era, and holds the record as the youngest person in major league history to appear at third base. After graduating high school at age 16,〔Roberts, p. 36.〕 the Phillies signed Caballero to a contract worth $10,000. After a few short stints at the major league level and playing parts of three seasons in the minor leagues, Caballero was named the starter at third base in 1948. In his one season as an everyday player, Caballero batted .245 in 380 plate appearances at age 20.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=1948 Philadelphia Phillies Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics )〕 After another stint in the minors in 1949, he was a backup infielder, pinch hitter, and pinch runner for the 1950 season, and continued in that role through 1952. After three more seasons in the minors, Caballero retired from baseball after the 1955 season. After baseball, Caballero worked as an exterminator. His Louisiana home was destroyed in 2005 during Hurricane Katrina, and he lives in Lake View. ==Early career and minor leagues== Caballero attended Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he played baseball during the 1943 and 1944 seasons. During his first season, the Jesuit High team won both the city championship and the American Legion championship. The Philadelphia Phillies signed Caballero as an amateur free agent on September 9, 1944,〔 the same year that fellow Whiz Kid shortstop Granny Hamner joined the organization.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The Transactions for the 1944 Philadelphia Phillies )〕 Caballero planned on attending Louisiana State University, where he had been offered a scholarship to play baseball and basketball. Mel Ott, a scout for the New York Giants and former outfielder, wanted Caballero to sign with the Giants, but counseled him to sign with whoever offers you the most money.〔Roberts, p. 37.〕 The Phillies offered Caballero a $10,000 signing bonus ($ today), and his father advised him to sign the contract offered by general manager Herb Pennock and owner Bob Carpenter.〔 At 16 years old, Caballero appeared in four games for the 1944 Phillies, getting four at-bats without reaching base.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=1944 Philadelphia Phillies Batting, Pitching, and Fielding Statistics )〕 In so doing, Caballero became the youngest third baseman ever to play in Major League Baseball, a record he still holds. For the 1945 season, the Phillies sent Caballero to the Class-A Utica Blue Sox of the Eastern League, where he played in 130 games at third base, batting .272 with 132 hits, 9 doubles, and 10 triples. While there, he was managed by Eddie Sawyer, and played with Hamner and Richie Ashburn,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=1945 Utica Blue Sox )〕 with whom he lived for two seasons.〔Roberts, p. 108.〕 Caballero appeared in nine games with the Phillies in 1945, scoring his first major league run and batting in a run as well.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=1945 Philadelphia Phillies Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics )〕 In 1946, Caballero lost playing time as he and Hamner were both summoned to military service;〔Roberts, p. 42.〕 however, he did play in 76 games with the Terre Haute Phillies in the Class-B Three-I League and 1 game with the Blue Sox. That year, Caballero hit the first two home runs of his minor league career with Terre Haute, along with nine doubles and four triples.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Putsy Caballero Minor League Statistics and History )〕 Most of Caballero's 1947 season was played at Utica as well, where he posted a .287 batting average, 114 hits, and 13 doubles while splitting time with Hamner at second base.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=1947 Utica Blue Sox Statistics )〕 His last cup of coffee with the Phillies came at the end of 1947,〔Roberts, p. 56.〕 when he notched his first major league hit and first walk in eight at-bats.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Putsy Caballero Statistics and History )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Putsy Caballero」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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