Statement from the Giants on the passing of Orlando Cepeda

SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Giants are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer and San Francisco Giants legend Orlando Cepeda. Cepeda was 86.

“Our beloved Orlando passed away peacefully at home this evening, listening to his favorite music and surrounded by his loved ones,” said his wife Nydia. “We take comfort that he is at peace.”

“We lost a true gentleman and legend”, said Giants Chairman Greg Johnson. “Orlando was a great ambassador for the game throughout his playing career and beyond. He was one of the all-time great Giants and he will truly be missed. Our condolences go out to the Cepeda family for their tremendous loss and we extend our thoughts to Orlando’s teammates, his friends, and to all those touched by his passing.”

“This is truly a sad day for the San Francisco Giants,’’ said Larry Baer, Giants President and Chief Executive Officer. “For all of Orlando’s extraordinary baseball accomplishments, it was his generosity, kindness and joy that defined him. No one loved the game more. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Nydia, his five children, Orlando, Jr., Malcolm, Ali, Carl and Hector, his nine grandchildren, his one great granddaughter as well as his extended family and friends.”

Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999, Cepeda was a 10-time All-Star in eight-plus years with the Giants from 1958-1966. Cepeda was a part of the first Giants club on the West Coast, debuting with the Giants on April 15, 1958. That season he went on to win the National League Rookie of the Year award after hitting .312 with an NL-best 38 doubles, four triples, 25 homers and 96 RBI in 148 games. From there he was named an All-Star in each of his next six seasons from 1959-1964. (note from 1959-1962 Major League Baseball played two All-Star Games each season and Cepeda was selected to all eight of those games).

The Baby Bull still holds the SF-era (1958-pres.) single-season mark for the most RBI in a season with his 142 in 1961. He also still ranks among the leaders in the SF-era in RBI (4th, 767), home runs (5th, 226), hits (6th, 1,286) and runs (9th, 652). In 1,114 career games as a Giant, Cepeda hit .308 with 226 doubles, 22 triples, 226 homers, 767 RBI, 92 stolen bases and posted an .887 OPS.

After leaving San Francisco he was named the National League MVP in 1967 as a member of the Cardinals. He batted .325 with 37 doubles, 25 homers and a league-best 111 RBI. Cepeda also earned his 11th and final All-Star nod that season as well.

He played the ’68 season with the Cardinals before joining the Braves (1969-1972), A’s (1972), Red Sox (1973) and Royals (1974). He finished his 17-year career with a lifetime batting average of .297 with 417 doubles, 379 home runs, 1,365 RBI and 142 stolen bases. He appeared in three World Series, winning one in 1967 with St. Louis, and hit over .300 nine times in his distinguished career.

When the Ponce, PR native took his place in the Hall of Fame in 1999 he was only the second player ever from Puerto Rico to reach Hall status besides the great Roberto Clemente. Two weeks prior to his induction, the Giants retired his #30 on July 11, 1999, during ceremonies at Candlestick Park.

In 1993, the Baby Bull was also inducted into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame, while in 1999, he was elected to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for his great years with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2004, he was one of four men to receive the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association’s Achievement Awards, the MLBPAA’s highest alumni honor. He was joined by Jim Bunning, Al Kaline, and Roger Maris.

Off the field, Cepeda spent the last 33 years as a Community Ambassador for the Giants and was a member of the Giants Community Fund Advisory Board. In his role, Cepeda visited hospitals, senior centers and inner-city schools in the Bay Area and throughout the United States, speaking to at-risk children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. He also served as the honorary spokesman for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, Meals on Wheels San Francisco, Muttville and the Curry Senior Center. A practicing Buddhist for over 40 years, he was a member of the Soka Gakkai International Buddhist community.

He was survived by his wife, Nydia.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to SGI-USA, 2450 17th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110 in Orlando’s memory.