1976 Topps #241 - Hector Torres

• Hector Torres played for five teams from 1968-1977. Hector pitched for Monterrey, Mexico in the 1958 Little League World Series (they won for the second straight year). He was originally signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent in 1962 at the age of 16. Hector played in the Giants' system from 1962-1965, then he was traded to the California Angels for Dave Marshall. After spending two more years in the Angels' system Torres was traded to the Houston Astros.

• Torres won the Houston shortstop job in 1968 and played in 128 games, batting .223 in 466 at bats. It would be his best season until 1975. He split the 1969 and 1970 seasons between AAA Oklahoma City and Houston. Hector played in 34 games in 1969 (.159 in 69 at bats) and 31 games in 1970 (.246 in 65 at bats). After the 1970 season he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Roger Metzger.

• Hector stayed with the Cubs for the entire 1971 season but only played in 31 games. He batted .224 in 58 at bats. During spring training in 1972 Torres was traded with Hal Breeden to the Montreal Expos for Dan McGinn. He got to play more in 1972, but he batted only .155 in 181 at bats. During spring training in 1973 Torres was purchased by the Houston Astros.

• Torres played even less in 1973. He played in 38 games and batted .091 in 66 at bats. After the season he was traded to the Chicago White Sox and then purchased by the San Diego Padres. In 1974 Hector was sent to AAA Hawaii. Hector spent the entire season there and batted .259 in 123 games.

• In 1975 Hector had his best season. He was a late inning guy for the first three weeks of the season, then he played infield for most of the remainder of the season. Torres batted .259 in 112 games. In 1976 Torres mostly played shortstop for the first two months and then was an extra infielder for the rest of the year. He batted .195 in 215 at bats. After the season he was traded by the Padres with Johnny Grubb and Fred Kendall to the Cleveland Indians for George Hendrick. Three months later the Indians traded Hector to the Toronto Blue Jays for John Lowenstein.

• The 1977 season was Hector's last year in the majors. He batted .241 in 266 at bats as a utility infielder. Torres was released by the Blue Jays during spring training in 1978. He played in the minors during the 1978 season and retired after the season.

• After his playing career Torres coached in the Toronto system from 1979-2002. He then coached in the Giants system in 2004 and then joined the Tampa Bay Rays organization in 2005. Hector is now the hitting coach of the Bowling Green Hot Rods (a class A team of the Rays).