News Americas, New York, NY, October 3, 2024: Ozzie Virgil Sr., the first player born in the Dominican Republic in Major League Baseball (MLB) when he debuted at third base for the New York Giants in 1956, and later the Detroit Tigers’ first black player, died Sunday at home his in Monte Cristi, near the border of the Dominican Republic with Haiti. He was 92.
His son, Ozzie Virgil Jr., a former Major League player, confirmed that the cause of death was pancreatitis. Virgil’s death was announced by Major League Baseball.
Virgil enjoyed a nine-season career in the major leagues, primarily as a third baseman. While his fielding was outstanding, his hitting struggles limited his opportunities to secure regular spots in starting lineups. After his playing days, he continued his baseball career as a coach and scout.
When Virgil made his major league debut on September 23, 1956, playing against the Philadelphia Phillies, little attention was paid to his skin color or Dominican heritage. By then, the Giants already had standout players like center fielder Willie Mays and Puerto Rican pitcher Ruben Gomez, and other Latin American players from Cuba, Puerto Rico and Venezuela had already made their mark on the league.
However, Virgil was a pioneer for the wave of Dominican talent that would follow him in Major League Baseball, including Hall of Fame pitchers Juan Marichal and Pedro Martinez, and outfielder Vladimir Guerrero Sr.
Virgil played just three games with the Giants in 1956 and 96 games in 1957, the franchise’s final season in New York before moving to San Francisco. The Giants were aggressive in signing talent from Latin America, which included stars like Marichal and the Alou brothers – Felipe, Jesus and Matty.
In January 1958, Virgil was traded to the Detroit Tigers, a team that, along with the Boston Red Sox, had yet to field a black player. Virgil remembered Michigan History in 1997 that he was unsure of his role with the Tigers, as they had never before invited a black player to spring training.
Facing pressure from activists to integrate their roster, the Tigers called Virgil up from the minors in June 1958. However, his reception from Detroit fans, black and white, was lukewarm. He later noted that Latino players were not always accepted as black by the African-American community. Larry Doby, who integrated the American League in 1947 with the Cleveland Indians, would join the Tigers as their first African-American player in 1959.
Virgil played 49 games for the Tigers in 1958, hitting .244 before returning to the minors. He appeared again with the Tigers in 1960 and split the 1961 season between Detroit and the Kansas City Athletics. His final MLB appearances came in short stints with the Baltimore Orioles in 1962 and the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1965.
After a trade back to the Giants in 1965, Virgil saw limited playing time before retiring in 1969 after a brief spell. He moved into coaching, first as the third base coach for the Giants and later as a coach for the Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.
During his MLB career, Virgil played in 324 games, finishing with a .231 batting average and 14 home runs.
Born Osvaldo Jose Virgil Pichardo on May 17, 1932, in Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic, he moved to the Bronx with his family as a teenager. He attended DeWitt Clinton High School, but played baseball with a local Puerto Rican team instead of the school team. His professional baseball journey began when the Giants signed him for a $300 bonus in 1953.
Virgil is survived by his son, Ozzie Jr., a two-time All-Star who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays, and another son, Marcus; four daughters, Linda, Justine, Ruth and Santina; and nine grandchildren.
He spent many years as an instructor at the New York Mets’ Dominican baseball academy, and in 2006, Osvaldo Virgil National Airport in Monte Cristi was named in his honor.
Reflecting on his pioneering role, Virgil said in a 2015 interview with Simonetti Sports, “I may not have been the most talented and I may not hold records or any big numbers, but I will always have a number of special: number one. .”
