Luis Gonzalez Biography

Gonzo is the nickname for Luis Emilio Gonzalez, a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Gonzalez's greatest years were spent with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he was one of the most popular players in franchise history. In-Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, he hit the game-winning home run against Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees, giving the Diamondbacks their first and only World Series triumph. Gonzalez debuted in the major leagues on September 4, 1990. He had four hits the rest of the 1990 season (2 doubles). Gonzalez's career began in 1991 with his first complete season. Gonzalez was dealt with the Chicago Cubs along with Scott Servais for Rick Wilkins. Gonzalez had a.290 batting average with the Cubs in 1995, with seven home runs and 34 RBI. Gonzalez hit.276 with the Astros and Cubs combined in 1995, hitting 13 home runs and driving in 69 runs. Gonzalez hit.271 in 1996, with 15 home runs and 79 RBI. In 1997, Gonzalez returned to the Astros on a one-year agreement. He batted.258 in 1997, with 10 home runs and 68 RBI. Gonzalez received a one-year contract with the Tigers in 1998. He batted.267 in 1998, with 23 home runs and 71 RBI. Gonzalez was sent to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Karim Garca in 1999. During his time with Arizona, Gonzalez began to establish himself as a star. He quickly put the Diamondbacks into title contention, hitting a career-high. 336 in 1999, leading the National League in hits with 206, and helping them win the Western Division that season before losing in a divisional playoff series to the New York Mets. In 1999, he was named to his first All-Star Team. That year, the Diamondbacks advanced to the World Series, where they played the New York Yankees, who started Gonzalez's boyhood pal Tino Martinez at first base. With the score tied at 2-2, the bases loaded, and one out, Gonzalez came to the bat in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 7. Mariano Rivera, one of the show's most fearsome closers with a particularly strong playoff record, was the Yankee pitcher (Rivera had never blown a save chance in a World Series before, or since). Gonzalez hit the game-winning bloop single into left field off Rivera's 0-1 pitch, giving Arizona their first franchise World Series triumph. Gonzalez announced his departure on August 29, 2009, and was hired as a special assistant to the president by the Diamondbacks. Gonzalez would be the first Diamondbacks player to have his number, #20, retired on August 7, 2010, according to the Diamondbacks.

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