Four-time All-Star Joaquin Andujar, 62, dies after battle with diabetes
Former major league pitcher Joaquin Andujar, who helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to the 1982 World Series title, died Tuesday in the Dominican Republic after a long battle with diabetes. He was 62.
Andujar will be honored Tuesday in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, in the eastern region of Dominican Republic, and will be buried Wednesday.
Former major-league pitcher Mario Soto, who works as a special assistant to the general manager in the Cincinnati Reds organization and is president of the Dominican Federation of Professional Baseball Players, confirmed the death to ESPNDeportes.com.
"Joaquin struggled for years with diabetes and in recent days had deteriorated a lot," Soto said from Santo Domingo. "He was hospitalized several times but always came out unscathed. However, he surrendered to the disease that consumed him completely."
Andujar was one of the best Dominican players of the 1980s. The right-hander was 127-118 with a 3.58 ERA and was a four-time All Star in 13 seasons with the Houston Astros, the Cardinals and theOakland Athletics.
Andujar was 2-0 with 1.35 ERA in the 1982 World Series, when the Cardinals won in seven games against the Milwaukee Brewers. In the decisive Game 7, he pitched seven innings and allowed two runs to push his record to 3-0 that postseason.
The Cardinals paid tribute to Andujar on Twitter.
He won 20 games in 1984 and 1985, and both times was fourth in the race for the Cy Young Award in the National League. He also won a Gold Glove in 1984.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the relatives of Mr. Andujar, a fierce pitcher who always gave the maximum on the mound," said Leonardo Matos Berrido, president of the Dominican winter baseball league.
Andujar played for 14 years with four clubs in the Dominican winter league.
"Everyone called him crazy because of his way on the mound," Soto said. "He was a great competitor and above all, very courageous. No one wanted to have problems with Andujar."
