Tony Perez: From Cuba to Cooperstown

The 1970s belonged to P ƒ ƒ ‚rez ‚" ‚ € ‚"and the Big Red Machine ‚" ‚ € ‚"and after the Big Red Machine was gone, P ƒ ƒ ‚rez was far from finished. He had good seasons with Montreal and Boston, made it back to the World Series with Philadelphia in 1983, and returned to Cincinnati in 1984 where he became the oldest player to hit a grand slam home run.

Erardi's story is scenic and lively, especially describing the Big Dog's demeanor, which endeared him more to Cincinnati fans than any player in recent memory. The courtliness, on and off the field, traces P ƒ ƒ ‚rez's manner back to the Cuban lineage from which he had come.

Whether by practice or instinct he carried the best qualities of his Cuban forebear, the great El Inmortal Dihigo. P ƒ ƒ ‚rez was unselfish, unflappable, and joyous. Even better than that, he was a good teammate. A good man then, now ‚] ‚ € ‚] always.