Hector Valle, a Former Dodgers Catcher, Dies at 85

Hector Valle, a catcher who played nine games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965, has died at age 85. Valle was from Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, and was a beloved figure in his home country's baseball history. The mayor of Vega Baja announced his death on Facebook on July 12. A Puerto Rican journalist named Hector Marrero Matias also reported that Valle died on a Saturday.

Valle made history as the first person from Vega Baja ever to play in Major League Baseball. The mayor of Vega Baja, Marcos Cruz Molina, wrote a tribute in Spanish to honor Valle's life. He called Valle 'a source of pride for Vega Baja and Puerto Rico' and praised his long career in sports. The mayor added, 'His sporting legacy will live on forever in the memory of Vega Baja and our entire country.'

In his only time playing in the MLB, Valle hit .308, getting four hits in 13 at-bats across nine games. He started three of those games for the Dodgers, who went on to win the World Series that year. Valle was just 24 years old at the time, but he had already spent six seasons in the Dodgers' minor league system. It was an impressive start for a young player from a small town in Puerto Rico.

Over 12 seasons in professional baseball, Valle also played for minor league teams connected to the New York Mets, the Detroit Tigers, and the Kansas City Royals. He played 402 games at the Triple-A level, which is the highest level of the minor leagues. During that time, he batted .215 and hit eight home runs. After the 1971 season, he continued playing professionally in Mexico.

Before coming to the United States, Valle had already shown he was a talented player on a big stage. He won a silver medal playing for the Puerto Rican team in the 1959 Pan American Games. He also represented Puerto Rico in several Caribbean Series competitions. These achievements made him a proud symbol of his island's athletic talent.

Valle was known especially for his skills as a defensive catcher, and he caught two no-hitters while playing for the Indios de Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican Winter League. He reportedly played 22 seasons in that league, which is the second-most in the league's entire history. A statue of Valle was built in front of Isidoro Garcia Park in Mayaguez to honor his contributions to the sport. He was also inducted into the Vega Baja Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, cementing his place as one of the greatest figures in Puerto Rican baseball.