from Bill Nowlin on SABR-L:


Date: Sat, 13 May 2006 20:45:46 -0400
From: Bill Nowlin <bnowlin@...>
Subject: Mexican baseball loses an icon, Jesus Manuel
Ruiz Venzor

=20
Carlos Fragoso, SABR member from Mexico City, wished
me to pass on this
tribute to the recently deceased Jesus Manuel Ruiz
Venzor, 72, who
passed away in Chihuahua, Mexico on May 8, 2006.
Carlos deems the
death of Sr. Ruiz Venzor "a significant loss to
Mexican amateur
baseball
as well as to Mexican Hall of Fame where he was part
of the election
committee, a broadcaster for more than 4 decades, and
an icon who
taught
and developed newer generations in the game. He was
more than that,
through his family ties with former baseball great Ted
Williams, who
had his roots in this land through his grandmother
mother Catarina
Venzor, who left Chihuahua and migrated to California
where her
daughter May Venzor married Samuel Williams.=20
=20
In working with eight other SABR members on the recent
book THE KID:
TED
WILLIAMS IN SAN DIEGO, I contacted Carlos, seeking
more information
about Ted's Mexican roots. Carlos was glad for the
opportunity to talk
more with this longtime supporter of Mexican baseball
and writes, "I
remember Mr. Ruiz Venzor telling me family stories
about Ted`s
childhood. He told me, 'His uncle was an exceptional
amateur player
in
Santa Barbara, California and then little boy Ted
always joined him
playing catch and starting to fell in love with the
game.'"

Carlos Fragoso adds: "Mr Ruiz was honored before his
burial ceremony,
in
the Chihuahua city baseball park from all those who
admired him as a
person, sportscaster, but I guess not many people
realized that he had
in his bloodlines, baseball history and heritage to
one of the greatest
ever, Ted Williams."

=20
Bill Nowlin

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