Candy Maldonado was a professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on September 5, 1960, in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Maldonado began his baseball career in the minor leagues in 1978, playing for the Great Falls Giants. He quickly moved up the ranks and made his major league debut in 1981 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Maldonado played for the Dodgers for five seasons, from 1981 to 1985. During his time with the team, he was known for his strong arm and his ability to hit for power. He was a key player in the Dodgers' 1985 National League Championship Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, hitting a home run in Game 4.
In 1986, Maldonado was traded to the San Francisco Giants, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Cleveland Indians for one season before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1989. Maldonado had a strong season with the Brewers in 1990, hitting 27 home runs and driving in 89 runs.
Maldonado played for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1991 to 1992, where he was part of the team's World Series championship in 1992. He hit a home run in Game 3 of the series, helping the Blue Jays to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
After his time with the Blue Jays, Maldonado played for the Cleveland Indians again in 1993 before being traded to the Texas Rangers in 1994. He played his final season in the major leagues with the Rangers in 1995.
Throughout his career, Maldonado was known for his versatility, playing both outfield and first base. He was also known for his strong arm and his ability to hit for power. In total, Maldonado played in 1,301 games, hitting 141 home runs and driving in 567 runs.
After his playing career, Maldonado became a coach and manager in the minor leagues. He also worked as a broadcaster for the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Maldonado was inducted into the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013.
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