Cito Gaston is a former Major League Baseball player and manager who had a successful career in the sport. He was born on March 17, 1944, in San Antonio, Texas, and grew up in a family of baseball players. Gaston played in the minor leagues for several years before making his Major League debut with the San Diego Padres in 1967.
Gaston played for several teams during his career, including the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Diego Padres. He was primarily an outfielder and had a career batting average of .256 with 91 home runs and 387 RBIs. Gaston was known for his speed on the basepaths and his strong arm in the outfield.
After retiring as a player, Gaston became a coach and eventually a manager. He was the first African American manager to win a World Series when he led the Toronto Blue Jays to back-to-back championships in 1992 and 1993. Gaston was known for his calm demeanor and his ability to manage egos and personalities on his teams.
Gaston was also a trailblazer in the sport, as he was one of the first African American managers in Major League Baseball. He faced racism and discrimination throughout his career, but he persevered and became a respected figure in the sport.
Gaston retired from managing in 2010, but his legacy in the sport lives on. He was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Gaston is remembered as a talented player and a successful manager who broke barriers and paved the way for future generations of African American coaches and managers in Major League Baseball.
⚾