Kurt Bevacqua was a professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on January 23, 1947, in Miami, Florida, and attended Miami-Dade College. Bevacqua was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round of the 1968 Major League Baseball draft.
Bevacqua made his Major League debut with the Royals in 1971. He played for the Royals until 1973, when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bevacqua played for the Pirates for two seasons before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1975. He played for the Brewers for two seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1977.
Bevacqua played for the Indians for one season before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 1978. He played for the Mariners for one season before being traded to the Texas Rangers in 1979. Bevacqua played for the Rangers for two seasons before being traded to the San Diego Padres in 1981.
Bevacqua played for the Padres for four seasons and was a member of the team that won the National League pennant in 1984. He played in the World Series that year, but the Padres lost to the Detroit Tigers. Bevacqua retired from baseball after the 1985 season.
During his career, Bevacqua was primarily a utility player, playing multiple positions including first base, second base, third base, and outfield. He was known for his clutch hitting and was often used as a pinch hitter. Bevacqua had a career batting average of .236 with 30 home runs and 177 RBIs.
After retiring from baseball, Bevacqua worked as a baseball analyst for various television and radio stations. He also worked as a scout for the San Diego Padres and as a coach for the Tijuana Toros of the Mexican League.
In 2018, Bevacqua made headlines when he criticized the San Diego Padres for wearing camouflage uniforms on Memorial Day. Bevacqua, who served in the Vietnam War, called the uniforms a "disgrace" and said they were disrespectful to veterans. The Padres later apologized for the uniforms.
Overall, Kurt Bevacqua had a long and varied career in baseball, playing for several teams and earning a reputation as a clutch hitter and utility player. He continued to be involved in baseball after his playing career ended and made headlines for his outspoken criticism of the San Diego Padres' Memorial Day uniforms.
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