Ozzie Virgil was a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues for 13 seasons. He was born in the Dominican Republic in 1956 and began his career in the minor leagues in 1976. He made his Major League debut in 1980 with the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming the first Dominican-born player to play in the Major Leagues as a catcher.
Virgil played for several teams during his career, including the Phillies, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was known for his strong arm and defensive skills as a catcher, but he also had a solid bat and was a consistent hitter throughout his career.
One of Virgil's most memorable moments came in 1987 when he hit a walk-off home run in the 10th inning to give the Giants a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also had a career-high 16 home runs that season.
Virgil's career came to an end in 1990 when he was released by the Pirates. He finished his career with a .231 batting average, 87 home runs, and 324 RBIs. After his playing career, Virgil went on to become a coach and manager in the minor leagues, as well as a scout for several Major League teams.
Overall, Ozzie Virgil had a solid career as a catcher in the Major Leagues. He was a trailblazer for Dominican-born players and helped pave the way for future generations of players from the Dominican Republic.
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