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Gonzalo Enrique Márquez Moya (March 31, 1946 - December 20, 1984), better known as Gonzalo Márquez [MAR-kez], was a Major League Baseball first baseman and left-handed batter who played for the Oakland Athletics (1972-73) and Chicago Cubs (1973-74). He was born in Carúpano, Sucre State, Venezuela.

In the 1970 Caribbean Series, he led all players with a .440 batting average and 4 stolen bases, to help the Navegantes del Magallanes win the series, marking the first time a Venezuelan team had taken the title. While Márquez was not a star in the Major Leagues, he's still greatly remembered by the Oakland fans for his memorable 1972 rookie season. Easily, his participation as a collaborator for his team in that season could be labeled in terms of strategic offensive provider, some like as a "designated pinch-hitter".

In four-season majors career, Márquez batted .235 (27-for-115) with one home run, 10 runs batted in, nine runs, three doubles and one stolen base in 76 games. In eight post-season games, he hit 5-for-8 for a .625 BA with two RBI and one run scored. He resumed his player career with the Leones del Caracas club in the Venezuelan Winter League, compiling a record of .288 with 16 homers and 295 RBI in 833 games, from 1965 to 1984.

Gonzalo Márquez was killed in a car accident in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela, as he was returning home from a baseball game. He was 38 years old.

Quotation

• A short undistinguished career. But I will always remember 1972 when Dick Williams seemingly pulled you out of his, er, hat and through the late season & ALCS & WS you were a PH machine, beating countless ground singles through the right side. RIP always - Brian Jonestown Massacre, sponsor page at Baseball Reference

See also

• List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference