Ronnie Camacho

Ronaldo Camacho Durán (born 26 October 1935) is a retired Mexican professional baseball first baseman and manager. Camacho played in the Mexican League, the highest level of professional baseball in Mexico, the Mexican Pacific League and in the minor leagues.

Ronaldo Camacho
Municipal president of Empalme
In office 16 September 1982 – 15 September 1985
Preceded by	Marcial Bazúa Vizcarra
Succeeded by	Heriberto Lizárraga Zataráin
Personal details
Born	(1935-10-26) 26 October 1935 (age 89) Empalme, Sonora, Mexico
Political party	Institutional Revolutionary Party
Baseball career
First baseman / Manager
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Career highlights and awards
Mexican Pacific League records 27 home runs, single season
Member of the Mexican Professional
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1983

He had a brief career as politician in the eighties as municipal president of his hometown.

Career

Camacho was born on 26 October 1935 in Empalme, Sonora, Mexico. He started his professional career in 1953 playing for the Águilas de Mexicali in the Mexican winter league. He also played minor league baseball with the Fresno Cardinals from 1953 to 1955.^[1]

In 1956, Camacho returned to Mexico and signed with the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo of the Mexican League. Camacho played for the Tecolotes from 1956 to 1959, then joined the Pericos de Puebla where he stayed until 1969. In 1970, Camacho was signed by the Leones de Yucatán, where he played for only one season. In 1971, he joined the Broncos de Reynosa. From 1972 to 1974, Camacho played with the Tigres de México. On his last season, in 1975, he played with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes. Camacho also spent some games with the Rojos del Águila de Veracruz in 1973.

Camacho became the first and only player to establish a single season home run record in both Mexican professional leagues. In 1963, Camacho hit 39 home runs in the Mexican League. In the 1963–64 Mexican Pacific League season, Camacho hit 27 home runs. His record in the Mexican League was beaten the next year by Héctor Espino, who hit 46 home runs with the Sultanes de Monterrey. His record in the Mexican Pacific League remains unbeaten as of 2022.^[2][3][4]

In 1983, Camacho was inducted into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.^[5]

Each season, the Mexican Pacific League awards the Ronaldo "Ronnie" Camacho Trophy to the home run leader of the league, named in honor of Camacho.^[6]

Political career

Camacho was elected as municipal president of his hometown Empalme from 16 September 1982 to 15 September 1985.^[7][8]

References

1. "Inmortales 82–84" (in Spanish). Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Mexicano. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
2. "Ronnie Camacho. En honor a la leyenda viviente". Cuarto Bat (in Spanish). 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
3. Gastélum Duarte, Guillermo. Enciclopedia Conmemorativa del 75 Aniversario de la Liga Mexicana del Pacífico (in Spanish). Liga Mexicana del Pacífico.
4. Liga Mexicana de Beisbol. "Quién es quién 2022" (in Spanish). Liga Mexicana de Beisbol. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
5. "Ronnie Camacho el famoso Ropero de Empalme" (in Spanish). Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Mexicano. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
6. "El récord de cuadrangulares de Camacho". Cuarto Bat (in Spanish). 30 September 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
7. "Ronaldo Camacho Durán". Sonora Vive (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 December 2022.
8. "Ronaldo "Ronnie" Camacho Durán, Empalme, Sonora. Octubre 26 de 1935". El Vigía (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 December 2022.

External links

• Career statistics from Baseball Reference (Minors)