Legendary Slugger Orlando Cepeda Dies at Age 86: A Life of Trials and Triumphs in Baseball

Orlando Cepeda, a legendary player for both the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals, passed away at the age of 86. Throughout his career, Cepeda was known for his power at the plate and was the first Puerto Rican player to start an MLB All-Star Game. In 1999, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame via the veterans committee.

Cepeda’s passing comes just weeks after that of his former teammate, Willie Mays. The Giants honored Cepeda with a moment of silence during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Throughout his career, Cepeda was an 11-time All-Star, NL MVP, World Series champion, and Rookie of the Year. He was a key player for the Giants and had numerous accomplishments under his belt.

After retiring in 1974, Cepeda faced legal troubles when he was arrested for transporting marijuana. He spent time in prison but later worked to rehabilitate his image. He returned to baseball as a scout and converted to Buddhism before becoming a community ambassador for the Giants. Despite missing out on Hall of Fame enshrinement in 1994, Cepeda was later inducted by the veterans committee in 1999, becoming the second Puerto Rican player to receive the honor after Roberto Clemente.