Epitacio "La Mala" Torres, primero en la LMB en llegar a 1,000 hits
TIEMPO DEL RECUERDO: Llegar a 1000 hits tuvo su época de ser un acontecimiento, en cualquier liga de amplio calendario de juegos, en el caso de la LMB por ejemplo tuvo su motivación y podemos recordar desde el primero que lo hizo. Nada menos que Epitacio "La Mala" Torres con
TIEMPO DEL RECUERDO: Llegar a 1000 hits tuvo su época de ser un acontecimiento, en cualquier liga de amplio calendario de juegos, en el caso de la LMB por ejemplo tuvo su motivación y podemos recordar desde el primero que lo hizo. Nada menos que Epitacio "La Mala" Torres con los Sultanes de Monterrey el año de 1947, teniendo como escenario el que fuera legendario parque Delta de la ciudad de México.
Fue una tarde del año 1947 que el equipo de Monterrey llegó a la capital pare enfrentar a los Diablos Rojos de México, había expectación con "La Mala" Torres que estaba 3 hits de los 1000 y su compañero de equipo Agustín Bejerano acumulaba 999. Todo mundo pensaba que Bejerano sería el primero en llegar, sin embargo, fue dominado y "La Mala" dio tres hits sobre el pitcheo de Fred Martin para lograr la hazaña aquel 12 de septiembre de 1947. Que entonces era una hazaña.
Conforme avanzó el tiempo la cifra de 1000 hits fue alcanzada por una buena cantidad de jugadores y por eso desapareció esa sección de la guía, 1500 era la nueva meta y así la encontramos actualmente cubriendo dos páginas con más de cien socios de este club, aunque ahora la meta más preciada es llegar a 2000. Jesús Sommers con 3004 es el único que ha llegado a 3000.
Hoy son más de 30 los que superaron la cifra y también los que terminaron su carrera cerca de los 3000. Nelson Barrera dejó una gran cifra, casi la acarició al batear 2,937 hits, seguido por Luis Arredondo con 2,815, Héctor Espino 2, 752 y otros que pasaron de los 2,500. Esto describe lo que ha crecido la LMB. Cuando "La Mala" Torres llegó a mil hits el circuito de verano estaba en pañales, hace más de 70 años y vaya que ya llovió.
Pero lo más increíble que todos los que han superado los 1,500 hits ya están retirados y no se vislumbra la nueva generación que esté cerca de la nueva cifra mágica. Hace poco había aspirantes como Edgar Quintero (1,489), Hernando Arredondo (1,465), Oscar Robles (1,456) y Raúl Sánchez (1,425) pero ya se retiraron. Así que la caballada está flaca a estas alturas de la vida del famoso circuito de verano.
No todos los que dieron 2000 o más hits están en el Salón de la Fama, en parte porque hubo un retraso involuntario alrededor de la mecánica que se tenía para seguir el ritmo de los elegidos, entre la salida de la empresa cervecera que lo administró y la construcción del nuevo recinto que afortunadamente ya está en proceso de normalizar las elecciones y las ceremonias de entronización.
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