Francisco Campos, decimocuarto en la historia con 200 victorias
TIEMPO DEL RECUERDO: Francisco Campos se convirtió en el decimocuarto pitcher que alcanza los 200 triunfos en la LMB. Una carrera limpia y bien merecidos todos los elogios que ha recibido desde que empezó a sumar triunfos rumbo a la cifra de los 200. Lo vio cerca cuando tuvo en
TIEMPO DEL RECUERDO: Francisco Campos se convirtió en el decimocuarto pitcher que alcanza los 200 triunfos en la LMB. Una carrera limpia y bien merecidos todos los elogios que ha recibido desde que empezó a sumar triunfos rumbo a la cifra de los 200. Lo vio cerca cuando tuvo en la mira a Panchillo Ramírez (184) y a Ernesto Escárrega (192), ya retirados y miembros del Salón de la Fama donde se espera ocupe su lugar Francisco Campos cuando llegue el momento de aparecer en la cédula que lo califique.
Pancho "Ponches" como se le identificó cuando empezó a acumular esta especialidad, lo recordamos cuando hizo su aparición entre los prospectos que se prepararon en la academia de Pastejé. Esto sucedió a principios de los años 90s. Sobrino de Francisco Campos, aquel magnifico bateador que vio cortada su carrera y una pierna por aquel accidente que tuvieron los Mayos de Navojoa en la LMP la temporada 1971-72. Muchos lesionados pero la peor parte fue para el tio de Pancho "Ponches". Alcanzó a jugar 4 temporadas en la LMB y siempre bateando .300.
Pancho se reportó como catcher y como tal empezó a practicar pero le vieron cualidades de pitcher y no se perdía nada viéndolo lanzar. Convenció y ahí se fue, por ese camino. Quien lo iba a pensar en Campeche que Pancho llegó en 1994 para debutar en 1995 y de ahí pal´ real. Toda su vida de lanzador en la LMB fue con los Piratas, con excepción del 2006 que estuvo corto tiempo con los Sultanes de Monterrey. Era un ídolo en Campeche para negárselo a su público. Nacido en Guaymas, Sonora, Pancho eligió a la ciudad de las Murallas para vivir. Ahí se casó y si usted le pregunta le dirá que se siente campechano. Nada más cambio de puerto.
Pancho también fue un ídolo en Mazatlán, otro puerto, fue un pitcher estelar y uno de los preferidos de los mazatlecos en la historia del equipo. La noche del triunfo 200 (el pasado martes), tuvo tres emociones: Abrió el juego de la esperanza, logró ese triunfo esperado y al final anunció su retiro. Su vida cambia, ahora coach de pitcheo, cosa que ha venido ejerciendo y no será nada nuevo para él.
Ser el número 14 que llega a 200 triunfos en la LMB es un logró viendo que se unió al rey Ramón Arano (334), Ángel Moreno (263), Alfredo Ortiz (255), Jesús "Chito" Ríos (244), Antonio Pollorena (233), Arturo González (232), Mercedes Esquer (217), Juan Manuel Palafox (217), José Peña (214), Ramón Bragaña (211), César Díaz (208), Miguel Solís (202), Jaime Orozco (201) y ahora Pancho "Ponches" Campos.
Por muchos años se mantuvo Ramón Bragaña como el mejor con 211 triunfos, fue también de dramáticos momentos ver a Ramón Arano que se le acercaba. A fines de los años 70s y jugando para los Cafeteros de Córdoba, después de haber cumplido un ciclo con los Diablos, Arano estaba rodeado de publicidad porque se sabía que se acercaba a la marca del cubano Ramón Bragaña. El llamado "Tres Patines" jugó para varios equipos, volvió a los Diablos, también estuvo con los Broncos de Reynosa, Tabasco y Águila de Veracruz antes de anunciarse su retiro. Fueron 32 temporadas para dejar una marca inalcanzable de 334. En el 2001 fue su última aparición.
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