Marcelo Juárez

Marcelo Juárez Moreno (26 October 1942 – 7 August 2023) was a Mexican professional baseball outfielder and coach. He spent four seasons in the minor leagues with the San Francisco Giants organization. Juárez also played 17 seasons in the Mexican League and 16 seasons the Mexican Pacific League. He is widely regarded as the greatest center fielder in the Mexican League history and was enshrined into the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.

Early life Juárez was born on 26 October 1942 in , Coahuila. His father, Jesús, an amateur baseball player, introduced him to the sport. He played amateur baseball with the Bravos de Río Bravo from 1956 to 1960. He later played in the semi-professional Liga Norte de Coahuila. He was discovered by scout Ramón “Chita” García, who recommended him to the San Francisco Giants, where he signed a minor league contract.

Mexican Pacific League Juárez spent 16 seasons in the Mexican Pacific League, making his debut in 1964 with the Mayos de Navojoa. He also played for the Tomateros de Culiacán, Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Algodoneros de Guasave, Águilas de Mexicali and Ostioneros de Guaymas, retiring after the 1981–82 season.

Legacy Juárez was elected to the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the class of 1998 alongside Juan Navarrete, Miguel Solís and Eugenio Garza Sada. In 2020, Juárez was selected as the all-time center fielder on the Mexican League’s historic team, commemorating the league’s 95th anniversary. The Saraperos de Saltillo honored Juárez by retiring his number 44.

Death Juárez died on 7 August 2023 in Saltillo, Coahuila, aged 80.