On May 28, 1960, he became the first Dominican to wear a Cardinals jersey. On August 27, Julián Javier will be the first Latino in history to be immortalized in that franchise’s Hall of Fame.
Intelligent, with a fine and safe glove, owner of a stable and opportune batting, Since his debut, Javier established himself among the good second basemen in baseball and the Cardinals were always aware of that, a team that kept him as one of their own for 11 of his 12 seasons.
With eight years of history in which the San Luis Hall of Fame was founded, Javier was notified last May 22, his inclusion in this year’s class, along with Matt Holliday and Charlie Comiskey. The arrivals of him will raise to 48 those exalted by the group.
“I receive this call with great pride and appreciation, I am infinitely grateful to the Cardinals, for such a high distinction that they give me, I must feel happy for it, because this reflects that we did a good job during our stay there”, says Javier, after speaking with Listín Diario.
For him, it was already necessary for it to arrive, although without showing desperation, since he understands that at some point it would occur and the most important thing is that it happens at a time when he still enjoys magnificent health”, he expresses from his home in San Francisco de Macorís.
With 86 years of age, on the 9th of this month, the exaltation scheduled for the afternoon of the 27th at Busch Stadium will become a double reason to celebrate for the Javier family. The game will be against the Braves.
There will be a large family delegation that will fly to San Luis on August 25, with his wife Yolanda, their children Julián, Stanley, Julieta, Susy and Lynette, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, even some of them will fly from Denmark and California to San Luis for what is considered the great seal in his Major League career in which he hit .257 (5,722-1,469). He played 12 seasons with the Cardinals and one with Cincinnati.
Hero in the world championships conquered by the Cardinals in 1964 and 67, in the latter he hit .360 (25-9).
For Javier, this will be the first long trip that Javier has made in a long time, because at his age he is satisfied with going to Puerto Rico and Miami, the city where his son Julián resides, a cardiologist and the second of all.
Precisely, he older is the one who acts between the organizers of the trip and a kind of link with the Cardinals and everything that will happen in the ceremony.
“Well deserved and in good time that this has happened at a time when he enjoys excellent health, for a long time he was an important part of that organization and this is the best recognition he can receive,” said his son Stanley, who played for 17 years. with eight teams and for life he hit .269
A historical and emblematic franchise, whose 11 world titles are only seconds of the 27 of the Yankees and where much of the cream of baseball paraded like Stan Musial, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, Ted Simmons and more recently Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.
“It is with great pride that we receive this exaltation from the Cardinals for my father. He played in one of those very tough times in baseball and he did it brilliantly, ”said his son Julián José.
fourth immortality
For Javier it will be his fourth immortality in its history, since the Columbus team of the minor leagues did it years ago, as well as in his native San Francisco and of course the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame has him as one of his sons.
ceremonial acts
It includes, on Friday, the measurement of the organization’s famous red vest and then a lunch with relatives. Saturday is the exaltation in the hall of fame, a building that is in front of the stadium, here they give him his vest and his plate, the relatives give him a replica of it, then with the parade of horses they give him a stroll through the stadium, the immortalized mounted on convertible cars and then the relatives share in one of the suites.
