Born: Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mex., 1/7/1936
Died: Weston, Fla., 3/31/2017
B-R, T-R... 5'10", 169 lbs
A former major league shortstop that played for the Cardinals, Phillies, Yankees and Angels during his career, Amaro has had a long career with the Phillies, filling various roles: coach, scout, minor league instructor, advisor, and many more. In 1980, Amaro became the first base coach under Dallas Green, and was able to savor the sweet taste of victory when he helped coach the Phillies to the first World Series victory in the long history of the franchise.
As a player, Amaro was the prototypical good glove, no hit shortstop that was prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s. Amaro broke in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1958, then played six season with the Phillies before playing for the Yankees and concluding his career with the California Angels in 1969. Amaro hit for a lifetime .234 average, hitting just eight home runs in his entire career, with a high of four in 1964, when he played 129 games as a reserve infielder for the Phillies team that "almost" won the pennant, and he also hit for a career-high batting average (.264) and knocked in 34, the most in his career. He also won the Gold Glove that year, quite a feat for a player that only managed to bat 299 times in a full season.
Lifetime Statistics
|
Year |
Team |
AB |
Runs |
Hits |
HR |
RBI |
Avg. |
|
1958 |
Cardinals |
76 |
8 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
.224 |
|
1960 |
Phillies |
264 |
25 |
61 |
0 |
16 |
.231 |
|
1961 |
Phillies |
381 |
34 |
98 |
1 |
32 |
.257 |
|
1962 |
Phillies |
226 |
24 |
55 |
0 |
19 |
.243 |
|
1963 |
Phillies |
217 |
25 |
47 |
2 |
19 |
.217 |
|
1964 |
Phillies |
299 |
31 |
79 |
4 |
34 |
.264 |
|
1965 |
Phillies |
184 |
26 |
39 |
0 |
15 |
.212 |
|
1966 |
Yankees |
23 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
.217 |
|
1967 |
Yankees |
417 |
31 |
93 |
1 |
17 |
.223 |
|
1968 |
Yankees |
41 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
.122 |
|
1969 |
Angels |
27 |
4 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
.222 |
|
TOTALS |
|
2155 |
211 |
505 |
8 |
156 |
.234 |
Phillies Publications
From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:
Amaro is not mentioned in the 1980 Phillies Media Guide.
From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:
Age 45... Born Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, 1/7/36... Home- Philadelphia, Pa.... B-R, T-R... 5'10", 169... Married Judith Herman, two children, Ruben (2/12/65) and David (9/3/62).
Starting his second year as first base coach after spending six years as the Phillies coordinator of Latin American scouting... He originally was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954 and played major league baseball for the Cardinals, Phillies, New York Yankees and California Angels before retiring in 1969... His best year in the majors was 1964 when he batted .264 in 129 games and won a Gold Glove... Managed the Phillies Auburn club in the New York-Penn League in 1977... Served as general manager of Zulia ball club in the Venezuelan League during the winter. Several Phillies prospects played for Ruben.
From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:
Age 44... Born Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, 1/7/36... Home- Philadelphia, Pa.... B-R, T-R... 5'10", 169... Married Judith Herman, two children, Ruben (2/12/65) and David (9/3/62).
- Favorite Color: Gray
- Favorite Singer/Group: Johnny Mathis
- Favorite Song: The Impossible Dream
- Favorite City: San Francisco
- Least Favorite City: Cleveland
- Person You'd Most Like To Meet: Candice Bergen
- Boyhood Idol(s): Bobby Avila
- Biggets Turn-On: Having this chance to come back to the National League
- Biggest Turn-Off: Steve Martin
- Favorite Subject in School: Biology
- Favorite TV Show: Star Trek
- Favorite Book: 5 Smooth Stones
- Person You Most Admire: Santos Amaro (my father)
- Greatest Achievement: Becoming a major league ball player
- Most Memorable Moment: My first day in the big leagues
- Hobbies: Cooking
- Toughest Pitcher You've Faced: Bob Gibson