Leo Cárdenas

Leo Cárdenas was a Cuban-born shortstop who played in Major League Baseball from 1960 to 1975. Born in Matanzas, Cuba on December 17, 1938, he came to the United States in 1956 and signed with the Cincinnati Reds organization for a $500 bonus. He served as the Reds' starting shortstop for seven seasons and earned the nickname "Mr. Automatic" for his reliable defense, winning a Gold Glove Award in 1965. A five-time All-Star, he hit 20 home runs in 1966, a Reds team record for a shortstop that held for 30 years. He also played for the Minnesota Twins, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, and Texas Rangers. Cárdenas was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 1981.