Tony Oliva

Tony Pedro Oliva Lopez, born Antonio Oliva Lopez Hernandes Javique on July 20, 1938, is a Cuban-American former professional baseball player and coach. He spent his entire Major League Baseball career as a right fielder and designated hitter for the Minnesota Twins from 1962 to 1976. An eight-time All-Star, Oliva was an integral member of the Twins teams that won the 1965 American League pennant and consecutive American League Western Division titles in 1969 and 1970.

Oliva was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1964 and won three American League batting championships, along with a Gold Glove Award, during his career. Playing in baseball's "second dead-ball era," he ranked among the game's best hitters through his first eight seasons. After those eight years, his career was hampered by a series of severe knee injuries, which forced him to become a designated hitter over his final four seasons. He retired with a career batting average of .304.

Oliva was inducted into the Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2000. The Twins retired his uniform number 6 in 1991.