Cito Gaston

Cito Gaston would make his Major League debut late in the 1967 season, as a member of the Atlanta Braves.  Following that season, Gaston began a 2 season stint in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.  Gaston returned to the majors in 1969 with the San Diego Padres, whom had previously selected him in the expansion draft.  Gaston would have his best season in his career as a Padre in 1970, when he battled .318, 29 homeruns, 92 runs scored and 93 RBI.  Gaston would return to the Braves prior to the 1975 season before finishing his playing career in 1978 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Gaston is perhaps best known for his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays as their manager.  Prior to taking over as manager, Gaston served as the team’s hitting coach from 1982 to 1989.  During his first tenure of Blue Jays manager from 1989 to 1997, Gaston guided the Blue Jays to 2 World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.  Gaston also managed the Blue Jays for a 2nd tenure from 2008 to 2010.