Cedeno's fine career pales only against the fact that he &&
x
x
was billed by
Astros manager
Leo Durocher as "the next
Willie Mays" (while the Cubs' manager, Durocher
had similarly touted
Adolfo Phillips). The comparisons to Mays were inevitable. Cedeno
led the NL in doubles twice, stole over 50 bases six times, batted .320 twice, hit
for the cycle twice, and won five Gold Glove awards. But for all he accomplished,
he never came up to the "another Mays" prediction. He made something of a comeback
in 1980 (.309, 10 HR, 73 RBI), helping Houston win its first division title and earning
his fourth selection to
TSN's NL All-Star Team. Traded to the Reds after
the 1981 season, he improved his play after he took a stress(&-h)h)h)relief course
during the winter of 1983-84. On August 29, 1985, he was traded to the Cardinals,
who were seeking a replacement for injured Jack Clark. He helped push St. Louis to
the pennant with a remarkable stretch drive: .434, 6 HR, 19 RBI in 28 games. However,
after playing poorly in the postseason, he was released.
(ME)
Cesar Cedeno
teams