Signed by the Dodgers in 1969 as a high school student in Puerto Rico, DeJesus got
his break in 1977 when he was traded to the Cubs. Filling the gap left by
Don Kessinger,
he scored a league-high 104 runs in 1978, and in 1980 set a record for Cubs shortstops
with 44 stolen bases. His poor attitude and unhappiness with the trade of friend
and double-play partner
Manny Trillo resulted in a disastrous 1981 season (.194);
the Cubs made a splendid move by sending him to the Phillies for
Larry Bowa and rookie
Ryne Sandberg. In 1982, former Cub teammate
Jody Davis accused DeJesus of intentionally
allowing Latin opponents to slide in safely at second. In the 1983
World Series,
DeJesus batted an anemic .125 and became the goat when his error in Game Three allowed
Baltimore's winning run to score.
(DB)
Ivan DeJesus
teams