RELATED LINKS Submissions » Catching, A Family Affair: A Father's Day Tribute by Chuck Rosciam

Father of major league catcher Ozzie Virgil, the elder Virgil was the first Dominican to play in the majors. He was also the first dark-skinned player on the Tigers; he joined them in 1958 and went 5-for-5 in his first game with Detroit. Though used sparingly, he played every position but pitcher during his ML tenure. He began coaching for the Giants in 1969, became Dick Williams's third base coach in Montreal in 1977, and went with him to the Padres and Mariners. (RTM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » January 28, 1958: The Tigers trade 3B Jim Finigan and $25,000 to the Giants for IF Ozzie Virgil and 1B Gail Harris. Virgil is the first black player in a Tiger uniform. » June 6, 1958: Ozzie Virgil, acquired from the Giants in January, becomes the first black player to appear in a Tiger game. He goes 1-for-5 in the 11–2 win over Washington. » June 17, 1958: In his Briggs Stadium debut, Tigers 3B Ozzie Virgil goes 5-for-5 against Washington as Detroit wins 9–2. Frank Bolling adds four hits to back Billy Hoeft. » August 2, 1966: Ozzie Virgil drives in three runs and Juan Marichal, making his first relief appearance of the year, picks up his 17th win, as the Giants edge the Mets, 5–4. The win moves the Giants (63-44) back ahead of the Dodgers and Pirates by a game. » October 2, 1966: With the Pirates ahead of the Giants by two runs at the end of eight innings, ex-Buc Ozzie Virgil ties the score with his last major league hit. The Giants bullpen holds and Willie McCovey's pinch homer in the 11th wins it, 7–4. The Giants use every player except Gaylord Perry, held out in case he is needed to pitch against the Reds. With the Dodgers winning, the Giants finish one 1/2 behind, and a San Francisco rainout will not need to be rescheduled. Matty Alou of the Pirates ends the season with a .342 average to lead the National League, but drives in just 27 runs. This is a record low for a batting leader.