[dennis_keith]

Tony Gonzalez turns 80 today. Here his image graces
the cover of a book about Philadelphia's long overdue
integration of their major league baseball teams.
Gonzalez made his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds
in April 1960, but he was traded that June to the Phillies.
By his second season, 1961, Gonzalez had become an
everyday player - only the fourth everday black player
for the Phillies and 5th black regular in Philadelphia
baseball history.
Gonzalez was preceeded as a starter by only
Vic Power (1954) Phila. Athletics; and Phillies -
Chico Fernandez (1957); Pancho Herrera
(1960); and Tony Taylor (1960), with Gonzalez's regular status
in 1961 still coming before that of Ted Savage (1962), Wes
Covington (1963); Richie Allen (1964) and Bill White (1966).
The franchise was notoriously slow in integrating their roster
and didn't have a black player who was a regular member of
their starting pitching rotation until 1967 (Grant Jackson).
Among Phillies fans and collectors Gonzalez's rookie card
(Topps - 1960) picturing him with the Cincy Reds is a
highly sought after item.
Gonzalez found a home in Philadelphia and played for the
Phillies for nine years, through 1968 before being selected by
the San Diego Padres for the major league expansion draft.
He was an original Padre in 1969, but was traded mid-way
through that season to the Atlanta Braves where he
contributed to their NL West division title.
He played in more than 1,550 MLB games over 12 seasons
hitting .286 with 103 home runs (career high 20 HR in 1962).
with three .300 seasons
He also set a record for errorless games by an Outfielder..
He had a great late-career season in 1967, where he
hit .339 to finish as the runner-up in the National League
batting title race to Roberto Clemente's .357..
. ..