He was the first black Latino player in the Major Leagues (USA). He made his Major League debut with Cleveland in 1949.
Outfielder for the Cleveland Indians (1949, 1951 and 1958-1959), Chicago White Sox (1951-1957, 1960-1961, 1964, 1976 and 1980), St. Louis Cardinals (1962) and Washington Senators (1963).
Led the American League in Hits (184) in 1960.
Got his last base hit for the Chicago White Sox in 1976 at the age of 53.
The last active major leaguer to have played in the Negro Leagues.
Led the American League in Triples in 1951 (14), 1954 (18) and 1956 (11).
Led the American League in Stolen Bases in 1951 (31), 1952 (22) and 1953 (25).
Led the American League in Total Bases (304) and Times on Base (275) in 1954.
Led the American League in Doubles (36) in 1957.
Led the American League in Sacrifice Flies in 1960 (9) and 1961 (12).
Won 3 Gold Glove Awards as Left Fielder (1957 and 1959-1960).
He is one of only two players to play in a Major League game in five different decades (the first was Nick Altrock, who played for the White Sox and the Washington Senators).
Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022; elected by the Golden Days Era Committee.