MLB History: The best major leaguers to come out of Cuba
By Bill Felber
18. Jose Cardenal, Matanzas, Giants, Angels, Indians, Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs, Phillies, Mets, Royals, 1963-1980, +20.7
Cardenal came to the U.S. as a child, signed with the Giants as a 16-year-old late in 1960, but truly blossomed following his 1964 trade to the Angels. In Anaheim, Cardenal for the first time established himself as a regular, batting .250 with 11 home runs in 1965.
In an age when individualism was only beginning to be grudgingly accepted on the field, Cardenal’s showy approach to the game – he famously labeled himself “No. 1 hotdog” – probably contributed to the fact that he relocated every year or two.
Landing in Chicago at the start of the 1972 season, Cardenal became a celebrity, if not a true star. He batted a career-best .291 with a career-best 17 home runs. One year later he hit .303 with 11 home runs. Through 1977, the ever-cheery Cardenal became at least an attitudinal successor to Ernie Banks, his production topping at .317 in 1975.
But after Cardenal’s average tailed to .239 in 1977, the Cubs traded him to the Phillies, where his wandering through the majors resumed. He left Philly for the Mets in mid-season 1979, and played briefly for the Royals in 1980 prior to his retirement.
Never a front-line star nationally, Cardenal’s career peaked in Chicago, where he drew nominal MVP support in both 1972 and 1973. Although he modeled the uniforms of nine different teams, nearly half his career WAR with the Cubs.