Juan Báez

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Juan Báez
Personal information
Born (1935-04-14) April 14, 1935 (age 86)
San Juan, Puerto Rico
NationalityPuerto Rican
Career information
Playing career1953–1969
PositionCenter
Career history
1953–1957Cardenales de Río Piedras
1957–1961Real Madrid
1962–1969Cardenales de Río Piedras
Career highlights and awards

Juan Báez (born April 14, 1935), also known as "Johnny" and "El Indio de la Vía", is a former Puerto Rican basketball player. He played from 1953 to 1969 in Puerto Rico's Superior Basketball League and from 1957 to 1961 with the Real Madrid basketball Spanish basketball team in Europe. In 1957, Báez was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) and points leader. In 2007, Báez was awarded Puerto Rico's top sports award, the Puerto Rico Olympic Medal of Honor. Báez was also inducted into Puerto Rico's Sports Hall of Fame.

Early years[]

Báez (birth name: Juan Ramón Báez Mauriño [note 1]) was the sixth child of nine children born to Andrés Báez and Sisa Mariño in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He received his primary education at the University of Puerto Rico Model Elementary School. It was in Modelo School where he would learn to play basketball under the guidance of his physical education teacher Lilliam Colberg. During his high school years, he would frequently attend the local Superior Leagues basketball games and participated as a basketball player in minor leagues where he continued to learn the discipline of the game.[1][2][3][4]

Río Piedras Cardinals basketball team[]

In 1953, the "Cardenales de Río Piedras" (Río Piedras Cardinals) basketball team of Puerto Rico's Superior Basketball League selected him. Even though his active participation was minimal, Báez was promoted to the team's starting lineup in his third game. From 1955 to 1957, the Cardinals won three consecutive championships. In 1957, Báez was named the league's MVP (Most Valuable Player) and points leader. He scored a total of 394 points in 16 games.[1][2][3][4]

His participation in the island's local basketball league was very limited in 1958 and 1959 because he continued to pursue his academic education in Madrid, Spain. During his stay in Spain, he played from 1957 to 1961 for the Real Madrid basketball team that won the "Generalísimo" Cup, now known as the King's Cup. While playing in Spain, he caught the eye of a young royal whose grandfather was the owner of the Real Madrid team and who became one of his best-known fans. That young royal is now known as King Juan Carlos, who corresponded with Báez in 2006 to wish him a speedy recovery from his illness. Báez represented Puerto Rico in the 1959 Pan American Games, celebrated in Chicago, Illinois. In the tournament which included American basketball stars, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West, Báez was the champion scorer. Báez and fellow Puerto Rican Juan "Pachín" Vicéns were named to the All-Star team.[5]

In 1962, he withdrew from Spanish basketball and one year later, in 1963, Báez led the Cardinals to another championship and was once again named MVP. On June 13, 1969, the same year that he retired, he scored his point number 5 thousand during a game against the Piratas de Quebradillas (The Pirates of Quebradillas) with a "jump shot" in the beginning of the game's first quarter. After retiring Báez dedicated most of his time as coach of several local teams.[1][2][3][4]

Currently[]

Báez is married to Irma Hernáiz, his wife of 44 years with whom he had three children. On March 8, 2006, had an accident and is suffering from a delicate neurological condition which left him paralyzed from the waist down.[1][2][3][4]

Honors[]

"Champion Scorer in the Superior National Basketball League"
Year
Games played
Points scored
percentile
1961
21
492
23.4
1964
21
523
24.9

On January 20, 2007, several top International Basketball Federation (FIBA) officials traveled to the island and in a ceremony which included the presence of the Mayor of San Juan Jorge Santini, Puerto Rico Senate President Kenneth McClintock, Puerto Rico Olympic Committee President , PR Sports and Recreation Secretary David "Kike" Bernier, his wife Irma and his son and daughter, Carlos and Irma, bestowed upon Báez Puerto Rico's top sports award, the Puerto Rico Olympic Medal of Honor. Báez was also inducted into Puerto Rico's Sports Hall of Fame.[6]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^
    In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Báez and the second or maternal family name is Mauriño.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d El Nuevo Dia
  2. ^ a b c d Juntos por El Indio
  3. ^ a b c d [1]
  4. ^ a b c d BALONCESTO SUPERIOR NACIONAL
  5. ^ Gran Madridista
  6. ^ Amigos Juntos por El Indio

External links[]

  • Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Juan Ramón Báez". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2016-12-02.
  • El Nuevo Dia
  • Juntos por El Indio
  • [2]
  • BALONCESTO SUPERIOR NACIONAL
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