Joaquin Andujar obit

Four-time All-Star Joaquin Andujar, 62, dies after battle with diabetes

He was not on the list.

Former major league pitcher Joaquin Andujar, who helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to the 1982 World Series title, died Tuesday in the Dominican Republic after a long battle with diabetes. He was 62. He also played for the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics.

Andujar will be honored Tuesday in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, in the eastern region of the Dominican Republic, and will be buried Wednesday.

Former major league pitcher Mario Soto, who works as a special assistant to the general manager in the Cincinnati Reds organization and is president of the Dominican Federation of Professional Baseball Players, confirmed the death to ESPNDeportes.com.

"Joaquin struggled for years with diabetes and in recent days had deteriorated a lot," Soto said from Santo Domingo. "He was hospitalized several times but always came out unscathed. However, he surrendered to the disease that consumed him completely."

Andujar was one of the best Dominican players of the 1980s. A right-hander, he was 127-118 with a 3.58 ERA and was a four-time All Star in 13 seasons with the Houston Astros, the Cardinals and the Oakland Athletics.

Andujar was 2-0 with 1.35 ERA in the 1982 World Series, which the Cardinals won in seven games against the Milwaukee Brewers. In Game 7, he pitched seven innings and allowed two runs to push his record to 3-0 that postseason.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of the best pitchers in Cardinals history," St. Louis chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends and his teammates today."

The Cardinals honored Andujar with a moment of silence before Tuesday night's game.

Andujar won 20 games in 1984 and 21 in 1985, and both times was fourth in the race for the Cy Young Award in the National League. He also won a Gold Glove in 1984.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the relatives of Mr. Andujar, a fierce pitcher who always gave the maximum on the mound," said Leonardo Matos Berrido, president of the Dominican winter baseball league.

Andujar played for 14 years with four clubs in the Dominican winter league.

"Everyone called him crazy because of his way on the mound," Soto said. "He was a great competitor and above all, very courageous. No one wanted to have problems with Andujar."

 

He was teammates with players such as Keith Hernandez, Garry Templeton, Darrell Porter, Jim Kaat, Bruce Sutter, Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee, Andy Van Slyke, Terry Pendleton, Jose Uribe, Jack Clark, Tom Herr, Iván DeJesús, Vince Coleman, John Tudor, Dave Kingman, Jose Canseco, Dusty Baker, Carney Lansford, Tony Phillips, Mark McGwire, Dave Stewart, Dennis Eckersley, Reggie Jackson, Ron Cey, Terry Steinbach, Joe Niekro, Bob Watson, J.R. Richard, Bruce Bochy, Jose Cruz, Joe Morgan, José Cruz, Nolan Ryan, Alan Ashby, Craig Biggio, Ken Caminiti and Glenn Davis.

He was managed by Whitey Herzog, Tony La Russa and Hal Lanier.