文:肯米(kenmy)

曾經在台灣職棒三商虎隊打球的洋將魔拉,在昨天宣布退休,結束了長達13年的美國職棒球季,而這位39歲的洋將也是至目前為止,離開中華職棒後在美國職棒大聯盟打球最長的紀錄。

圖:魔拉
melvin_mora.jpg  

魔拉,這位選手讓虎迷至今都還很注意的委內瑞拉球員,在1998年開季時加入三商虎隊,當時才26歲的他在虎隊擔任開路先鋒,短短的44場比賽就打出相當驚人的成績,164個打席敲出55支安打,雖打點僅11分但擔任第一棒得到34分,包括3支全壘打及11支二壘安打,打擊率高達0。335和上壘率達0。424,長打率0。482更是接近五成的數據,當時便離開了中華職棒,最後是到美國職棒打球。

1999年開始在大都會開始他的職業生涯,第一年並不備受重用,短短66場比賽僅有31個打數5支安打,數據是慘不忍睹的0。161,但2000年開始先在大都會打球後,轉到金鶯隊固定擔任主力三壘手,直到2009年為止,在2004年及2005年為顛峰時刻,兩季都敲出27支全壘打,而2003年打出OPS+高達143,2004年更打出OPS+達155的成績,當時正好31及32歲,是他在大聯盟成績最好的時候。

而持續在金鶯隊打到09年後,10年轉至洛磯山隊已經38歲了,卻還能出賽113場打出7轟及0。285的打擊率,OPS+有到98還在聯盟平均左右的數據,直到今年轉到響尾蛇隊,打擊數據下降許多,42場球賽沒有任何三壘安打以上的長打,打擊率僅0。228遠低於個人在大聯盟平均數據的0。277,被三振24次,保送僅2次在6月時被響尾蛇以戰力外釋出,沒有球隊願意接受他,畢竟以一位39歲的打者貢獻出如此的成績,除非是有返老回春的現象,否則離開球隊是好事。

魔拉在大聯盟生涯總共累積171發全壘打和1503支安打,是從中華職棒後累計最強的數據,如今離開大聯盟,恐怕虎迷也相當不捨吧。

最近一位退休的前三商虎隊打者,也就是鷹俠,去年在巴拿馬高掛球鞋退休了,如今魔拉成為最後一位前虎將退休,也相當令人感嘆吧。

以下則是全英文稿的報導:

Melvin Mora Retires
By Mark Polishuk [December 29, 2011 at 8:37pm CST]
Utilityman Melvin Mora has announced his retirement, reports Rafael Rojas Cremonesi of Meridiano Deportes (via Twitter).  The 39-year-old Mora was
released by the Diamondbacks in June and had hoped to play for the Orioles or another east coast team in 2012, but instead has hung up the cleats after 13 Major League seasons.

Mora signed an amateur contract with the Astros in 1991 and finally reached the Majors in 1999 as a New York Met.  He made an immediate impression in his rookie year, posting a 1.143 OPS in 16 plate appearances in the 1999 NLCS as the Mets lost in six games to the Braves.

After being dealt to the Orioles in July 2000 as part of a four-player package for Mike Bordick, Mora became a Baltimore fixture for much of the decade.  Mora was a two-time All-Star for the O's, hitting .294/.366/.469 between 2003-08 (including a league-best .419 OBP in 2004) and settling in as the Orioles' third baseman in 2004 after playing all over the diamond in his first four seasons with the team.  The O's declined his contract option after the 2009 campaign and Mora went on to play a season each with the Rockies and D'backs.

Mora retires with 1503 hits, 171 homers, and a .277/.350/.431 slash line in 1556 Major League games. According to Baseball Reference, Mora made just
under $40.5MM during his career.

延伸閱讀:鷹俠戰績總整理 2005~2008(下)@正義鷹大俠的棒球樂園

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