Former major leaguer Ken Suarez recently passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, per an obituary from a Texas funeral home. He was 80 years old.
Originally from Tampa, Suarez was a catcher at Florida State University in Tallahassee during the 1963 season, when the team went to the College World Series. The following year, Suarez was signed by the Kansas City A’s as an amateur free agent as a member of the last class of prospects to sign prior to the implementation of the MLB draft in 1965. Suarez made his big league debut for the A’s in 1966, appearing in 35 games before heading back to the minor leagues. 1967 marked perhaps the best year of Suarez’s career in the majors, as he slashed .238/.388/.413 with two home runs in 82 trips to the plate.
Prior to the 1968 campaign, Suarez was drafted by Cleveland in the Rule 5 draft thanks in part to his connection to new manager Al Dark, for whom Suarez had played for in Kansas City. Across two seasons in Cleveland, Suarez slashed a respectable .274/.378/.358 with more walks (16) than strikeouts (15) in 113 trips to the plate as the club’s backup catcher. Suarez did not appear in the majors in 1970 but played in 50 games in 1971 before being dealt to the Rangers ahead of their inaugural season in Texas.
During his age 30 season in 1973, Suarez became the Rangers’ primary catcher, slashing .248/.334/.299 while playing quality defense behind the plate. That increase in playing time led him to seek a raise from Rangers brass, and when the sides were unable to reach an agreement, Suarez became the first player in Rangers history to send a contract to arbitration.
That decision prompted the Rangers to trade him back to Cleveland, though Suarez ultimately decided to retire from professional baseball rather than report to camp that spring. In all, Suarez played parts of seven seasons in the majors, batting .227/.330/.297 across 785 plate appearances. Following his playing career, Suarez did color commentary and scouting work for the Rangers.
MLBTR extends our condolences to Suarez’s family, friends, and loved ones.
I am surprised the retired. Even if he makes the same $20k in 1974, that is about $124k in today’s money. I doubt he made that much doing whatever he did in 1974.
RIP Ken
Ah, I remember listening to that magical 1973 David Clyde led Rangers 105 loss season on the radio. Then he ends up with Cleveland the next year, another depressingly run of a franchise. I’d quit too if I didn’t get a raise to play for that dumpster fire…..
Ken retired bc he filed a grievance against MLB players association after he thought the Rangers low-balled him. Making him the first person on the Rangers to file for arbitration and being traded back to Indians.
He retired and his grievance file was never looked at..
Good to know. Thanks!
He filed it against the MLBPA?
He was always behind the Immortal Joe Azcue and Duke Sims in Cleveland, had frequent flyer miles going back and forth between Cleveland and AAA Portland or Wichita.
Duke Sims! Nice baseball card in 1974…..
RIP Ken.
I think it’s pretty important to note he was traded from Cleveland to California with Lenny Torres and cash for Frank Robinson.
I am sorry about Suarez, I thought maybe he made into the book Ball Four, I doubled checked twice and he did not
However, Al Dark made it into Ball Four and Jim Bouton hated him
Lilttle Jim Bouton was a kid when Al Dark played, but Bouton’s memories and fandom of Dark were dashed when Al Dark ( I thought it was always Alvin Dark) told him to take a hike, son, take a hike
No matter how good Dark was or if he was helpful to other, such as Suarez, Dark was a villian to Jim Bouton
Huh? What?
Random memory. A classmate of mine always referring to him as Ken “sue-ARE-ez”. It was so annoying.
RIP kenny. I used to live in the same gated community as him, was a great guy. Would throw block parties and cook out for everyone.
RIP