Andrés Galarraga Baseball player

Andrés José Padovani Galarraga (Spanish: [anˈdɾez ɣalaˈraɣa]; born June 18, 1961) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Montreal Expos (1985–1991 and 2002), St. Louis Cardinals (1992), Colorado Rockies (1993–1997), Atlanta Braves (1998-2000), Texas Rangers (2001), San Francisco Giants (2001 and 2003) and Anaheim Angels (2004). He batted and threw right-handed.At six-foot-three and 235 pounds (1.91 m, 117 kg), Galarraga began his professional career in Venezuela at the age of 16. Despite several injuries that plagued Galarraga throughout his career, he was a very popular player both for his achievements on the field, and for his big and bright smile. He was nicknamed The Big Cat (textually translated from English as El Gran Gato, although his nickname in his native Venezuela was El Gato) for his extraordinary quickness at first base in spite of his big frame. Galarraga was a five time All-Star, won two National League Gold Glove Awards and two NL Silver Slugger awards, and won the MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award after his successful return to baseball following cancer treatment.

Personal facts

Birth date	June 18, 1961
Birth place	Caracas

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Baseball player

Career start	August 23, 1985
Career end	October 03, 2004
batting side	Right
former teams	Montreal Expos Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
position	First baseman
teams	Atlanta Braves Colorado Rockies Montreal Expos San Francisco Giants Texas Rangers (baseball) St. Louis Cardinals Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
throwing side	Right