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Orlando Cepeda oral history interview, circa 1968
Orlando Cepeda oral history interview
Orlando Cepeda oral history interview, circa 1968
Orlando Cepeda oral history interview, circa 1968
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Orlando Cepeda oral history interview

Datecirca 1968
DescriptionOrlando Cepeda was interviewed in St. Louis. Missouri around 1968. Content of the interview include: Track 1 - On his father being a baseball player and growing up with baseball, bats, gloves, all his life has been baseball; dreamed to be a professional baseball player; his father never played in the big leagues; played his whole career in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, but never played in the United States (00:00:00 to 00:01:26) Track 2 - On people being impressed with his playing ability and sending him to a tryout camp for the Giants in 1955 and they signed him; he used to play third base and switched to first base in 1956 (00:01:26 to 00:02:03) Track 3 - On loving music, on it helping to relax him; having a big collection of records, he loves jazz musicians, including Miles Davis, Willie Bobo, Milt Jackson, Mongo Santamaria, so many greats (00:02:03 to 00:02:52) Track 4 - On being a sharp dresser, Puerto Rican people are very proud of their clothes and what they eat; he used to watch the American ballplayers and how they dressed, and wanted to dress that way, so his first check he spent on clothes; on his uniform pants coming with the Giants being tailor made; he likes to look fit on the field (00:02:52 to 00:04:00) Track 5 - On "Baby Bull" nickname, from Life Magazine article on him; there was a play at home plate, he was coming from third, and Smokey Burgess was waiting for him and he ran right through him; now he's more like the old bull (00:04:00 to 00:04:48) Track 6 - On being in the Majors 10 years; hopes to play 5-6-7 more years, whatever he can; would love to stay in baseball after his playing career, a great game, the more you play the more you have to learn, and the more you have to teach youngsters coming up; would like to work with them anywhere; intends to live in Puerto Rico but can work anywhere; his family is in the U.S. with him, but his extended family lives in Puerto Rico (00:04:48 to 00:06:06) Track 7 - On musician Pablo Casals from Spain now living in Puerto Rico; one of the greatest in the world (00:06:06 to 00:06:46) Track 8 - On playing baseball, listening to music; cars being a waste of money (00:06:46 to 00:07:14) Track 9 - On problems with the language and the food in the U.S., had to get used to things; prefers Spanish food, rice and beans; not hot or spicy food; Americans eat too light, meat and salad isn't enough, have to have rice and beans to feel full; he used to be hungry all the time when he first came to the U.S.; no problems in training camp, he knows how to pace himself; comes in good shape, he plays in the winter in Puerto Rico to stay in shape (00:07:14 to 00:09:45) Track 10 - On living with his family in San Juan; having an 18-month-old boy; would like for him to go to school; if he wants to be a baseball player, that's fine, but his father told him that he had to have natural ability, so he didn't push him to become a baseball player; he wasn't too crazy about baseball as a child, but he had good natural ability; a basketball player can work to become a better player, but you have to have a lot of talent to be a good baseball player (00:09:45 to 00:11:24)
Object numberBL-2001-00092-008
Artist, Creator, or Manufacturer
Artist, Creator, or Manufacturer
Classificationsaudio/visual materials
Library Call NumberRR 390
Collection NumberBA RMA 003 St. Louis Cardinals oral history collection
Dimensions00:11:24|1 of 1
Public Access NotePlease note that not all works are on view at all times - their availability is subject to change per the discretion of the Museum staff. Only a portion of NBHFM's collection is currently online and the information presented here is subject to updates and additions based on research and imaging activities. The images, titles, and descriptions are products of their time. If you have corrections or additional information about this object, please email research@baseballhall.org to help improve our records. This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. Every effort has been made to accurately determine the rights status of images. Please email us if you have further information on the rights status of an image contrary to or in addition to the information in our records. For more information or access to a high resolution reproduction (some fees may apply), contact: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Giamatti Research Center, research@baseballhall.org, 607-547-0330.
Object number: BL-2000-02292-016
Moffi, Larry
1994 March 18
Object number: BL-2001-00092-011
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
1967 or 1968
Object number: BL-2001-00092-010
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
1967 or 1968
Object number: BL-2001-00092-017
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
1968 February 08
Object number: BL-2000-02292-005
Moffi, Larry
1994 September 19
Object number: BL-2000-02292-011
Moffi, Larry
1993 June 02
Object number: BL-2001-00092-001
St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team)
circa 1968
Object number: BL-2000-02292-014
Moffi, Larry
1994 June 30
Object number: BL-2000-02292-004
Moffi, Larry
1994 January 22
Object number: BL-2000-02292-012
Moffi, Larry
1993 February 18