"It is like a dream," he told Times Herald Record in 2007. "After all this hard work — I made it. Once you're there, all the real work begins because you don't want to go down to the minors."
The paper didn't ask, but Cordero's personal least memorable moment came five or so years later.
Cordero's first big league game came July 24, 1992, for the Expos. He had been signed by the team as a free agent, out of Puerto Rico, in 1988. He made AA Jacksonville in 1989 and returned for '90.
Cordero played 45 games for the Expos in 1992, 130 the next year. In 1994, the strike year, Cordero made the All Star team.
Two years later, Cordero was with the Red Sox, traded in January 1996. It was with the Red Sox that Cordero's career hit its low. Not only was he slowed by injuries, but on June 10, 1997, he was arrested on domestic abuse charges.
He pleaded guilty that off season. The Red Sox finally released him and Cordero signed with the White Sox. He returned to Fenway Park on May 19, 1998. Red Sox fans let him hear their displeasure with the previous seasons' accusations.
Accoding to The Hartford Courant account, Cordero was booed when he was announced, booed when he came to bat and booed when he made four consecutive outs.
The White Sox' then-manager Jerry Manuel was quoted as saying he had no thoughts of keeping Cordero from the lineup. "Wil's got to take care of himself,'' Manuel told the paper. "I'm not going to baby him.''
Cordero played until 2005, never really finding a home. He changed teams six times. He returned to Montrael in 2002 and became a National for his final year in 2005.
By 2007, Cordero was in Monticello, NY, teaching baseball to youths at a sports academy, hoping for a comeback that never materialized.
- Hartford Courant, May 20, 1998: Cordero silent, but crowd isn't
- Middletown Times Herald Record, July 4, 2007: Former major-leaguer Wil Cordero shares baseball knowledge
Cards Reviewed: 88/880 - 10%
Made the Majors: 53 - 60%
Never Made the Majors: 35 - 40%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 19
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 31
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