The importance centered around a simple thing, he told The Sentinel: Cash.
"I tell them that a lot of [Spanish-speaking] players miss out on a lot of money because they don't get the publicity," Ledezma told The Sentinel. "Sportswriters aren't going to waste time with a guy who can't speak much English."
Ledezma could talk. The native of Venezuela had watched over clubhouses and players to that point for more than two decades, both as a trainer and as a clubhouse manager.
Ledezma's career in baseball began in 1972, as a trainer in the Expos system. He served there for six seasons, before moving to the Mariners and then the Pirates systems.
He stayed with the Pirates system through at least 1991. In between, he managed at Pittsburgh affiliates in Hawaii, Vancouver and Buffalo.
In 1988, he served as a trainer in the AAA All-Star Game. He also served as a trainer in the Venezuelan Winter League.
In June 1990, he looked after Buffalo player Scott Little, who appeared to have suffered a pinched nerve weightlifting, according to The Buffalo News.
"We don't know what's going on because sometimes he feels good and sometimes he doesn't," Ledezma told The News. "There may be some infection in the nerve, but we'll just have to wait and see."
Ledezma then made the majors, first as a clubhouse manager with the Marlins and then with the Devil Rays. He made the switch in December 1997. He then continued as Tampa's clubhouse manager in 2001.
In 2006, he served as his home country's clubhouse manager for the World Baseball Classic.
- Buffalo News, June 24, 1990: Injury uncertainty continues for Herd's Burdick and Little
- Orlando Sentinel, Aug. 26, 1998: Talkin' beisbol
More: The 1990 Buffalo Bisons
Players/Coaches Featured:3,214
Made the Majors:1,161-36.1%-X
Never Made Majors:2,053-63.9%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 481
10+ Seasons in the Minors:283
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