Roberto Petagine made bigs for Dad, saw 6 seasons, Japan
When Venezuelan-native Roberto Petagine first signed as a pro, he and his father celebrated with a unique gold Astros chain, The Jackson Clarion-Ledger wrote in 1993.
Ten months later, Petagine's father died.
"I said, 'Baseball, go away,'" Petagine told The Clarion-Ledger of his first reaction to his father's death, "but then I said, 'No, no, I'm going to make it to the big leagues for him."
Petagine did make the big leagues. He saw the majors over seven seasons spanning more than a decade. On his way up, he wore the chain he got with his dad, a chain visible on several of his cards.
Petagine's career began in 1990, signed by the Astros out of his native Venezuela.
Petagine started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He saw 55 games and hit .289.
He made single-A Burlington for 1991, then high-A Osceola and AA Jackson in 1992. He made AAA Tucson and then Houston in 1994.
Petagine saw eight games with the Astros. He went 0 for 7. He then moved to the Padres in a trade for 1995.
That June in 1995, Petagine came on as a pinch-hitter and hit a game-winning home run, The Chicago Tribune wrote.
"I know Petagine’s got power, but I just thought (Phil) Clark was a bigger threat to hit the ball in the gap,” Cubs Manager Jim Riggleman told The Tribune of his thinking. "It didn’t work out."
Petagine saw 89 games for the Padres that year and hit .234, with three home runs.
He played 1996 and 1997 with the Mets, seeing 50 games and 12 games. He saw 34 games with the Reds in 1998. He then didn't see the majors again until 2005.
In between, he played in Japan. He spent 1999 to 2004, playing four seasons with Yakult and two with Yomiuri. He hit over .300 in each of his first five campaigns there, and .290 in his sixth.
Petagine returned stateside for 2005 with the Red Sox. He saw 18 games in Boston. He then moved to the Mariners and made the roster out of spring training.
"Opening Day is very special," Petagine told The Seattle Pos-Intelligencer. "To make the roster when you come in late and nobody knows you and you just have to earn it is something else."
Petagine saw 31 games for the Mariners and hit .185 to end his major league career.
He then continued playing in Mexico, Korea and Japan through 2010. He last played in 2010 in Japan with Softbank.
- Jackson Clarion-Ledger, July 11, 1993: 'Beisbol' and 'baseball' both suit Petagine
- Chicago Tribune, June 20, 1995: Cubs done in by Padres pinch hitter
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 29, 2006: Long shot Petagine sticks with Mariners
Made the Majors:1,430-31.8%-X
Never Made Majors:3,068-68.2%
