Laureano Camacho

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Camacho and the second or maternal family name is Cossío.
Laureano Camacho
Catcher / Second baseman
Born: (1917-08-28)28 August 1917
Empalme, Sonora, Mexico
Died: 19 August 1976(1976-08-19) (aged 58)
Empalme, Sonora, Mexico
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Laureano Camacho Cossío (28 August 1917 – 19 August 1976) nicknamed "Kiriki", was a Mexican professional baseball catcher and second baseman. Camacho played in the Mexican League (LMB) for nine seasons between 1940 and 1953, primarily for Unión Laguna de Torreón, where he is regarded as a club icon.[1][2] He was widely considered the best catcher in the league during the 1940s and 1950s.[3]

Career

Camacho began his baseball career as a second baseman and pitcher before ultimately settling as catcher. He made his professional debut in the Mexican League (LMB) in 1940 playing for the Azules de Veracruz, where he earned the starting catcher position over Josh Gibson and formed a battery with Ramón Bragaña, Martín Dihigo and Barney Brown. That season, the Azules won the Mexican League championship and Camacho was named Rookie of the Year.[4]

In 1942, Camacho joined Unión Laguna de Torreón and became a key figure during the club’s golden era. He was part of the squad that won the 1942 LMB championship, playing as second baseman under player-manager Martín Dihigo, who also played as a pitcher and a position player. In 1944 he was traded to the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo and after a four-season absence from professional play, he returned to Unión Laguna for the 1949 season.[4]

In 1950, Unión Laguna won its second LMB title under manager Guillermo Garibay with Camacho as the starting catcher, having his best season, batting .313 with 43 RBI. He would go on to play three more seasons with Unión Laguna, retiring after the 1953 season.[2][4][5]

Camacho died of cardiac arrest on 19 August 1976, aged 58.[3][4]

Personal life

Camacho was the uncle of Ronnie Camacho, whom he inspired to pursue baseball by giving him a glove that had been gifted to him by Martín Dihigo when both played for Unión Laguna.[4][6][7]

References

  1. ^ "Algodoneros Unión Laguna celebra su 80 aniversario". El Sol de La Laguna (in Spanish). 30 March 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b "LMB: Los mejores Algodoneros por temporada y posición". MiLB.com (in Spanish). 21 March 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  3. ^ a b Vázquez Legarreta, Enrique (19 August 2004). "Tres veces campeón con el glorioso U.L." (PDF). El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Memoria de un campeón". El Siglo de Torreón (in Spanish). 19 August 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  5. ^ Kerlegand, Enrique (9 September 2019). "La época de oro de Unión Laguna en la LMB". MiLB.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  6. ^ "Ronnie Camacho el famoso ropero de Empalme". Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Mexicano (in Spanish). 12 July 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  7. ^ Rubio, Jesús Alberto (31 August 2018). "Al bat | Ronnie Camacho: riquísima historia". El Sol de Hermosillo (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 April 2025.
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