José Cruz Biography

José Cruz Dilan, born August 8, 1947, is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player, coach, and front office executive known by the nickname Cheo. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from 1970 to 1988, most prominently as a member of the Houston Astros. Cruz led the Houston Astros to their first division title and postseason appearance in 1980 as a left-handed hitter. A two-time All-Star, he hit .300 or better for the Astros six times and led the National League in hits during 1983. Cruz was honored twice as the Astros' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in recognition of his humanitarian efforts. After his playing career, he served as the Houston Astros' first base coach and later held a community outreach role with the team. The Astros retired his jersey number 25 on October 3, 1992, in recognition of his career achievements.