Former Major Leaguer Cesar Tovar Dies at 54 in Venezuelan Hospital

Cesar Tovar, one of only two major leaguers to play all nine positions in a game, died Thursday in Venezuela. He was 54.

The Minnesota Twins, for whom Tovar played from 1965-72, announced his death on the Metrodome scoreboard Thursday night and asked for a moment of silence before playing Milwaukee.

Tovar will be buried today, said Benpress, the national news agency in Venezuela. He died in a hospital in his native Caracas, but the cause of death was not immediately known.

In 12 seasons, Tovar had a batting average of .278 with 46 home runs and 435 runs batted in.

On Sept. 22, 1968, Tovar played one inning at every position in Minnesota’s 2-1 victory over Oakland. He joined Bert Campaneris, who did it with the Kansas City Athletics on Sept. 8, 1965.