One of the greatest first baseman in Major League Baseball history turns 78 today.

Orlando Cepeda has been retired for more than 40 years, but his greatness on the field will never be forgotten. Cepeda, who grew up in Puerto Rico in a baseball family, dreamed to one day play in the majors in the United States of America. After playing ball on the Latin American island for many years at a high level, Cepeda would get his chance.

In 1958 the San Francisco Giants gave him the opportunity to show off his talents at the major league level. Cepeda's greatness was recognized immediately by the Giants, and there he would remain for the next nine seasons. Cepeda won the National League Rookie of the Year Award batting an impressive .312 at the plate and he even led the league in doubles his rookie season

Over the next six seasons with the Giants, Cepeda recorded more than 100 hits and made the All-Star team every year. In 1962 he guided the Giants to the World Series but lost to the New York Yankees in a grueling seven game series. From 1961 to 1964 Cepeda would eclipse the 30-home run mark every year, but his time as a Giant was running out. Because of injuries and constant clashes with his manager, Alvin Dark, Cepeda was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966.

Cepeda's hitting prowess continued at the plate for the Cardinals. In his first season with the Cardinals he batted .303, and the best was still yet to come. The very next year would be Cepeda's most memorable. Cepeda made his seventh career All Star team, led the league with 111 RBI, and even won the MVP award, just ahead of fellow countryman Roberto Clemente. The Cardinals would advance to the 1967 World Series where they eventually defeated the Boston Red Sox, four games to three. Cepeda was officially a champion.

The very next year the Cardinals made it to the World Series but lost to the Detroit Tigers in seven games. For the third and final time, Cepeda had played in a World Series that went the distance.

As time went on Cepeda's body couldn't keep up with the younger players and father time eventually got the best of him. After brief stints with the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics and Red Sox, Cepeda retired from the game he loved. His No. 30 jersey has since been retired by the Giants, and Cepeda was later inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.

Cepeda is one of three Puerto Rican-born players currently in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The others include Clemente and Roberto Alomar. Cepeda finished his career with 379 career home runs, 139 more than Clemente. Outside AT&T Park in San Francisco, the Giants have honored Cepeda with a statue that was erected in 2008.

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