Leo Cárdenas

Infobox MLB retired


name=Leo Cárdenas


position=Shortstop
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1938|12|17
Matanzas, Cuba
debutdate=July 25
debutyear=by|1960
debutteam=Cincinnati Reds
finaldate=September 26
finalyear=by|1975
finalteam=Texas Rangers
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.257
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=118
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=689
teams=
* Cincinnati Reds (by|1960-by|1968)
* Minnesota Twins (by|1969-by|1971)
* California Angels (by|1972)
* Cleveland Indians (by|1973)
* Texas Rangers (by|1974-by|1975)
highlights=
* 5x All-Star selection (1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1971)
* Gold Glove Award winner (1965)

Leonardo Lazaro Cárdenas Alfonso (born December 17, 1938 in Matanzas, Cuba) was a prominent shortstop in American Major League Baseball for 16 years (1960-75). A right-handed batter and thrower, Cárdenas was a dangerous hitter in his prime and a superior fielder.

He played for the Cincinnati Reds (1960-68), Minnesota Twins (1969-71), California Angels (1972), Cleveland Indians (1973) and Texas Rangers (1974-75), batting .257 with 118 home runs in 1,941 games. He was a National League All-Star in 1964-66 and 1968 and an American League All-Star in 1971.

Cardenas led NL shortstops in fielding percentage in 1963 and 1966. He tied an AL record for assists by a shortstop in 1969 (570), and led in fielding percentage in 1971. He is also a member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

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