CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Former Chicago White Sox shortstop Chico Carrasquel, the first Latin player to appear in an All-Star Game, died Thursday at the age of 77.
Carrasquel died of cardiac arrest before arriving at a hospital, said Humberto Sarraga, public relations director of Caracas Clinics.
"Venezuela lost one of its heroes today," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said in a statement. "As the first great Venezuelan shortstop, Chico helped put our country on the baseball map. I am honored and proud to have known him as a friend and will miss seeing him in my office each day at the ballpark. He was such a great friend, person and role model for young players."
The White Sox will honor their four-time All-Star before next Monday's game at Comiskey Park against the Angels. A video tribute will be shown on the scoreboard and the Venezuela national anthem will be played.
During a nationally televised speech, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced that his government had declared two days of mourning for Carrasquel.
"Viva Carrasquel!" Chavez shouted.
Carrasquel played in the majors from 1950-59. A nifty fielder, he teamed with Nellie Fox in Chicago to form one of baseball's best double-play combination.
In 1951, Carrasquel started at shortstop for the AL in the All-Star game at Detroit and singled in his first at-bat off future Hall of Famer Robin Roberts. The next Latin player in All-Star competition was Minnie Minoso -- he pinch-hit for his White Sox teammate in that same game.
Carrasquel hit .258 lifetime with 55 home runs and 474 RBIs. He was traded after the 1955 season to Cleveland in a deal for Larry Doby, and later played for Kansas City and Baltimore.
Alfonso "Chico" Carrasquel was the third Venezuelan baseball player to make it to the majors. Signed by Branch Rickey and the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was sold to the White Sox.
Carrasquel took over for Hall of Famer Luke Appling as Chicago's shortstop in 1950 -- he had a 24-game hitting streak as a rookie -- and was traded to the Indians to make room for another future Hall of Famer, Luis Aparicio.
Last year, before Guillen's first home game as manager of the White Sox, three star Venezuelan shortstops threw out ceremonial first balls -- Carrasquel, Aparicio and Guillen.
"I was saddened to hear of the passing of Chico Carrasquel," Aparicio said from his home in Venezuela. "Chico was my hero and mentor. He took me under his wing, and I'm grateful to him for making me the ballplayer that I turned out to be."
Carrasquel spent seven seasons doing Spanish-language telecasts of White Sox games. He also worked in the team's community relations department until recent years.
During his later years, Carrasquel suffered from diabetes. In 2003, he sustained minor injuries when he was beaten during a carjacking in Venezuela.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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