View source for Rafael Robles

{{short description|Dominican baseball player (1947-1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Robles|Natera|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Rafael Robles
|position=[[Shortstop]]
|image=Rafael_robles_1971408.jpg
|caption=1971 ''[[Topps]]'' baseball card #408
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1947|10|20}}
|birth_place=[[San Pedro de Macorís]], [[Dominican Republic]]
|death_date={{death date and age|1998|8|13|1947|10|20}}
|death_place=[[New York, New York]]
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 8
|debutyear={{Baseball year|1969}}
|debutteam=[[San Diego Padres]]
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=June 10
|finalyear={{Baseball year|1972}}
|finalteam=[[San Diego Padres]]
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.188
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=0
|stat3label=[[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=3
|teams=
*[[San Diego Padres]] ({{mlby|1969}}–{{mlby|1970}}, {{mlby|1972}})
}}
'''Rafael Orlando Robles Natera''' (October 20, 1947 &ndash; August 13, 1998) was a [[shortstop]] in [[Major League Baseball]]. He was born in [[San Pedro de Macorís]], [[Dominican Republic]]. He was signed by the [[San Francisco Giants]] as an amateur free agent before the 1967 season, and later drafted by the [[San Diego Padres]] from the [[San Francisco Giants]] as the 51st pick in the [[1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft]]. He played for the [[San Diego Padres]] from 1969 to 1970, and again in 1972.

Robles was the first player to come to bat in [[San Diego Padres]] history. On April 8, 1969, he led off the bottom of the 1st against right-hander [[Don Wilson (baseball)|Don Wilson]] of the [[Houston Astros]]. He reached base on an error by [[Hall of Fame]] [[second baseman]] [[Joe Morgan]], then stole [[second base]], but did not score.

He was at best an average fielding [[shortstop]] (.958) and a below-average hitter (.188) during his brief [[Major League Baseball|major league]] career. (47 [[games played]])

Rafael Robles died in [[New York, New York]] at the age of 50. His son Orlando Robles is a New York-based Latin urban artist who goes by the stage name of YoungSosa. In interviews his son has been asked about his father's baseball career and has stated he is very proud of his fathers accomplishments as a professional baseball player.

==External links==
{{Baseballstats|br=r/roblera01}}
*[http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Problr101.htm Retrosheet]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robles, Rafael}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:1998 deaths]]
[[Category:Charleston Charlies players]]
[[Category:Decatur Commodores players]]
[[Category:Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:Elmira Pioneers players]]
[[Category:Fresno Giants players]]
[[Category:Hawaii Islanders players]]
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[[Category:Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:20th-century Dominican Republic sportsmen]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball shortstops]]
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[[Category:San Diego Padres players]]
[[Category:Tulsa Oilers (baseball) players]]