Carlos Alberto Almeida Hernández [er-NAN-dez] (born May 24, 1967 in San Félix, Venezuela) is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1990-96), San Diego Padres (1997-2000) and St. Louis Cardinals (2000). May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... 1967 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Estado Bolívar is one of the 23 states (estados) into which Venezuela is divided. ... Major League Baseball (MLB) is the highest level of play in professional baseball in North America. ... The position of the catcher Catcher is a position played in baseball. ... Los Angeles Dodgers National League AAA Las Vegas 51s AA Jacksonville Suns A Columbus Catfish Vero Beach Dodgers R Ogden Raptors Gulf Coast Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers redirects here. ... San Diego Padres National League AAA Portland Beavers AA Mobile BayBears A Lake Elsinore Storm Fort Wayne Wizards Eugene Emeralds R Peoria Padres The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. ... St. ...

Signed by the Dodgers as a free agent in 1984, Hernández became the second Venezuelan catcher in the MLB history, following Bo Diaz. He made his debut in the 1990 season, basically as a backup for Mike Piazza. A high skilled defensive player, Hernández spent his Dodgers career as Piazza's understudy at catcher, appearing in 230 games, including 133 starts. He signed as a free agent with San Diego and later was traded to the Cardinals. See also: 1983 in sports, other events of 1984, 1985 in sports and the list of years in sports. Auto Racing Stock car racing: NASCAR Championship - Terry Labonte Cale Yarborough won the Daytona 500 Richard Petty won the 200th (and final) race of his career on July 4. ... Baudilio José Díaz Seijas (March 23, 1953_November 23, 1990), best known as Bo Diaz, was a popular baseball catcher in the 1980s. ... See also: 1989 in sports, 1991 in sports and the list of years in sports. Auto Racing Stock car racing: Derrike Cope won the Daytona 500 NASCAR Championship - Dale Earnhardt CART Racing - Al Unser, Jr. ... Mike Piazza in episode 3 of The Apprentice 2, promoting Crest toothpaste in NYC, with competitor Elizabeth Mike Piazza (born September 4, 1968 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA) is a U.S. Major League Baseball player. ...

In his first full major league season as a regular catcher for the Padres, Hernández batted .262, with 9 home runs and 52 runs batted in in 129 games played. In 22-postseason games, he hit .299 (20-67) with one homer and two RBI. Batting average is a statistic in both baseball and cricket measuring the performance of baseball hitters and cricket batsmen, respectively. ... In baseball, a home run is a base hit in which the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring a run, with no errors on the play that result in the batter achieving extra bases. ... In baseball statistics, a run batted in (RBI) is given to a batter for each run scored as the result of a batters plate appearance. ... In baseball statistics, games played (denoted by G) indicates the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity). ...

Hernández finished his career batting .253 (315-1244) with 24 home runs, 141 RBI, 102 runs, 51 doubles, one triple, and one stolen base in 488 games played. In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances safely around all three bases and returns safely to home plate. ... In baseball, a double is the act of a batter safely reaching second base by striking the ball and getting to second before being made out, without the benefit of a fielders misplay (see error) or another runner being put out on a fielders choice. ... In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base by striking the ball and getting to third before being made out, without the benefit of a fielders misplay (see error) or another runner being put out on a fielders choice. ... The all-time stolen base leader, Rickey Henderson, swipes third in 1985 In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. ... In baseball statistics, games played (denoted by G) indicates the total number of games in which a player has participated (in any capacity). ...

In 2004, Hernández started his career as a manager with the Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican League.-1... In baseball, the head coach of a team is called the manager; this individual controls matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. ... The Mexican League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Mexico. ...

See also

• List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball

Between 1939 and 2005, 176 baseball players from Venezuela had played in Major League Baseball. ...

External links

• Career notes at Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers (http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/hernandezc.htm)
• Page at Baseball Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hernaca01.shtml)