#238) ALEX TREVIÑO

Alex Treviño joined the New York Mets when they purchased his contract from Ciuda Victoria of the Mexican Center League on May 22, 1974. The 16-year old catcher from Monterrey, Mexico was first assigned to the club's Appalachian League team. Alex moved his way through the system and made his major-league debut as a member of the Mets at Shea Stadium on September 11, 1978. Treviño had made a good impression in New York during that late season callup. He remained primarily as the team's backup catcher playing behind John Stearns. Alex showed his versatility as a baseball player and occasionally appeared in games at third base, second base and as a corner outfielder with the Mets.

The Cincinnati Reds established him as their starting catcher when they acquired him along with Greg Harris and Jim Kern from the Mets in exchange for George Foster on February 10, 1982. Successful years with the Reds were followed by stops in Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta and San Francisco. Alex returned to the New York Mets as a free agent on August 3, 1990. In nine games he did hit for a .300 batting average. A short stay that ended a little over a month later when he was claimed off waivers by the Reds on September 7th.

"It's tough to judge why you move around so much," Treviño once explained. "I came to the conclusion that, one, I was not an All-Star; two, I was wanted by other teams; three, I stay out of trouble, and four, I wasn't making that much money."

After retiring from his playing career in 1990, and an abandoned comeback attempt in 1993, Alex has enjoyed a second career as an analyist for the Houston Astros Spanish radio network.

Alex Treviño signed his card in the set for my friend Wendy Woods before the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros game at Minute Maid Park on July 24, 2010.