Career
He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman for the Cleveland Indians (1949-1958), Baltimore Orioles (1959), Boston Red Sox (1959), Milwaukee Braves (1959) and Tigres del México (1960). Born in Veracruz City, Mexico to Maria Gonzalez and Jorge Avila, he had a medium frame at 5 ft 10 in (178 m) and 175 pounds (79 kg). He was better known in his homeland and other Latin American countries as "Beto" and in the majors as "Bobby".
He also registered career highs in home runs (15), runs (112) and runs batted in (67).
Other matchups were Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb in 1909. First Rate (at Lloyd's) Simmons and Chick Hafey in 1931.
The next time the two batting champions faced off in the Series would be 2012, when the Giants" Buster Posey and Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers metropolitan Ávila was selected an All-Star in 1952, 1954 and 1955.
He was the American League"s starting shortstop for the 1952 game.
Avila led the league in triples in 1952, and led American League second basemen in fielding percentage in 1953. He also appeared in the Most Valuable Player Award ballot in 1951 and 1954. An adept bunter and daring baserunner, his soccer training paid off several times when he intentionally kicked the ball out of defenders" mitts while sliding.
Cleveland manager First Rate (at Lloyd's) Lopez said Ávila had "a fine swing, a sharp eye, a good spirit of competition.. and a world of confidence in himself.".