Juan Báez (April 14, 1935 – January 26, 2022), also known as "Johnny" and "El Indio de la Vía", was a Puerto Rican basketball player. He played from 1953 to 1969 in Puerto Rico's Superior Basketball League and from 1957 to 1961 with the Real Madrid basketball Spanish basketball team in Europe. In 1957, Báez was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) and points leader. In 2007, Báez was awarded Puerto Rico's top sports award, the Puerto Rico Olympic Medal of Honor. Báez was also inducted into Puerto Rico's Sports Hall of Fame.

Early life

Báez (birth name: Juan Ramón Báez Mauriño ) was the sixth child of nine children born to Andrés Báez and Sisa Mariño in

San Juan, Puerto Rico San Juan (, , ; Spanish for "Saint John") is the capital city and most populous municipality in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2020 census, it is the 57th-largest city under the juri ...

. He received his primary education at the University of Puerto Rico Model Elementary School. It was in Modelo School where he would learn to play basketball under the guidance of his physical education teacher Lilliam Colberg. During his high school years, he would frequently attend the local Superior Leagues basketball games and participated as a basketball player in minor leagues where he continued to learn the discipline of the game.El Nuevo Dia
/ref>Juntos por El Indio
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Río Piedras Cardinals basketball team

In 1953, the "Cardenales de

Río Piedras Rio or Río is the Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Maltese word for "river". When spoken on its own, the word often means Rio de Janeiro, a major city in Brazil. Rio or Río may also refer to: Geography Brazil * Rio de Janeiro * Rio do Sul, a ...

" (Río Piedras Cardinals) basketball team of Puerto Rico's Superior Basketball League selected him. Even though his active participation was minimal, Báez was promoted to the team's starting lineup in his third game. From 1955 to 1957, the Cardinals won three consecutive championships. In 1957, Báez was named the league's MVP (Most Valuable Player) and points leader. He scored a total of 394 points in 16 games. His participation in the island's local basketball league was very limited in 1958 and 1959 because he continued to pursue his education in

Madrid, Spain Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...

. During his stay in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

, he played from 1957 to 1961 for the Real Madrid basketball team that won the "Generalísimo" Cup, now known as the King's Cup. While playing in Spain, he caught the eye of a young royal whose grandfather was the owner of the Real Madrid team. This royal, now known as King Juan Carlos, would become one of his best-known fans and fostered a relationship that extended past his playing days with King Juan Carlos corresponding with Báez in 2006 to wish him a speedy recovery from his illness. Báez represented Puerto Rico in the

1959 Pan American Games The 1959 Pan American Games were held in Chicago, Illinois, United States between August 28 and September 7, 1959. Host city selection One city initially submitted a bid to host the 1959 Pan American Games that was recognized by the Pan Am ...

, celebrated in

Chicago, Illinois (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. In the tournament which included American basketball stars

Oscar Robertson Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24, 1938), nicknamed "the Big O", is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Robertson playe ...

and

Jerry West Jerome Alan West (born May 28, 1938) is an American basketball executive and former player. He played professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His nicknames included "Mr. Clutch", for his ability ...

, Báez was the top scorer. Báez and fellow Puerto Rican Juan "Pachín" Vicéns were named to the All-Star team. In 1962 he withdrew from Spanish basketball. One year later, in 1963, Báez led the Cardinals to another championship and was once again named MVP. On June 13, 1969, the same year that he retired, he scored his 5000th point during a game against the Piratas de Quebradillas (The Pirates of Quebradillas) with a "jump shot" in the beginning of the game's first quarter. After retiring Báez dedicated most of his time as coach of several local teams.

Puerto Rico Olympic Medal of Honor

On January 20, 2007, several top International Basketball Federation (FIBA) officials traveled to the island to honor Báez. A high-profile ceremony ensued, attended by the likes of the Mayor of San Juan

Jorge Santini Jorge Santini Padilla (born March 11, 1960) is a Puerto Rican politician who previously served as the mayor of San Juan. State Service In 1975, Santini became a member of the United States Marines Air Cadets Corps. At present, he is Lieuten ...

, Puerto Rico Senate President Kenneth McClintock, Puerto Rico Olympic Committee President Hector Cardona, PR Sports and Recreation Secretary David "Kike" Bernier. Additionally, his wife Irma and his son and daughter, Carlos and Irma, were present. They bestowed upon Báez Puerto Rico's top sports award, the Puerto Rico Olympic Medal of Honor. Báez was also inducted into Puerto Rico's Sports Hall of Fame.

Personal life and death

Báez was married to Irma Hernáiz, his wife of 44 years with whom he had three children. On March 8, 2006, he had an accident and suffered from a delicate neurological condition which left him paralyzed from the waist-down. Báez died from a heart attack on January 26, 2022, at the age of 86.Johnny Báez, leyenda del Real Madrid Básquetbol, fallece a los 86 años
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Honors

Notes

References

External links

*
El Nuevo Dia

Juntos por El Indio

BALONCESTO SUPERIOR NACIONAL
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baez, Juan 1935 births 2022 deaths Basketball players at the 1960 Summer Olympics Basketball players at the 1964 Summer Olympics Basketball players at the 1959 Pan American Games Basketball players at the 1963 Pan American Games Centers (basketball) Medalists at the 1963 Pan American Games Olympic basketball players of Puerto Rico Pan American Games bronze medalists for Puerto Rico Pan American Games medalists in basketball Pan American Games silver medalists for Puerto Rico Puerto Rican expatriate basketball people in Spain Puerto Rican men's basketball players 1959 FIBA World Championship players People from Santurce, Puerto Rico Real Madrid Baloncesto players 1963 FIBA World Championship players 20th-century Puerto Rican people