The Tragic Tale of Perimeter Pascual

TWITTER - @BaseballHSTRN
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August 19th, 1982. The Atlanta Braves, in the midst of a tight division race with the Los Angeles Dodgers, are warming up for the final matchup of a four game series against the Expos. As the 7 p.m. start time approaches, every member of Atlanta’s starting lineup is ready to go… except for one player.
At this very moment, with the game on the line, the Braves’ starting pitcher is stranded on the highway, lost in his home city. This is the tale of Perimeter Pascual Perez, one of the most colorful Major League Baseball players of the 1980s. But be warned, this story does not have a happy ending.
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SOURCES
pastebin.com/fwD2NWHQ
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MUSIC
"Blue Danube" - Strauss
"Can-Can" - Offenbach
"Prelude No. 14" - Chris Zabriskie
Prelude No. 14 by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: chriszabriskie.com/preludes/
Artist: chriszabriskie.com/

[@buckeyechris21]

I’m Dominican, and I remember meeting him in person, back in the late 80’s, while I played Little League ball at a club in a neighborhood called “Los Prados”, which is in the DR capital of Santo Domingo. It was a Saturday morning, and remember my late father called me to his side in between innings, he was sitting down on a bench under a tree, behind the first base line. My father looked excited and then said to me “Do you know recognize this man?”, pointing out out to a guy sitting 3-4 feet away to his right, who had very dark skin complexion, jerry-curled hair and a large gold chain. I immediately recognized him then excitedly I told my dad “That’s ‘Cutá’ Perez!!”. The man looked at me, gave me a very shy smile, extended his hand and shook I shook it. Around that time, he was one of the most popular ball players in the DR, as popular as guys like David Ortiz would ever become. Everyone knew him by his childhood nickname of “Cutá” and back then he lived nearby, he was just sitting there, alone, watching the young 8-9 yr old kids play, I remember him being super contemplative, almost as if there was something buried deep in his thoughts, it struck me since I was used to his ‘flare’ on TV, not this calm demeanor. After all these years, I always wondered if he just sat there on that bench trying to get away from his fame and fortune, maybe wishing he was a kid again.

[@Grimmes12]

Thanks for the memories from a lifelong diehard Dominican Yankee fan in NYC who has been to Los Prados while on vacation.

[@Sam-sb2sq]

Amazing story. I felt like I was there.

[@martinespinal839]

Vaya manito que recuento tan bello. Yo lo conoci en su otra vida. El pobre no supo superar la coca mierda. un dia se llevo una vaina y en menos de 10 minutos Cuqui vino para atras asustado. Ese Cuta es un loco mano, se metio esa jugada en tres viajes. Queria k me vaya con el para san francisco le dije usted ta loco hermano vete solo. Ay Dios lo bendiga siempre!

[@Grimmes12]

@@martinespinal839 Pacual y Melido eran los unicos Dominicano en el Bronx...yo me excitaba cuando Melido "33" pinchaba porque era Dominicano como yo

[@pault2178]

Good story bro...I lover him on the Yankees...he had such a cool demeanor

[@johnem17]

That’s my uncle, I still remember talking to him before his death. He was a wealth of pitching knowledge when it came down to confidence and passion. Rip tio

[@christopheroliver9854]

Perez knew what he was doing out there. Skillful pitcher who had his own style. May Pascal Rest in Peace.

[@nightaudit8331]

@@christopheroliver9854 He knew what no one else did.

[@BaseballQuotes1]

The map giveaway of I-285 has me dying

[@rogregg29445]

I’m a Braves fan I’ve seen the map 🤣😂🤣

[@marcalarie4756]

Expos fan here...i remember Pascual very well, always made sure to watch when he was pitching...Montréal fans loved him.

[@DMVBLACK]

*nats

[@damianlillard1981]

Butterfly effect scenario: Pasqual Pérez getting arrested for possession of cocaine in his home country inadvertently saved the Seattle Mariners.

[@TPTGopher]

@Manaea Über Alles McGee And more than likely doomed baseball in Montreal: if they keep the Big Unit, the Expos almost certainly win the NL East in '93, and probably get the Wild Card in '96 - if two actual playoff appearances help mitigate the heartache of '94, maybe they get a new stadium.

[@demonkingbadger6689]

Possibly, assuming the expos eventually harnass Johnson's talents, like Seattle did. Control was a bit of an issue for him early.

[@LinkRocks]

@@demonkingbadger6689 Nolan Ryan helped Randy Johnson with his control, so he probably would have met him regardless.

[@citizenbeeswax7985]

Yet they still dont have a world series title.

[@shooter7734]

@@LinkRocks it was the combination of Ryan and then Ranger's pitching coach Tom House working with him on his mechanics in 92 after they watched him struggling while throwing in the bullpen between starts at the Kingdome that resulted in him harnessing his talent. Had he been in Montreal he would never run into them as they were in the American League and there was no interleague play then.

[@jiggingjerks]

“This guy” who took off his shirt is Eddie Lee Whitson - he deserves a nice documentary like this one. Nice job

[@nickbagelboy]

Lmfao you're right. Just looked him up.

[@jaycompany4886]

Didn't he get in a fight with Billy Martin, when he pitch for the yanks

[@jiggingjerks]

@@jaycompany4886 he did indeed

[@KipArmadillo]

As soon as I saw "this guy," I knew it was Whitson.

[@johnny1963ify]

No he doesnt.

[@RetroBaseball]

There is a new Baseball Historian video… *Uncontrollable screaming noises of excitement*

[@Unkle_Mike]

The owner of one of the greatest Jheri Curls of ALL TIME.

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

Luis Polonia was second to Pasqual

[@thebunkreport]

Watch out Marcus Stroman might think that's a racist comment. He thinks Bob Brenly is a racist for commenting on his filthy hair rag.

[@chrishedrick3117]

AC Green was no slouch in that department either. 😂

[@HitPeace]

Prime time deion Sanders????????

[@garygood6804]

So supple and so juicy

[@lisacateyes53]

He started the most famous brawl in Padre history because of which we Padre fans hated him when he pitched against us. Tragic death, life full of ups and down, baseball fans of that era will never forget him! RIP Pascal Perez!!

[@marcoslaureano5562]

Man that was back when pitchers had personality and great nicknames. Another one of my favorite nicknames from that era was Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd. That's a great one.

[@joelegue182]

The Expos were my NL team growing up and I loved Pascual Perez. I can remember seeing his highlights on This Week In Baseball (TWIB) in the days before we had cable TV. Thanks for making this excellent tribute.

[@SSNESS]

I can’t stand looking at flat chocolate noses

[@sfrank8687]

Twib was a must see!!! Thanks for reminding of it

[@John-vn1tv]

Wow you took me back to the 80s with that this week in baseball ⚾ I comment! I loved that show I think it was Mel Allen who hosted that great baseball show!⚾

[@Paducahrus]

For all of the young viewers - this was before Google Maps and before GPS. Sure, he should have known the way to the ballpark, but getting lost in the 80s wasn't unusual.

[@JedForge]

Yep, the ONE time I've been to Atlanta (not counting plane changes on way to Florida) ... holy crap what a nightmare! Seattle in some ways is worse (only so much you can do with a thin strip of land between bodies of water). Dallas can be a nightmare too where the exit sign will you have you thinking you need to take the next right and then the exit ends up being on the left side lol.

[@wingracer1614]

Hell I got lost in Pittsburgh at 3am one time back in the 90s and I swear I must have crossed all three of those rivers about 27 times each.

[@t-squared6406]

good point,but you would think he would be familiar with the city he played in

[@wingracer1614]

@@t-squared6406 I believe it was his home debut. Not like he'd played there a hundred times

[@t-squared6406]

@@wingracer1614 but still,come on,in your home teams city,he didn't just come up from the minors

[@aeschafer1]

In the late 80s, one of my favourite clubs was the Montreal Expos. Perez and Dennis Martinez together in that rotation along with Mark Langston, Tim Raines still at the peak of his career, super young Larry Walker just starting out. Perez throwing that crazy eephus curve of his was always a big highlight for me anytime I got to watch him pitch, usually against my Cardinals. Also, I just have to wonder: do they hand out those big Miles Davis sunglasses when you start a coke habit? Can I just buy some, or do I have to actually start doing blow to get them?

[@superduper9superduper920]

Haaaaa good one about glasses ..but we dodgers here...props to OZZIE AND WILLIE THOUGH

[@mg659er]

Was the Hawk Dawson there that year?

[@davidwilliams8822]

I'm 41 i remember him. R.i.p Hermano

[@moisesledesma2607]

The most flamboyant Dominican baseball player

[@adamjolliff2956]

Great video but I have lived in Atlanta my whole life and I have never heard anyone call 285 anything but the perimeter. The loop is the highway that surrounds Athens, GA.

[@johnhanson403]

100% facts

[@jimmybrock7660]

Met him at rehab stint for Yankees in late 80s/ early 90s. He was pitching in a rookie league game in Tampa that I took my little brother to watch. He signed my brothers hat. What I remember most was his high leg kick.

[@freeparking301]

The moment I seen this took place in the 80’s and you said “tragic story” I immediately said “it’s cocaine isn’t it?” all while having flashbacks to the Lonnie Smith episode of “Pretty Good.” Also I’ve been to Atlanta and yeah the roads suck!!!

[@matthewcollins8602]

The Lonnie Smith admission of wanting to kill GM John Schuerholz would make a great video I believe.

[@OwenDaBowen9]

What is cocaine?

[@Iamacardinalfan]

@@OwenDaBowen9 According to Rick James, It's a Helluva Drug.

[@OwenDaBowen9]

@@Iamacardinalfan thx

[@tonygville2969]

@@OwenDaBowen9 a money changer. It changes the money from your pocket to the trash, poop can, just anywhere but your pocket. It's a Liar from Hell. God's Grace and Divine Mercy is Beyond Words 🙏 Viva Cristo Rey 💪🙏

[@apelletier1886]

He was my favorite Expo, by a mile, when I was 7 years old.

[@nathanbowen9204]

Hey hey hey You pick on yupi and bring up loosing Randy. Remember all of this. Thanks so much. Watching him pitch was what hooked me on baseball. Rock on

[@louiedangelo3843]

Perez was larger than life and was so much fun watching him pitch . He was a great pitcher but also a showman at the same time. His death was brutal it was more than just stabbing. R I P Pasucal thanks for the entertainment.

[@unlocated7448]

Mmmm, his head was caved in with a hammer, he didn’t stand a chance. Greatly missed.

[@mediocreboys9943]

Perfect line to end the video, RIP Pascual..

[@roadtotheshow13]

Holy crap this production is phenomenal lol. 10/10

[@mr.fancypants1524]

Thanks for making this video of this colorful and memorable player. As a kid of the 80's it felt like Pascual Perez played for the Expos for 10 years. I guess he was just so unforgettable that he left that impression on me. Pascual Perez was a showman, that's for sure.

[@t-squared6406]

he was a character

[@LinkRocks]

I remember finding his card in a pack of 1986 Topps baseball cards and immediately became fascinated with him. What an interesting man and it's very sad the way he died. RIP

[@Scott-jf1nh]

I remember him well. In Atlanta he was simply “ Perimeter Perez.” The way he was always jumpy and excited with himself made him fun to watch. He was Deion Sanders before Deion arrived.

[@ingibingi2000]

I love those old pirates hats

[@Karmy.]

Same

[@JonPITBZN]

"Perez's stats aren't much to look at" I took a look at his stats and they're actually pretty good. - His ERA was 10% better than league average - His WHIP was better than league average - His strikeout rate was higher than league average - His walk rate was better than league average - He was great at limiting line drives and getting ground balls instead The guy was legit.

[@Dulcimerist]

2 Legit 2 Quit

[@joshuaalexandercruz31]

Pascual Perez tremendous players of the mlb

[@pokefan7897]

I love this guy. Perez was always awesome

[@jordangreene8325]

Whoa. That I-285 map, the Jim Crow depiction of Perez is super offensive. The Braves thought they were funny, wonder what Hank Aaron thought? Aaron = Greatest of All Time and Greatest Brave Ever. Thanks for the Perez video though!

[@mervintay9541]

Just wanna say that I was here when this channel was just starting out cause we all know this channel is gonna blow up

[@crush42mash6]

The Montreal team was fantastic! It’s so sad they didn’t get a chance to finish that season, on paper they were world champions

[@sebastianponce9658]

Boy i loved watching this man play..great pitcher and unfortunate destiny..

[@ramonmartinezmartinez4124]

Thanks from Dominican Republic

[@xavy249]

I grew in Dominican Republic and I used to played baseball just like every kid over there. I was a fan of guys like David Ortiz and Albert Pujols. One time my uncle asked me who my favorite player was and I said big papi and he said his favorite player was Pascual and I didn’t know who he was so I went years without knowing who pascual is or how he looks like and after many years I found out who pascual is thanks to this video.

[@jacobbecker7741]

This is a marked improvement over previous content that I've watched. You've really learned how to slow down and steady your delivery, and it's made this video a lot better to watch.

[@franklegere6939]

"Checking" the runner at first by peeking between his legs? 🤣😂🤣😂Hysterical AND historical!! Does any MLB fan out there know of another pitcher that used THAT crazy way to "check" the baserunning at 1st?

[@lucasmartin5479]

Horrible way to have a life end 😰 What a character

[@The-Dom]

Poetic ending. Bravo.

[@matthewcollins8602]

I spent twelve years battling the every day Atlanta traffic for work and started at age 18 right out of school and it was rough no doubt. The first two years I mostly road with a coworker who trained me as I sat passenger and studied a metro Atlanta map book. That Atlanta traffic is often still horrendous knowing the entire layout though unfortunately.

[@yankees29]

Sounds similar to Long Island traffic. 🤣

[@matthewcollins8602]

@@yankees29 indeed. When you've battled Atlanta and New York traffic on the regular nothing else I've been through tops it I believe.

[@Grimmes12]

As a lifelong diehard Dominican Yankee fan from NYC thank you for making this video. Pascual's brother Melido was my first favorite Yankee.

[@nestorquixtan]

Wonderful work. I recall Pascual from back in the day. He was quite the character. Those Expos teams of the later 80s were underrated. It's too bad Pascual couldn't get his life in order.

[@citizenbeeswax7985]

Him making fun of Julio franco's stance was hilarious. I remember watching that game as a kid. 0:51

[@johnglue1744]

Older Braves fans still remember and still loved having the chance to see Perez while he was here.

[@VeN0m88]

I went to a met game at Shea and I remember the wild curls from the Expos pitcher not sure if it was 1989 0r 1990. Anyway not sure of it is Pasqual or Pedro who pitched but the NY crowd gave him the business

[@TheTEN24]

Never knew about pascual Perez what a character and a great talent. Thanks for the content man you’ve gotta better and better over time

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

I think I remember his Pirates and Expos baseball cards as being part of my sister's collection as a kid. She was a big Yankee fan, though I don't remember seeing his card with that team.

[@willpgarrett2940]

I loved how he sprinted off the mound after an inning ending K..

[@Dulcimerist]

Thanks for making this video of such an interesting player! I've enjoyed Bill Lee's autobiography and TV specials about Mark Fidrych and J.R. Richard; but I hadn't seen or read much about Pascual Perez, other than the backs of his baseball cards. All of them were quite good players, and very interesting characters!

[@kingdingaling2469]

I remember this Dudes card from when I was really little and the card was older than my time but I came up on some of his older cards.

[@JollyOlive]

You're gonna pass me so soon with content like this. Another gem, bravo brother

[@activelysports]

It shows you're verified now ???

[@cokesquirrel]

I am glad you made that comment. Now I have your channel added it to some more baseball to watch

[@smashboogietheilladelic5740]

Great segment

[@LoganCharlesII]

Sad that he died living in an apartment and getting killed when robbers tried to steal his pension check. I was hoping he had a nice house and was living well all this time. Since I live in Atlanta, I remember him most from his time with the Braves.

[@ThomasTrussell]

I've only watched 2 of your videos so far but I absolutely love them. Please keep it up.

[@matthewfake1756]

I remember Perez well. He was really talented, but like so many others, drugs were really his downfall. Excellent video, great to remember a great player from the 80's. Well done.

[@paulelliott3220]

Pascual on the perimeter Great song by the ‘Baseball Project’ on their third album centred about him and his Atlanta incident Very entertaining story

[@claudesledge9102]

GOD! I Miss the Montreal Explorials.! Bring that team back.!

[@patrickshuman718]

Fun fact: his career FIP is the exact same as his career ERA

[@LemurJackson]

Fun Innings Pitched☺️

[@russo5380]

Interesting! What can I conclude from that about the defensive performance while he pitched?

[@MoreBuffMoreMuff]

@@russo5380 it was as average as he was

[@patrickshuman718]

@@MoreBuffMoreMuff yeah that's what I understand too. Overall, while in one year the defense might have played better than he pitched and vice versa, overall over his career it all evened out

[@MoreBuffMoreMuff]

@@patrickshuman718 which is the 3rd most amazing baseball stat ever. #2 is Khris Davis hitting .247 for 4 years in a row and the #1 stat being Brandon McCarthy career ERA and win total, which was 4.20 and 69 respectively.

[@steeno629]

Damn, they put Pasquel in the Bronx in the early 90's - even squares did drugs in the early 90's in NYC. It was written.

[@cdswan8943]

Watched him at Fulton county stadium in the’80 s. My grandma loved him.

[@ronhalliday7304]

Pasqual Pérez's career BA was .120 (41 H / 342 AB). After returning to baseball, his first two seasons in Montreal were particularly bad (3 H / 78 AB / .038 BA). But something must've clicked in 1989, or he put in the effort, because he had the best year of his career with a respectable .208 BA (11 H / 54 AB) including 3 2B, 1 SF and 8 RBI. In the eight previous seasons combined he had a total of 3 2B, 0 SF and 7 RBI. Then he was traded to the Yankees, so we'll never know if he could've kept up those numbers. Terrific video!

[@dennisrobbins7857]

lol! The tool who always takes his shirt off before he chickens out!! Good video, Perez was an interesting player, thanks!

[@markmeyer6800]

I liked the Expos when I was a kid because of him! Wow what a time warp I had totally forgot about how much I loved watching him until I saw this on my feed!

[@gospos1]

Thank you for this!..a great tribute to a great pitcher!😊

[@ThomasBaxter]

Well done. Thanks!

[@aarond23]

Definitely one of the most bizarre baseball stories

[@Vincepelosi]

Phenomenal! Keep crushing

[@tai5618]

What an awesome video!

[@koytoy2656]

Pablo had just gotten his Georgia driving license earlier that day and was a new member of the Braves. He should have been on I-85 but instead he mistakenly took I-285 which goes around ATL no where near Fulton County Stadium . My brother in law made the same mistake!!

[@thickyjuice]

Great video! I had always known about that infamous brawl with the Padres but never the character who instigated it!

[@janelis156]

love that expos jacket.

[@moderndaysalvage3976]

One of my favorites back when he was with Atlanta

[@ARMPitchingDevelopment]

These videos are really good. Thanks for sharing :)

[@champstar9669]

Excellent video. Would love to see more of these.

[@25rasc]

Man, I love your work!

[@ttenkrut]

Great upload!

[@HamsterPi]

wake up babe new baseball historian video

[@chucklos391]

Thank you for a beautifully narrated story of Pascual. I loved watching him. Always animated on the mound and always had fun with the game. I never knew his tragic end. I smiled throughout the video until the end. Upsetting.

[@CW-mr8pg]

I love your videos, especially when you highlight players with fascinating stories but that aren't as well heard of

[@poryfiallo]

Very nice documentary...

[@clubx123]

Great memories. Thank you

[@ChrisBakerauthor]

He was definitely a character.

[@vetoland92]

First video I've seen of yours and I wasn't disappointed. Great work!

[@thorinhanson1181]

Top notch again. Not surprising. Looking forward to the next one.

[@anadraham2995]

A total ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ episode - just a great story told in the best way 👍👍

[@jimwerther]

That was pitcher Ed Whitson with his shirt off. As I recall, he had been half dressed when the fight broke out, and he ran out as he was. There were four bench clearers during that one game alone.

[@jerzeymade7880]

Awesome stories, subscribed💯

[@snoopy1981]

simply an excellent video, thank you

[@EpicVideoMaster11]

thank you for the video

[@bryanhigdon8882]

I know this story. I give you an upvote for Perimeter Pasquale. As a resident of ATL I’ve never heard that tern before. That’s awesome...

[@rafaelmiqui]

I love the unifornr of the Expos...

[@lewisfmr6251]

Thank for this 🙌🇩🇴🇺🇸

[@Flowerz__]

RIP what a legend

[@eegh]

Feel lucky to see him pitched in Taiwan back in 1996. He still could put some dazzling numbers in a handful of games at the age of 39. What made fans even more impressed was his personality and eerie behaviors. It is said that he once took a piss at a corner of fence in a ballpark before a game. And his 36 mph eephus still holds the record of slowest pitch in Taiwanese league to date.

[@areyouafraidofthedog]

Fantastic video.

[@kenbray1875]

Priceless!

[@CalebsCards]

I've had and still have tons of his baseball cards, interesting video!

[@collin491]

awesome video about a player I'd never even heard of, love your channel man.

[@BaseballHistorian]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@henrylee9637]

I love your stuff. I been watching it all morning. I've even put down my PS4 controller to watch these videos. I'm a huge Braves fan and I remember Perez well. He was a character for sure. I always hoped the Braves would have brought him back for a bobble head night or something like that. I was heartbroken when I heard he had been killed in botched robbery. He will always be one of my favorite Braves. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.