César Gutiérrez (born February 27, 1943) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball player who played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers during the 1970 and 1971 seasons.
Early life and amateur career
Gutiérrez was born in Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela. He began playing baseball in local leagues before signing with the Detroit Tigers organization in the early 1960s.
Professional career
Minor leagues
Gutiérrez spent several seasons in the minor leagues, primarily with Detroit’s farm teams such as the Durham Bulls, Knoxville Smokies, and the Evansville Triplets. He demonstrated solid defensive skills at shortstop and occasional power hitting.
Major League debut
Gutiérrez made his MLB debut on May 11, 1970, with the Detroit Tigers. Over the 1970 and 1971 seasons, he appeared in 147 games, posting a career batting average of .228, with 6 home runs and 39 runs batted in (RBIs).
Notable performance
On June 21, 1970, Gutiérrez recorded a four‑hit game that included two home runs in a 12–6 victory over the Cleveland Indians, marking the most home runs hit by a Tigers shortstop in a single game up to that date.
Later career
After the 1971 season, Gutiérrez returned to the minor leagues, playing for the Triple‑A Evansville Triplets and other affiliates until his retirement from professional baseball in the late 1970s.
Post‑playing career
Following his playing days, Gutiérrez remained involved in Venezuelan baseball, contributing as a coach and scout for local clubs. He has been recognized in Venezuelan baseball circles for his contributions to the sport’s development in the country.
Personal life
Gutiérrez resides in Venezuela. Details about his family and personal activities are limited in publicly available sources.
Legacy
César Gutiérrez is among the early wave of Venezuelan players who reached MLB, preceding the larger influx of Venezuelan talent that began in the 1980s. His brief but memorable tenure with the Detroit Tigers is noted in both American and Venezuelan baseball histories.
