Major League Baseball Player. For twelve seasons (1959 to 1971), he played at the shortstop, third base and second base positions with the Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. Born Zoilo Casanova (Rodriguez) Versalles, he was signed by Washington as an amateur free agent in 1958, and made his Major League debut with them on August 1st, 1959, appearing in 29 games that season. Following the franchise's relocation to Minnesota, he would become an element of a formidable lineup which also included Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew. Versalles received American League MVP honors in 1965, as he led the league in runs scored (126), doubles (45) and triples with 12 (third consecutive time, 1963 with 13 and 1964 with 10). He was a key factor in the Twins winning of the American League Pennant that year; he recorded 8 hits with a .286 batting average during the 1965 World Series. His accomplishments were not limited to his bat, as he was a solid defensive shortstop, earning the AL Gold Glove Award twice (1963 and 1965). In 1,400 career regular season games, he amassed 1,246 hits with a .242 lifetime batting average, receiving AL All-Star status twice (1963 and 1965). Following his playing career, he worked as a truck driver. He was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame posthumously in 2006.
Major League Baseball Player. For twelve seasons (1959 to 1971), he played at the shortstop, third base and second base positions with the Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. Born Zoilo Casanova (Rodriguez) Versalles, he was signed by Washington as an amateur free agent in 1958, and made his Major League debut with them on August 1st, 1959, appearing in 29 games that season. Following the franchise's relocation to Minnesota, he would become an element of a formidable lineup which also included Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew. Versalles received American League MVP honors in 1965, as he led the league in runs scored (126), doubles (45) and triples with 12 (third consecutive time, 1963 with 13 and 1964 with 10). He was a key factor in the Twins winning of the American League Pennant that year; he recorded 8 hits with a .286 batting average during the 1965 World Series. His accomplishments were not limited to his bat, as he was a solid defensive shortstop, earning the AL Gold Glove Award twice (1963 and 1965). In 1,400 career regular season games, he amassed 1,246 hits with a .242 lifetime batting average, receiving AL All-Star status twice (1963 and 1965). Following his playing career, he worked as a truck driver. He was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame posthumously in 2006.
Bio by: C.S.
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