{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Pionerd","title":"César Tovar’s Nine-Position Game: The Day a Twins Legend Made MLB History","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":689,"description":"Show Description:\nOn September 22, 1968, a modest crowd of 11,340 gathered at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington to watch Minnesota Twins utility star César \"Pepi\" Tovar take the field with nine different gloves. Turned into a multi-position attraction by owner Calvin Griffith to sell end-of-season tickets, Tovar transformed a corporate gimmick into an immortal masterclass of athletic versatility and total diamond mastery. From striking out future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson on the mound in the first inning to donning oversized catcher's gear and unleashing a crucial, lead-preserving throw from center field, Tovar didn't just survive the diamond tour, he scored the go-ahead run and anchored a 2–1 Twins victory. On this episode of Pionerd: The Minnesota Edition, host Robert Thomas uncovers the street-sandlot origins of the five-foot-nine Venezuelan icon, the single-inning steal records alongside Rod Carew, and the lasting legacy that endures on college diamonds today.\n\nKey Topics & Historical Highlights:\nThe Nine-Position Masterclass: The inning-by-inning account of September 22, 1968, as Tovar played every position on the scorecard at Metropolitan Stadium while securing a 2–1 victory over the Oakland A's.\nFrom Caracas to Minneapolis: How an eight-year-old shoe-shine boy signed for zero bonus dollars, fought through the minor leagues, and became the engine of the Twins' 1960s lineup.\nRecords, Cycles, and No-Hitter Spoilers: The major-league record five-steal inning with Rod Carew, Tovar's walk-off home run for the cycle, and his legendary mark of breaking up five potential no-hitters.\nOffscreen Generosity & Modern Legacy: Tovar's secret shipments of baseball equipment to impoverished Venezuelan youth and his grandson PJ Jones carrying on the family legacy at Kansas State.","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/TBzQA953XT-5pUk9GpM9Lck7NRVoPLOa3qejYqJMdT4/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kMmRi/MTE5YzRmZTQ3ZjFk/ZjQ0OWUzODdkNGVm/MmVhMC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}