INDIANAPOLIS -- Roberto Petagine, the 1998 International League and Indianapolis Indians Most Valuable Player, has been inducted into the International League Hall of Fame.  He joins Don Buford as former Indians that have been inducted into the IL HOF since its revival during the 2008 season.

In 1998, Petagine became the Indians second league MVP in the club’s second season as a member of the International League.  Fellow IL Hall of Famer Don Buford also took home MVP honors for the Tribe in 1963, when the team joined the IL for a short on year stretch.   

In his one season in Indianapolis, Petagine led the team to a 76-67 record and second place finish in the West Division.  That season, the Tribe first baseman led the IL in on-base percentage (.436), while finishing second in batting average (.331), RBI (109), and slugging percentage (.617).

Petagine also took home the 1997 IL MVP award as a member of Norfolk Tides and is the only player ever to record back-to-back MVP honors in the International League.  In his time in the IL, Petagine also proved to be a well rounded player by being named the IL’s best defensive first baseman in 1998 by Baseball America.

In four seasons in the IL (400 games), Petagine, a native of Nueva Esparta, Venezuela, racked up a .323 lifetime average, 343 RBI, and three Midseason All-Star appearances.  He went on to enjoy parts of 12 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Astros, Padres, Mets, Reds, Red Sox and Mariners.

Petagine, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound left-handed hitter, signed with the Houston Astros as an undrafted free agent on Feb. 3, 1990.  He was part of a historic trade in 1994, that saw himself along with 3B Ken Caminiti, OF Steve Finley, and three other players, sent from the Houston Astros to the San Diego Padres for OF Derek Bell, RHP Doug Brocail and four additional players.

All members of the Class of 2009 have been added to the International League Hall of Fame plaque display.  Inductees or their families will be presented with “The Curtain Call” during a series of enshrinement ceremonies to be held throughout the League this season.

Complete statistical data and biographical information on all 94 members of the IL Hall of Fame, along with a copy of the IL HOF policies , procedures and guidelines can be found at www.ILBaseball.com.

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