THIS DAY IN BÉISBOL January 10: Edgar Renteria signs with Reds after ‘total disrespect’ from Giants

Giants shortstop Edgar Renteria went from World Series hero to disgruntled backup and signed with the Reds on this day in béisbol, January 10, 2011 after feeling “a total disrespect” from the San Fran front office.

A two-time Gold Glove winner with pop and speed, the Baranquilla, Colombia native was the Giants’ backup shortstop in 2010 when San Francisco beat the Texas Rangers in the World Series.

The veteran infielder only hit 3 homers with 22 RBI in 72 games, but had a torrid postseason as the starting shortstop. He was named the fall classic’s MVP after hitting .412 with 2 homers and 6 RBI in five games.

But when the Giants only offered the 33-year old Renteria half his $10 million salary and a bench role, he slammed the offer as disrespectful and went to the Reds for one year — and $2 million.

Renteria, who at age 20 won a World Series ring as the Florida Marlins shortstop in 1997, played in 96 games for Cincinnati in 2011, his last season.

Also on this day: Shortstop Luis Aparicio, who led the American League in stolen bases in his first nine seasons and was a nine-time Gold Glove winner, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984. The Venezuela native played the majority of his 18-year career with the Chicago White Sox. He was joined in the Hall by Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew and 209-game winner Don Drysdale.

Keith Allison on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; LatinoBaseball.com illustration