Carlos Diaz was sometimes overshadowed by other left-handed pitchers from Hawaii.
But Monday will be his day alone, when the life of the Braves, Mets and Dodgers reliever will be celebrated. Diaz, of Kailua, died Sept. 28 of what family said is believed to be a heart attack. He was 57.
Diaz starred at Castle High School while Derek Tatsuno was beginning to gain fame at Aiea. Then, after his second major league season, the relatively anonymous but effective member of the Mets bullpen was traded to the Dodgers for another Hawaii product, Sid Fernandez, in a four-player deal.
Fernandez, the Kaiser High grad, was a bit of a phenom and remains the most acclaimed pitcher to come out of the 50th state. He went on to help the Mets to a World Series championship and pitch in the All-Star Game.
Meanwhile, Diaz appeared in 179 big league games in five years. His career was cut short due to arm trouble after the 1986 season when the Mets and Fernandez won the Series. He signed as a free agent with the A’s, but was released during spring training in 1987. Diaz’ professional career coincided with the advent of specialized relief pitchers, and his nasty curveball made him tough for even MLB lefthanded batters to hit. He fashioned a career ERA of 3.21 in 258 innings. He allowed 249 hits and struck out 207 while walking 97.
After retirement from baseball, he became a driver for Pacific Courier and was eventually promoted to senior driver.
“He set the example for the young couriers,” said Lance Terayama, retired president of parent company Island Movers and a high school teammate of Diaz’s. “He was very dependable, working the early shift and starting at 3 a.m.”
Tracy Iwamoto-Diaz said her husband didn’t talk much about his time in pro baseball, but every now and then a friend and former teammate like Bob Welch would visit. Also, he is still remembered by fans who tracked him down and filled the mailbox at their Kailua home with baseball cards to autograph.
“He’s still getting a lot of those,” Iwamoto-Diaz said. “He’d still follow the game, especially the World Series. He coached some summer leagues, Little League and stuff like that. And we’re season-ticket holders for UH baseball.”
In 1976, his senior year at Castle, Diaz and teammate Glenn Silva both fashioned perfect 0.00 ERAs, Terayama said. The Knights finished fourth in the state tourney.
Diaz went to Hancock Junior College in Santa Maria, Calif. He was drafted twice by the Seattle Mariners, who eventually signed him in 1979. He was traded to Atlanta for slugger Jeff Burroughs in 1981 and made his big league debut with the Braves in 1982.
Services for Carlos Antonio “Bimbo” Diaz Jr. are set for 11:30 Monday morning at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary, with visitation starting at 10:30.
