▁he ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁become ▁a ▁minor ▁league ▁manager ▁in ▁the ▁farm ▁system . ▁ ▁Early ▁years ▁M ald on ado ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Bar rio ▁San ▁Ant ón , ▁P once , ▁Puerto ▁Rico , ▁on ▁May ▁ 2 4 , ▁ 1 9 3 8 . ▁He ▁was ▁the ▁son ▁of ▁Car o ▁M ald on ado . ▁He ▁graduated ▁from ▁P once ▁High ▁School ▁and ▁the ▁Pont ific al ▁Catholic ▁University ▁of ▁Puerto ▁Rico . ▁ ▁Track ▁and ▁field ▁M ald on ado ▁was ▁also ▁an ▁accomplished ▁track ▁and ▁field ▁ath lete . ▁In ▁ 1 9 5 6 , ▁he ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁Puerto ▁R ican ▁high ▁school ▁student ▁to ▁run ▁the ▁ 8 0 0 m ▁in ▁less ▁than ▁two ▁min utos , ▁and ▁second ▁only ▁to ▁Olympic ▁medal - w inner ▁George ▁K err . ▁ ▁At ▁P once ▁High ▁he ▁won ▁all ▁the ▁track ▁and ▁field ▁events ▁including ▁ 2 0 0 m , ▁ 4 0 0 m , ▁and ▁ 8 0 0 m , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁ 4 ▁× ▁ 4 0 0 ▁m ▁relay ▁and ▁ 4 ▁× ▁ 8 0 0 ▁m ▁relay . ▁ ▁Baseball ▁career ▁M ald on ado ' s ▁entry ▁into ▁professional ▁baseball ▁occurred ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 8 ▁when ▁Ped rin ▁Z orr illa ▁signed ▁him ▁with ▁the ▁Sant ur ce ▁Cra bb ers . ▁ ▁He ▁played ▁ 1 3 ▁seasons , ▁winning ▁five ▁champion ships . ▁ ▁As ▁a ▁baseball ▁player ,