▁of ▁the ▁Pitts burgh ▁Pir ates ▁teams ▁that ▁won ▁two ▁consecutive ▁National ▁League ▁Eastern ▁Division ▁titles ▁in ▁ ▁and ▁, ▁and ▁won ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 1 ▁World ▁Series . ▁ ▁Baseball ▁career ▁Hern ández ▁began ▁his ▁professional ▁baseball ▁career ▁with ▁Al m end ares ▁in ▁the ▁Cub an ▁Winter ▁League , ▁sp ending ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 - 1 9 6 1 ▁season ▁on ▁that ▁team ' s ▁reserve ▁list . ▁When ▁the ▁Cub an ▁government ▁b anned ▁professional ▁baseball ▁after ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁season , ▁Al m end ares ' s ▁general ▁manager ▁Mon chy ▁de ▁Ar cos , ▁who ▁was ▁also ▁a ▁sc out ▁for ▁the ▁Cleveland ▁Indians , ▁helped ▁Hern ández ▁secure ▁a ▁contract ▁with ▁the ▁latter ▁organization . ▁ ▁Hern ández ▁entered ▁the ▁Indians ' ▁farm ▁system ▁as ▁a ▁catch er , ▁but ▁Indians ▁sc out ▁H oot ▁E vers ▁suggested ▁that ▁Hern ández ' s ▁strong ▁throwing ▁arm ▁would ▁be ▁better ▁used ▁at ▁short stop , ▁and ▁for ▁the ▁next ▁several ▁years ▁Hern ández ▁worked ▁to ▁learn ▁the ▁in field . ▁He ▁was ▁released ▁by ▁the ▁Indians ▁on ▁May ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 9 6 5 ▁and ▁signed ▁by ▁the ▁California ▁Ang els , ▁who ▁promoted ▁him ▁to ▁the ▁major ▁le agues ▁later ▁that ▁year ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 2 5 . ▁Hern ández ▁remained ▁with ▁the ▁Ang els ▁until ▁April ▁ 1 0 , ▁ 1 9 6 7 , ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁chosen ▁as ▁the ▁player ▁to ▁be