RetroSimba

Over a span of five seasons, the Cardinals twice demoted Eduardo Perez to the minor leagues and once sent him to Japan, but he maintained a positive attitude and earned his way back each time.

On Feb. 16, 1999, the Cardinals signed Perez, a free agent, with the hope he’d contribute as a utility player and pinch-hitter.

Eduardo was the son of Hall of Famer Tony Perez and, though not as skilled as his dad, he hit with power and provided “thunder off the bench,” Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Raised right

Eduardo Perez, who was born in Cincinnati and played college baseball at Florida State, was a first-round choice of the Angels in the 1991 amateur draft.

“When I was a kid, my mom (Pituka) really was the main person in my life,” Perez said. “My dad was gone a lot playing. My dad had a beautiful career. I’ve always been proud to be his son, but my mom was pretty much my father and mother figure. I am so grateful for all she did.”

Perez reached the big leagues with the Angels in 1993 and played for them in parts of 1994 and 1995. In 1996, he was traded to the Reds, the team for whom his father played for 16 seasons. Eduardo hit 16 home runs for the Reds in 1997 and was their Opening Day first baseman in 1998, but Sean Casey took over the position after being acquired from the Indians.

Keeping faith

The Reds released Perez after the 1998 season and he joined the Cardinals, who invited him to their major-league spring training camp in 1999. The Cardinals projected Perez, 29, for a reserve role on the Opening Day roster, but he hit .214 in spring training and was sent to the minors.

Perez batted .320 with 18 home runs and 82 RBI for Class AAA Memphis in 1999 and was called up to the Cardinals in September.

“I believed all year that I should be in the big leagues,” Perez said. “I never did stop believing.”

The Cardinals put Perez in the lineup and he produced three consecutive two-hit games against the Brewers.

On Sept. 27, 1999, against the Reds at Cincinnati, Perez hit a three-run home run off Brett Tomko. Perez said hitting a home run as an opposing player in his hometown was special. “I’m not going to say it wasn’t,” he said. Boxscore

Perez hit .344 in 21 games for the 1999 Cardinals, became a free agent and signed with St. Louis again in February 2000.

Grand slam

Perez hit well in spring training in 2000, but was the last player cut from the roster before Opening Day. He returned to Memphis, hit .289 with 19 home runs in three months and was promoted to the Cardinals.

On June 24, 2000, the day after his call-up, Perez started at third base, hit a double against Orel Hershiser and strained a hamstring running the bases. He was removed from the game and placed on the disabled list.

A month later, on July 14, 2000, a day after he was activated, Perez started at first base and hit the first grand slam of his major-league career 420 feet to center against Bob Howry of the White Sox at Chicago. Boxscore

“He’s a very intelligent hitter and he’s the kind of first-class person you want to have around,” said Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.

A week later, Perez got permission to leave the club to attend his father’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Cooperstown, N.Y., on July 23, 2000.

Perez hit .297 in 35 games for the 2000 Cardinals, but in December they sold his contract to the Hanshin Tigers of the Japan Central League.

Home and healthy

The Japan experience was a bust for Perez. He injured a knee and hit .222 with three home runs. After the 2001 season, Perez had knee surgery and Lasik eye surgery to treat a severe astigmatism.

On Feb. 8, 2002, the Cardinals purchased Perez’s contract from the Japanese team. At spring training, Perez credited his improved vision for his strong hitting. “It’s like night and day,” he said. “It makes a big difference when you’re not worried about something getting in your eye, which used to happen a lot with me.”

Perez earned a reserve role on the Cardinals’ 2002 Opening Day roster. On April 10, a week into the season, his walkoff home run in the 11th inning against Luis Vizcaino carried the Cardinals to victory over the Brewers. Explaining to the Associated Press his approach with the count at 2-and-2, Perez said, “I choked up and was just trying to put it in play.” Boxscore

In 96 regular-season games for the 2002 Cardinals, Perez hit .201 with 10 home runs. He also hit a home run against Jason Schmidt of the Giants in Game 2 of the 2002 National League Championship Series. Boxscore

Moving on

Perez, 33, spent the 2003 season with the Cardinals and hit .285 with 11 home runs. The right-handed batter was especially effective versus left-handed pitching, hitting .353.

He was granted free agency after the 2003 season and, unlike his other departures, left on his terms, signing with the Rays.

In four seasons with St. Louis, Perez hit .266 with 25 home runs.

After two years with the Rays, Perez concluded his big-league playing career with the Indians and Mariners in 2006.