Signed by Houston as an amateur free agent in 1967, Cedeño debuted on June 20, 1970 at 19 years of age. His.310 batting average in his rookie season in, allowed him to finish 4th in the Rookie of the Year voting. The very next year, he led the Major Leagues in doubles. The following season, his third, he again led in doubles, not just his league, but in the majors. He batted.320 in both 1972 and 1973. In 1972, Cedeño hit 22 home runs, had 55 stolen bases, and again led the league in doubles. He won a Gold Glove Award that season as well. Houston managerLeo Durocher once compared Cedeño to Willie Mays, saying "At 22 Cedeño is as good or better than Willie was at the same age,". Possessing a rare combination of power, blazing speed, and good defense, he became the second man in Major League history to hit 20 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season. Cedeño accomplished the feat three years in a row. He also stole 50-plus bases the next three years, twice led the league in doubles and collected 102 RBI in the 1974 season. He would finish in the top ten of stolen base leaders from 1971-1978 and again in 1980. His 550 stolen bases rank 27th all time as of January 2018. A winner of five consecutive Gold Glove Awards, Cedeño appeared in four All-Star Games, and was a contender for the National League MVP in 1972. In the All-Star Game of that year, Cedeño beat out Roberto Clemente for the starting National League position. Cedeño also hit for the cycle in both 1972 and 1976. On September 9, 1981, while playing at Atlanta Stadium, Cedeño entered the stands to confront a heckler. No punches were thrown and no charges were filed, but Cedeño was ejected from the game and immediately suspended as a result. On September 11, Cedeño was fined $5000 by National League President Chub Feeney but received no further suspension, as Cedeño apologized to the fan on the phone and in writing which Feeney cited as "mitigating circumstances".
Cincinnati Reds
On December 18, 1981, Cedeño was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Ray Knight By 1985, Cedeño was one of the Reds' five active members of the 2000-hit club, along with Pete Rose, Tony Pérez, Dave Concepción and Buddy Bell.
On August 29, 1985, he was traded for an outfielder named Mark Jackson to the St. Louis Cardinals, where he hit.434 with six home runs in 28 games, and arguably provided the necessary power for his new team to outpace the New York Mets to reach the playoffs. With only one month left in the season, Cedeño had the Cardinals' longest hitting streak during their 1985 season. He then played at first base to replace the injured Jack Clark in the final regular season games, and played in the outfield in the playoffs to help replace the injured Vince Coleman. Cedeno was granted free agency on November 12, 1985.
In 17 seasons, Cedeño was in 2006 games played, compiling a.285 batting average, with 436 doubles, 60 triples, 199 home runs, 976 RBI, 550 stolen bases, 664 walks, a.347 on-base percentage and.443 slugging percentage. In 17 post-season games, he hit only.173. He played first base and all three outfield positions and recorded a.985 fielding percentage.
On December 11, 1973, Cedeño was involved in an incident in the Dominican Republic in which a gun discharged in a motel room, killing a 19-year-old woman who was in the room with him. Authorities said Cedeño and the woman were drinking and playing with a gun when the gun fired, killing the 19-year-old. He was initially charged with voluntary manslaughter and held in prison without bail, while his lawyers negotiated for a reduction of the charge to involuntary manslaughter. He was held for 20 days before he was released on bail. He was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and fined $100.
