Profile Text
Birth Name: José Canseco Capas, Jr.
Place of Birth: Havana, Cuba
Date of Birth: July 2, 1964
Ethnicity: Cuban [Spanish], possibly other
José Canseco is an American professional baseball player. An outfielder and designated hitter, he played for the Oakland Athletics, the Texas Rangers, the Boston Red Sox, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the New York Yankees, and the Chicago White of Sox Major League Baseball (MLB). He was nicknamed “Parkway Jose,” “Mr. 40-40,” and “El Cañonero Cubano (The Cuban Cannon).”
José was born in Havana, the son of Barbara and José Canseco. In Cuba, his father was a territory manager for the oil and gasoline corporation Esso, and an English teacher. The family was allowed to move to the U.S. in 1965, settling in Miami, where his father worked for oil/gasoline concern Amoco. His twin brother, Ozzie Canseco, is also a professional baseball player, and manager.
José was involved with controversy related to steroid use. He also gained media attention for his dabble in combat sports, namely boxing and MMA. The self-proclaimed black belt in Kung Fu, Taekwondo, and Kickboxing was defeated in a boxing match against football player Vai Sikahema, and Korean giant Hong Man Choi in an MMA fight.
José has a daughter with his former wife Jessica Sekely.
His paternal grandparents were Spanish.
José has stated that his father had Germany ancestry, that his mother was of half Filipino descent, and that the family name was changed from Seiko to Canseco. It is not clear if these statements are accurate.