Oliva recovering from a blood infection in Florida

Posted on February 9th, 2009 – 11:06 AM
By Joe Christensen

Twins icon Tony Oliva is in a Florida hospital today, recovering from a blood infection, his wife, Gordette, told the Star Tribune.

Oliva, 70, ran a 103-degree fever Sunday, but at last check, his body temperature had lowered to 100.5, she said.

“He’s feeling better today,” she said. “He has a blood infection. But he’s more comfortable today. They’ve been giving him antibiotics.”

The Olivas flew to Miami on Saturday to visit family. They are scheduled to depart on a cruise next week before heading to spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., where Oliva serves as a hitting instructor.

The fever overcame Oliva on the flight from the Twin Cities to Miami, his wife said. Oliva, a three-time American League batting champion and 1964 Rookie of the Year, has had issues with staph infections in the past.

This time, he was admitted to the emergency room Saturday at Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, Fla.

“He’s going to be fine,” Gordette Oliva said, when reached on her cell phone at the hospital. “We just don’t know how long it’s going to take.”

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