Latinos, Latin Americans, and Major League Baseball
A Migration to the North: History and Prevalence
Some Famous Latinos in Baseball
This is by no means a comprehensive listing of baseball players with Latin-American heritage. However, we have briefly highlighted some of the most well-known and influential Latinos in the field.
Alou Brothers
The Alous were born in Haina , Dominican Republic . All three brothers stood in the same outfield for one game in 1963.(19)
Felipe Rojas Alou was born 1935. He began his playing career with the San Francisco Giants in 1958. Over a 17-year stretch with various teams, the outfielder accumulated 2,101 hits, 852 RBIs, and 206 home runs. Alou retired in 1974, and two years later he picked up coaching. He gradually became the all-time leader in wins for a Latino manager, and won National League Manager of the year in 1994 with the Montreal Expos. He then returned to San Francisco in 2003 and led them to the National League West division title. Alou is considered the “godfather of Latino managers” like Carlos Peña and Ozzie Guillen.(5)
Mateo “Matty” Rojas Alou was born in 1938. He was drafted by the New York Giants but first played with San Francisco in 1960. A teammate of Roberto Clemente on the 1966 Pittsburgh squad, Alou batted .307 in his 14-year career.(19)
Jesus “Jay” Maria Rojas Alou was born in 1942. He joined the San Francisco organization in 1963 and won the World Series with the Oakland Athletics in 1973 and 1974. Announcers called him “Jay” because unfamiliar with Latin American nomenclature, thought calling a player “Jesus” was blasphemy (20).
Picture taken from http://www.hispanicbaseballmuseum.com/news_clips/clp_2801_lov1.html
Orlando Cepeda
Orland Manuel Cepeda Pennes was born September 17, 1937 in Ponce , Puerto Rico . He began his 17-year career with the San Francisco Giants in 1958 . He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966. While Cepeda compiled remarkable stasticis such as 9 seasons batting at least .300, his most noteworthy accomplisments have come off the field in huminitarian efforts, continuing many of the legacies left behind by Roberto Clemente (21). Picture taken from http://www.latinosportslegends.com/cepeda.htm
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was born August 18, 1934 , in Carolina, Puerto Rico . He is regarded as one of the game's most generous players, along with his athletic ability.(22) The outfielder signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers, played for the Dodger's minor league team in Montreal , and finished his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Clemente, only 38 years old, was killed when he was delivering food and supplies to earthquake survivors in Nicaragua . He had 3,000 hits, four batting crowns, and twelve consecutive Gold Glove awards for his excellent fielding. The Baseball Writers' Association of America held a special election for his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1973. However, Edward J. Reilly sums up the hardships faced by Latinos when he writes, “Clemente achieved in death what he had sought in life—full acceptance of his accomplishments” (23). Picture taken from http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/clemente_roberto.htm
Adolfo Luque
Adolfo Domingo de Guzman Luque, or better known by his nickname, “the Pride of Havana,” was born in Havana in 1890. The pitcher began with the Boston Braves in 1914. He became the first Hispanic-American to play in the World Series with the Cincinnati Reds in 1923.(24) He was one of the first Cubans to succeed in the majors. Picture taken from http://www.hispaniconline.com/hh/timeline/1920.html
Juan Marichal
Juan Antonio Marichal was born October 20, 1937 in Laguna Verde , Dominican Republic . He was probably the first big Latino star in Major League Baseball. Marichal played for the Giants most of his career, despite starting with the Dodgers. The pitcher won 243 games and lost only 142 during a sixteen-year career. He also posted a 2.89 ERA.(25) Picture taken from http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/marichal_juan.htm
Minnie Miñoso
Saturnino Orestes Arrieta Armas “Minnie” Miñoso was born on a sugar plantation in Havana , Cuba , in 1922. He joined the Cleveland Indians for a short two-year period, but he is still notable as the first black Latin in baseball. He then continued for a long stretch in Chicago for the White Sox, among other teams. An influx of Hispanics entered major league baseball following Miñoso's signing. Picture taken from http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/veterans/2005/2005_vc_ candidates.htm
Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta Sosa was born November 12, 1968 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic . He achieved mediocre success while playing with the Chicago Cubs in the early 1990s. Fans of the Cubs knew about his high power numbers in the middle of the decade, but were relatively obscure outside of the Windy City . In 1998, however, the race to break Roger Maris's season home run record vaulted him to the spotlight. While falling short to eventual record-breaker Mark McGuire, Sosa acted humbly and congratulated McGuire. The race ignited a spectator appreciation to baseball not seen since before the player strike of 1994. Sosa has been a bright spot in the Cubs' usually dismal performance ever since.(23) Picture of Sosa (right) with McGuire taken from http://espn.go.com/page2/s/whitlock/040220.html