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Baseball
Baseball or beisbol as it is known in Latin America has been very good to Latinos. On opening day for Major League Baseball this year 28 percent of players were Latinos or of Hispanic descent. Twenty-two percent were foreign born. There are Hispanic/Latino coaches and even two team owners of Mexican descent: Linda Alvarado (Colorado Rockies) and Arte Moreno (California Angels). However, there are no Latino managers in the league that consists of 30 teams.
Baseball began in Latin America shortly after it was founded in the United States. Two brothers from Cuba who were attending college in the United States fell in love with the game. When they returned to their homeland they brought with them the equipment and rules of the game. They established the Habana Baseball Club. The game flourished and spread to other Latin American countries most notably Mexico, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
In the years 1906-1909, the United States sent troops to occupy Cuba to protect American interests during unrest among the Cuban people against the government. During this time Major League baseball as well as the Negro League became aware of the talent in Cuba while playing exhibition games in Havana. The Cincinnati Reds played a five game series against a Cuban team. The Cuban team won four of the five games. The Reds would sign Rafael Almeida and Armando Marsans in 1911. They became the first Latinos to play in the major leagues.
Latinos were luckier than African Americans at the time. America as well as Major League baseball was segregated. That would not change until 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Light skinned Cubans were able to play in the Major League usually after having their lineage checked for African blood. A few players with African heritage and light skin were able to “sneak” into the league.
The first Latino star player was Cuban pitcher, Adolfo Luque. Dolf Luque played for 20 years from the late 1910s to the 1930s. He won 27 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 1923. Latino players would not begin making their mark in baseball until the 1950s.
During World War II most of the young Americans and quite a number of Major League players enlisted in the military to fight for their country. During this time many Cuban ball players were placed on major league rosters. Following the war they were replaced by retuning Americans.
When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, it opened up opportunities for more Latinos to play in the Major League. Minnie Minoso became the first black Latino to play in the league when he was signed by the Cleveland Indians. He would go on to become a star in the league with the Chicago White Sox. In 1951 Minoso and Alfonso “Chico” Carrasquel became the first Latinos named to the American League All Star Team. Many more would soon follow. Latinos like Minoso, Carrasquel, Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda and Luis Aparicio made it acceptable for the general public to embrace Latino players in major league baseball.
Roberto Clemente is considered one of the greatest all around players in Major League history. He was the first Latino to be named to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973. He was not only known for his baseball skills but also for his humanitarian contributions. In 1972 he was killed in a plane crash while en route to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He is a national hero in Puerto Rico.
In the 1960s Major League Baseball expanded from 16 teams to 24. This opened up the league to many more Latino players. Cuban ball players were the exception due to the Castro regime barring players from leaving Cuba. The 1950s and 60s were known as the ‘boom years’ for the number of Latino players that entered the Major League. Latinos continued their presence in baseball in the 1970s and 80s with the growth of players arriving from the Dominican Republic.
Baseball today has been influenced by the presence of Latino players. Baseball is televised and broadcast on radio throughout Latin America and broadcast in Spanish in the United States. Every Major League roster has a Latino player on it. Some of the top stars in baseball are Latino. Six of the top 25 highest paid players are from Latin American countries. Latinos have overcome discrimination, cultural and language barriers to secure their future in America’s pastime. Baseball has been very good for Latinos and Latinos have been very, very good for baseball.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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