Influential Hispanic Sports Players

It was great when i saw on TV a ESPN's reporter saying that the great Ted Williams who was Mexican-American was baseball's all time best hitter, apparently Williams was proud that he was part Latino, but he was told not to play it up, it remind me when Adrian Gonzales said when he was traded from the Padres to the Red Sox last winter. He said he was honored to be on the team where Williams once keep under his thumb the game, one of the things that they both have in common.

It made me think about all the prominent Latino players and stars who have taken their place in baseball history. In my list are the legendaries catcher Manny Sanguillen and infielder Rennie Stennelt, both who suited up with Roberto Clemente, this guy whose life was cut short during a humaniatrian mission and now has a coveted MLB award named on his behalf. He only played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clemente was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973, thus becoming the first Latin American to be selected and the only current Hall of Famer for whom the mandatory five-year waiting period has been waived since the wait was instituted in 1954. And then was center fielder Omar Moreno who played during "We Are Family" era, these three men came all from the Republic of Panama (Central America).

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Also the big teams as New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs had their spanish speaking coaches and players, the White Sox had seasons handled by Al Lopez, the very first spanish speaking manager and he also had the services of Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio and Cuban outfielder Minnie Minoso to help him doing his job.

Venezuela's Ozzie Guillen is still with South Side team, and Starlin Castro the 21 year old Dominican with the Chicago Cubs who may be better than Luis Aparicio.

With the Yankees after the resurgence in the early 90's when Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Bernie Williams came on the field. Now the team is dominated by stars like Ivan Nova, Robinson Cano and recently Jesus Montero.

Bobby Avila who was signed for the Cleveland Indians as second baseman un 1949, he was the first Mexican native to play with the big leagues. Ruben Amaro who like Avila was born in Veracruz he played most of his 10 year career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958, and his son Ruben Jr would later play outfield for the Phillies as the present General Manager.

And there are tons more in the Major Leagues but you get the picture of how Hispanic players have influenced America's Pastime.