The Historical, Economic, Political and Social Impact of Latin American Baseball Players in
the United States
Presentation by:Christopher Ostrow
Jonathan ServilTania Kennedy
Tamara A. Napolitano
Hispanics in Baseball
• Today’s baseball landscape has rosters filled with players such as Reyes, Cano, Rodriguez, and Ortiz. This can be contributed to the talent that the Latin American countries have manufactored.
• Our main focus in this presentation is to show
the historical, economical, political, and social aspect of Latin American players contributions to the game of baseball.
The Growth of America’s Pastime
• The World Baseball classic is a prime example of the growth of America’s Pastime. In 2010 managers penciled in lineups from players who descended from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, and Nicaragua.
• The MLB has top talent that comes from all over the world but how did it get to this point?
The Structure of the MLB
• The MLB consists of a 162 game season that runs from April to October.
• 14 Teams in Al
• 16 Teams in NL
• All Star Game takes place in July which determines home field advantage in the World Series.
• The Playoffs consist of three rounds which are best of 5, best of 7 and the World Series is a best of 7 series.
• Each league is comprised of three different divisions; all of which are the same in each league East, West, and Central.
• Division winners automatically qualify for the playoffs and the team with the best second place record earns the wildcard berth.
The origins of the Commissioner
• According to MLB.com After baseball’s beginnings in the mid 19th century, the governance of the game evolved to a central authority figure called the Commissioner. In 1921 the first Baseball Commissioner was appointed his name was Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis.
The Corporate Structure
• After serving as Chairman of the Major League Executive Council since 1992, Allan “Bud” Selig was officially named Major League Baseball’s ninth Commissioner on July 9th, 1998.
• The Executive Team: Commissioner Bud Selig, President Bob DuPuy, VP Jimme Lee Solomon, VP of Finance Jonathan Mariner.
• Under the governance of this executive team the MLB saw interleague play, revenue sharing, wildcards, three division realignment, and awarding the winner of the All Star game home field advantage in the World Series.
What Increased The Participation of Latin’s in Baseball?
• Expansion in the 1960’s• Scholarships in other sports.• Good Weather all year round• The most important factor in the rise of
players of Latin decent in baseball is the lifting of the color barrier in 1947 when Jackie Robinson signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The Historical Impact of Latin’s In MLB
• The First Latin to play Major League Baseball was Louis Caster, of the Philadelphia Athletics in 1902.
• According to the Encyclopedia Britannica Baseball arrived to Cuba in 1864 when Nemesio Guillo brought a baseball back from Mobile, Alabama where he was receiving education.
• In 1949, The Cleveland Indians signed Minnie Minoso who went on to be the first player to play in five different decades.
• In the 1960’s Cuban talent was cut off by the Castro Regime. Still defectors and minor leaguers who were already in the United States who made an impact on the game.
• Tony Olivio of the Reds was the first Latin player to win the MVP award in the 1970’s.
• “El Duque” risks his life.• The First Puerto Rican- Hiram Bithorn a
pitcher on the Cubs in 1942.• Alejandro Carrasquel of the Washington
Senators was the first Venezuelan.
• Hector Lopez and Humberto Robinson were the first Panamanians.
• The first Dominican was Oswaldo Virgil of the New York Giants.
• The 1960’s belonged to Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente.
• Clemente dominated the decade of the 60’s with four 200 hit seasons, 12 consecutive gold gloves, and led the Pirates to their first World Series in 1971 with a .414 batting average.
• December 31, 1972 is a day that changed the game forever.
• During the summer of the 1980’s, a 20 year old kid by the name of Fernando Valenzuela captured the hearts of the media and the fans of baseball. “Fernandomania” swept across the nation as the rookie won his first 8 starts and dominated the competition with a .50 era.
• Within the same season, Valenzuela went on to become the first rookie to win the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year.
The Latino Legends Team• 165,000 Fans voted and the all Latin heritage team was announced
during the 2005 all star game in Houston.
• Puerto Rico was represented by Ivan Rodriguez, Edgar Martinez, Roberto Clemente
• The Dominican Republic was represented by Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerro, Pedro Martinez, and Juan Marichal.
• Mexico’s lone representative was Fernando Valenzuela and Panema was represented by Rod Carew and Yankees legend Mariano Rivera.
Players of Latin Descent of the current baseball era
• According to the 2009 Racial and Gender Report card of Major League Baseball 27 percent of the players in Major League Baseball are of the Latin decent.
• As of Opening Day of 2009 season, 28 percent of Major League players are foreign born, representing 15 countries and territories.
• Locally according to mets.com twenty one of the twenty eight players on the 2010 Mets opening day roster and disabled list were born outside of the United States.
• The MLB realizes the potential in a growing market and is developing a baseball scouting operations office in the Dominican republic.
• The FBI has led several investigations to prevent fraud that has plagued the Latin American market for several years.
• This is a sign of the times that the MLB realizes the plethora of talent coming out of the Latin market. Players from all over the world are making their impact on the game of baseball, but not quite like players of Latin decent.
