The Montclairion September 9, 2000

Hispanic ballplayers - a Hall of their own?

So far, the museum is in the planning stages. But it has a Web site and lots of promise. On Sept. 10, the A's lent their support at The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Day at the Coliseum. Avila and his museum project also received a proclamation from the City of Oakland that day. Many people gave signed on the idea as the project continues to gain momentum.

"We're endorsed by major-league baseball, the players association, the A's and the Giants," says Avila. "We were incorporated in 1999 and I came up with a five-year plan. We're trying to raise a conservative estimate of $20 million."

A drawing of the proposed museum building appears on the Web site. But there is much work to do, such as funding land on which to build. Avila, a San Francisco resident, has considered his home city. Places in Oakland have been suggested, too.

But the ball is rolling so to speak. The project has received corporate contributions and more fund-raisers are planned. One of the members of the museum board is Cepeda, inducted onto the Baseball Ball of Fame last year after a long wait.

A museum such as Avila proposes would be an asset in any major city or metropolitan area. But Avila opted to place it in his adopted Bay Area. Proximity, of course, is an issue. But there are other reasons, too.

"The Giants were one of the first teams to have more than one Latin player back in the days of Orlando Cepeda, the Alou brothers and Jose Pagan," says Avila. "The A's have had a lot of Latino players, too. History and destiny is what decided on having it here in the Bay Area."

While growing up in New York, Avila was a big fan of Mickey Mantle and the Yankees, He also found inspiration in watching Willie Mays. Still, there was something special about players like Cepeda and the late Clemente.

"My father used to bring me to the games and say about Clemente, 'He is one of us (Clemente was a native of Carolina, Puerto Rico)," Avila recalled. "Clemente had a certain class. He made you proud to be a Latino."

Clemente exhibited that class off the field, too. Tragically, he died in a plane crash on Dec. 31, 1972 trying to airlift relief supplies ti earth quake-stricken Nicaragua.

Other players showed class, too. Minoso, the "Cuban Comet," was the epitome of class for the White Sox in the '50s and early '60s. He continues to be a goodwill ambassador for both the White Sox and baseball today. Strangely, Hall of Fame recognition has eluded him.

Someday, current players like Sammy Sosa, Roberto Alomar, Juan Gonzalez, Pedro Martinez, Ivan Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Jose Canseco and Rafael Palmeiro might get to the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. Still, there would be a void - a place to honor those Latino players who came before, those who opened the door for the present generation to walk through.

"We welcome anyone to help us with this project," said Avila. "This is a project of the people."

Donations are always welcome and can be sent to The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum, Inc., P.O. Box 591375, Golden Gate Station, San Francisco 94159. The Hispanic Heritage Museum is nonprofit, so donations are tax deductible to the maximum allowed by law.

Information about the museum can be obtained by calling toll-free at 877-228-4426. Or log on to the Web site at www.hispanicheritagebaseballmuseum
.com.

Baseball has been a part of Latin American culture since the day American mariners brought the came to Cuba in the 1870's. Since then, Hispanic players have enhanced baseball with their flair and heartfelt love of the game. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum is an honor long overdue but will worth the wait.

Hispanic players have long make an impact on baseball, Roberto Clemente. Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal. Luis Aparicio.

Hall of Famers all. But there have been many more great Hispanic players who have fallen through the cracks.

Enter Gabriel "Tito" Avila Jr., founder, president and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum.

"I go to a lot of games and I', originally from New York City," says Avila, a retired Air Force Reserve officer who works out of the Oakland office of the Department of Veterans Affairs as military ser- vices coordinator for Northern California. "I used to go to Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium. I watched a lot of Hispanic ball players. Though I'm a supporter of the Baseball Hall of Fame, only seven Hispanics have been inducted. Once their careers are over, you don't hear anything about them."

Avila hopes to change all that with The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum.

"A lot of these writers (who vote for the Hall of Fame candidates) don't get the chance to see many of these players because they don't play in New York - New York being the center of the universe," Avila said. "Many of these players don't get the media exposure. I don't remember seeing (White Sox great) Minnie Minoso doing commercials on TV. don't remember seeing Bert Campaneris on TV. You never hear about Bert Campaneris leading the league in stolen bases six times. Things like that get lost".

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