Volume 1 / Issue 1 / 2006

Dedicated to the recognition of the contribution made to baseball by Hispanic players

Front Page Baseball News
The World Baseball Classic March 3-20, 2006

The World Baseball Classic is a baseball event that will feature many of the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories for the first time ever. This tournament will give fans around the world a chance to see baseball in an exciting and compelling new format.

Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) have joined together to establish the World Baseball Classic. The tournament, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), will be conducted jointly by MLB and the MLBPA in cooperation with Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), their respective players associations and other professional leagues from around the world. For more information on the World Baseball Classic go to www.worldbasballclassic.com

January 1, 2006

World Baseball Classic Game 1
Netherlands National Team
vs. Atlanta
(Exhibition) March 5, 2006

St Louis Cardinals win their 10th World Series

-Amaury Pi-González

Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa delivered the first World Series title for St Louis since 1982. The Cardinals have 10 World Series titles and are second only in baseball to the New York Yankees who have won 26 World Series. For over two decades I have identified with Tony LaRussa, who has won two World Series, his first one as a manager of the Oakland Athletics in 1989 against the Bay rivals San Francisco Giants, in the famous and unforgettable "Earthquake Series".

LaRussa and yours truly share the exact same birthday, October 4, 1944, the only difference is that Tony was born in Tampa, Florida and I was born 200 miles south in Havana,Cuba. When we first met in the late 80's as he arrived in Oakland from Chicago (were he managed the White Sox) he didn't believe me. I showed him my California drivers license as proof. Since then we have become good friends and every time I see him I joke "I am just checking you out to see who is looking the youngest". Tony makes his permanent home here in the Bay Area in the east bay town of Danville. Jose Oquendo is Tony LaRussa's third base coach. Oquendo was born in Puerto Rico and could become very soon the first major league manager born in Puerto Rico. Oquendo is awaiting his opportunity to manage. LaRussa told me "Jose would make an excellent manager someday, he knows the game, communicates it well and is completely bilingual". La Russa, of Hispanic heritage is also bilingual although he is much more at ease speaking English. With the win in 5 games against the favorite Detroit Tigers, Tony LaRussa is now the second manager to win World Series in both league.

The only other skipper to ever accomplish this feat is George "Sparky" Anderson, with Cincinnati in 1975 and Detroit in 1989. Like they say in St Louis, Tony...Congrats this Bud is for you!

October 23, 2006

Message from the President

As we begin a new year with the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall Of Fame we continue to be a very proud organization committed to telling the story of our Hispanic players.

We look forward to your continued support as we approach our 7th year of honoring and inducting players of the past into our Hall of Fame and conducting exhibitions around the United States.

If you are interested in becoming a planning committee member or
a volunteer, please call at 877-228-4426 and we will be very happy to contact you. Or you can visit us on the web at www.hispanicbaseballmuseum.com

Ozzie Guillén Takes White Sox to the Promised Land

By Amaury Pi-González

Venezuelan born manager Osvaldo (Ozzie) Guillén became the first Hispanic manager to win a World Series. Guillén guided his Chicago White Sox to a sweep of the series against the Houston Astros. Prior to Guillén's accomplishment, the last time a Chicago White Sox team won a World Series was in 1917 when they beat the New York Giants in six games. Therefore, with this victory two of the oldest franchises have won the October Classic in back-to-back seasons. In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series for the first time since 1918 (87 years). In 2005, the Chicago White Sox won it for the first time in 88 years. Guillén was rewarded for this accomplishment by being named manager of the Year for 2005. The only team that has not won a World Series in more than 80 years? The Chicago Cubs who last won it in 1908.

"I think there are only
three things that America will be known for
2,000 years from now
when they study this civilization:
The Constitution, jazz music
and baseball.
They are the three most beautifully designed things this culture has ever produced."
Gerald Early, scholar

Venezuelans Are Hot !!!
By Amaury Pi-González

Venezuelan born Omar Vizquel, a shortstop like Ozzie Guillén, won his 10th Golden Glove Award in 2005 and his first since 2001. Vizquel, who lives in Seattle in the off-season, said, "I know coming to a new team was a great challenge to show everybody what you've really got."

Zoilo "Zorro" Versalles A Tribute to the First Latino MVP

By Natalie Viruet

Sadly, no one remembers that in 1965, Zoilo Versalles was the first Latino to receive one of baseball's highest achievement awards - The American League MVP. Also, In that same year, Zoilo led the Twins to an American League Division Title Championship. In addition to a league championship and MVP award, Zoilo was selected to play in All-star games in 1963 and again in 1965.

Zoilo was born in a one room hut in Mariano, Cuba, a town stricken with poverty. When Zoilo was six years old, his uncle gave him a rubber ball for his birthday. Zoilo took the ball everywhere he went and bounced the ball against a wall day and night catching it where ever it landed. This was the beginning and the making of the great Minnesota Twins shortstop. Because of poverty and lack of food, Zoilo was scrawny for his age and nobody thought that he could play baseball much less be a major leaguer.

By the time Zoilo was sixteen, he was scouted and drafted by the Washington Senators soon to be the Minnesota Twins. As the Twins shortstop, Zoilo electrified the fans with his catlike ability to field balls. Additionally, for a small fellow, Zoilo had very strong wrists, which, used in just the right way, allowed him to hit for power. Zoilo Vesalles was nick named Zorro by his minor league teammates because of the way he played shortstop, calling him a bandit like Zorro for stealing base hits from opposing players.

Do not forget Zoilo Versalles, who paved the way for all Latino players to receive the recognition they deserve.

Other Latino MVPs Include:
Roberto Clemente 1966
Orlando Cepeda 1967
Rod Carew 1977
Keith Hernandez 1979
Willie Hernandez 1984
Jose Canseco 1988
Juan Gonzalez 1998
Iuan Rodriguez 1999
Miguel Tejada 2002
Alex Rodriguez 2003
Vladimir Guerrero 2004
And for the first time
ever- two:
Albert Pujols 2005
Alex Rodriguez 2005

2005 Update

On May 25, 2005, Juan Marichal day, the San Francisco Giants unveiled a silver statue honoring the great Hall of Famer. On that same day the Giants announced that the team, for the first time in their 124 year history, would wear jersey's bearing the name Gigantes for the entire weekend. The Giants also made an announcement that the Jerseys worn that weekend were to be put on auction and that the full proceeds would go directly to the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame.

On September 12, 2005 the Giants presented the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame with a check for $18,958 at SBC Park. Orlando Cepeda, Tito 23 Fuentes, President Tito Avila, Board and committee members were there to accept.

It is through the generosity of the community and of the San Francisco Giants that allow organizations such as ours to continue on with our mission.

Upcoming Events

7/7/06..... HHMB will appear at the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania all star game

8/19/06... HHMB proudly inducts into the hall of fame Diego Sequi

9/1/06..... HHMB proudly inducts into the hall of fame Bert Campaneris

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