Volume 1, Number 1

January - March 2002

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

"Hispanic Legends of Baseball"
By: Angie Manuel

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum celebrated its first fund raising gala, "Hispanic Legends of Baseball", on Saturday, February 23, 2002 at the San Francisco Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Gabe "Tito" Avila, Founder, President and CEO and Amaury Pi-González, Vice President of the Museum and the Spanish voice of the San Francisco Giants hosted the event. Mr. Avila and Mr. Pi-González announced the first inductees of the Museum's Hall of Fame. They are Mr. Orlando Cepeda, San Francisco Giants Hall of Famer, Mr. Tito 23 Fuentes, former San Francisco Giants Player, Mr. Ted Williams, Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer and Mr. Minnie Miñoso, former White Sox Great. Mr. Bill Nowlin, author of the Ted Williams Museum newsletter flew to San Francisco from Boston to accept Mr. Williams's award on his behalf. Mr. Herb Fagen, autobiographer of Mr. Minnie Miñoso accepted Mr. Miñoso's award on his behalf. The Museum also recognized Mr. Willie McCovey, former San Francisco Giants Great and Hall of Famer. As a participant of the Caribean Winter Leagues, the Museum presented Mr. McCovey with its first "Amigo Award". Mr. Mario Alioto, Vice President of Marketing of the San Francisco Giants, accepted the award on his behalf.

"It was the greatest event I ever participated in the Bay Area in over 30 years. The people, the music and the ambiance was truly superb" commented Mr. Cepeda.

Mr. Fuentes added "It's one of the greatest moments of my life especiallyÊ having been inducted with Orlando Cepeda, Ted Williams, and Minnie Miñoso to the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum's Hall of Fame."

"Congratulations once again for an excellent event. I join you in hoping that this is just the first one of many, reaching ever larger audiences. It was well done and from looking around, I believe that everyone enjoyed themselves." ...Bill Nowlin

"This is a tremendous event and I am honored to have accepted the award on behalf of Minnie Miñoso."...Herb Fagen.

The Ballet Folklorico de Teoti-huacan of San Mateo contributed to the evening's event. Everyone enjoyed dancing to the music of "El Conjunto Alegre".

2002 Season Begins
By: Amaury Pi-González

The 2002 Major League season starts in April with all 30 teams and no contraction (at least this year). The Montreal Expos were bought by the rest of the owners on both leagues and will be managed by Frank Robinson. The Expos General Manager is Dominican born Omar Minaya. At the beginning of Spring Training the Expos signed Cuban slugger Jose Canseco who needs only 38 more home runs and a possible election to Cooperstown.The San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics are both picked to be contenders in their respectiveÊ divisions, Benito Santiago returns as the Giant's "numero uno" catcher, the Puerto Rican who in 1987, with the padres, won Rookie of the
Year, is still going strong at age 39. Cuban right hander Livan Hernandez is hoping for a better season and is in much better physical shape, while Marvin Bernard, the Nicaraguan outfielder is fighting for his job again with Calvin Murray and newly acquired Shinjo from the Mets in centerfield. The Giants, who finished second last season just 2 games behind the World Champions Arizona Diamondbacks should be in the race and could win their division this year.

The Oakland Athletics who lost their lead off hitter Johnny Damon and their cleanup hitter and MVP Jason Giambi are in good shape with lots of rookies in their files. Carlos Peña could be the new superstar at first base, while Dominican shortstop Miguel Tejada could be hitting higher in the lineup and Venezuelan catcher Ramon Hernandez is poised to have a great season. The reigning champions of the American League West, should repeat again with that great young pitching staff: Hudson-Mulder-Zito-Liddle and their acquisition as closer, Billy Koch, coming out of the bullpen throwing 100 mph fastballs.

********

OVERALL: 2002 Major League season should be an exciting one with Sammy Sosa going for 60 or more home runs again, the Yankees trying to make it back to the Fall Classic and Barry Bonds of the Giants trying to get "close" to his 73 home run season of 2001. Enjoy the season and the 30% of Latino players showing their great skills among all 30 teams.

Museum At Fanfest

Fort Mason, San Francisco
February 2, 2002
The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum participated in coordination with KNBR at the 2002 Giants Fanfest. Thousands of fans enjoyed the day with some of their favorite Giants players from the past and present while the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum displayed part of its memorabilia collection. The Giants's Hispanic Heritage is evident since the Giants were pioneers in the signing of Latino ballplayers, from the Alou brothers, to Jose Pagan, Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda. The Giants have a rich tradition with the Hispanic community.

********

Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, February 9, 2002 The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum celebrated with the Oakland Athletics during their Fanfest inside the Coliseum. On display were the uniforms of the Oakland A's Campy Campeneris and Reginaldo Martinez Jackson. Many A's fans dropped by to "talk baseball" as well as to reminisce some of the great A's Latino ball players.

Upcoming Events...

April 13, 2002: At Raley's Field in Sacramento: HHBM President and Founder Gabe "Tito" Avila, will throw out the first pitch prior to game at 7:05PM between the Sacramento River Cats and the visiting Nashville Sounds.

June 7, 2002: "Noche de Béisbol" at Modesto A's Stadium. HHBM will have a display prior to the game at 7:05PM between Modesto A's and Lake Elsinore Storm.

June 8, 2002: At Raley's Field in Sacramento. HHBM Vice President Amaury Pi-González and Spanish Voice of the San Francisco Giants will throw out the first pitch prior to the game at 7:05PM between the Sacramento River Cats and the Las Vegas 51s.

The Hispanic Heritage Museum is a
non-profit organization established in San Francisco, California in 1999.

If you are not a member and would like to join us in this exciting and fulfilling enterprise, call us at 1-877-BAT-HHBM.

Giants in Spanish

The San Francisco Giants will broadcast these games of the 2002 season in the Spanish language with Amaury
Pi-González and Erwin Higueros on radio KZSF 1370 AM "La Caliente".

Opening Day is April 5, 2002

If Playoffs and World Series, all Games will be on KZSF 1370 AM