¡Viva Baseball! opens at Hall
By Samantha Carr
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Nine Latinos have been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Now they have a place where their story is told.
The Hall of Fame opened a new, permanent exhibit May 23 entitled ¡Viva Baseball! The exhibit recognizes the Latin American impact on baseball through a celebration of Caribbean Basic countries and players.
“Today is a very significant day in the Museum’s history as we open ¡Viva Baseball!” said Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson. “Over the last 30 years, perhaps nothing has impacted baseball more than the rise of the Latino star and the number of Latino players making important contributions to the game every day.”
Hall of Famers Juan Marichal and Orlando Cepeda took part in the ceremony as well as a Voices of the Game event on Saturday, as did Roberto Clemente Jr., the son of Roberto Clemente – the first Latin American player elected to the Hall of Fame.
Puerto Rico’s Clemente became the first Latino elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973 and has since been joined by Martín Dihigo, José Méndez, Tony Pérez and Cristóbal Torriente of Cuba; Marichal of the Dominican Republic – Marichal; Rod Carew of Panama; Puerto Rico’s Cepeda; and Venezuela’s Luis Aparicio.
“¡Viva Baseball! is very relevant, given that 25 percent of players on Opening Day rosters this year hail from Latin American countries,” said Idelson. “Many of those players have the skills, the drive and the character to someday join the nine players already enshrined in Cooperstown.”
Other special guests who helped to open the exhibit were legendary scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers Ralph Avila and New York State Assemblyman Peter Rivera. Rivera presented Idelson with a special commendation for the Museum’s new exhibit.
“For so many years, so many Latin players played baseball in American in the major leagues and ¡Viva Baseball! is something that creates so much happiness for not only Latin players but for the fans, said Marichal. “I think it is so important at this time to have something here in Cooperstown.”
Latin Americans went through a similar struggle as African-Americans in major league baseball. Dark-skinned players were kept out, and many of the best players in the world never got to play in America.
“To be here today, we went through some obstacles and we are very, very pleased,” said Cepeda. “I am proud to be Puerto Rican and grateful to the Hall of Fame for this wonderful day.
Clemente Jr. felt his dad’s presence on the historic day. Roberto Clemente was killed in a plane crash in 1972 while delivering supplies to earthquake-ravaged Nicaragua.
“I want to thank the Baseball Hall of Fame for this great exhibit for all Latin Hall of Famers. It is a great opportunity for all the young fans of baseball to learn about the culture of the Latin players,” said Clemente Jr.. “I know he’s looking down upon us right now and he would be very proud, not only for being the first one, but the way he carried himself.”
The story of Latinos in baseball is not complete, and Clemente Jr. recognized that this may only be the beginning of Latin players joining his father in Cooperstown.
“The Hall of Fame has been a family of baseball, and I call this the Vatican of baseball because it is where everyone wants to end up for their career,” Clemente Jr. said. “Dad is looking down and would be very proud that the Hall of Fame is taking this initiative, opening this exhibit for Latino baseball players for ones that are here in the past and ones that are coming in the future.”
¡Viva Baseball! features nearly 150 artifacts and a state-of-the-art multi-media presentation narrated by long-time Dodgers Spanish announcer Jaime Jarrin. Some of the historic artifacts from ¡Viva Baseball! include: A ball from the first organized pro season in the United States from 1871, used in a game that featured Cuban Esteban Bellán, the first Latin American big leaguer; a jersey from Clemente; a glove and cap from Marichal; a jersey worn by Héctor Espino, the “Mexican Babe Ruth”; and jerseys and equipment from current Latin American superstars like Albert Pujols, David Ortiz and Johan Santana.
“Viva Baseball celebrates the passion of the Latin love affair with baseball over 150 years, focusing on the rich baseball traditions of five Carribbean basin countries: Cuba, the Dominican, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela,” said Idelson. “You can clearly see how baseball is woven into the fabric of Caribbean culture as much as it defines American culture.”
Fairport's Samantha Carr is the media relations coordinator for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and a former RedWingsBaseball.com assistant.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is open seven days a week year round, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Museum is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. seven days a week. The Museum observes off-season hours of 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. from the day after Labor Day until Memorial Day Weekend. Ticket prices are $16.50 for adults (13 and over), $11 for seniors (65 and over) and for those holding current memberships in the VFW, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and AMVets organizations, and $6 for juniors (ages 7-12). Members are always admitted free of charge and there is no charge for children 6 years of age or younger. For more information, visit our Web site at baseballhall.org or call 888-HALL-OF- FAME (888-425-5633) or 607-547-7200.