27 October 2005
Major League Baseball Announces All-Latino All-Star Team
Winners announced before Chicago White Sox won World Series
Washington -- Major League Baseball has announced that 12 active and former players have been named to the first "All-Latino Legends" all-star baseball team.
The team, selected on ballots in English and Spanish by baseball fans around the world, was announced October 26 at Minute Maid Park in Houston before the Chicago White Sox won the World Series for the first time in 88 years, sweeping the Houston Astros in four straight games.
The fans selected eight position players -- one at each infield position and three outfielders -- as well as three starting pitchers and one relief pitcher.
The members of the team are catcher Ivan Rodriguez of Puerto Rico, first baseman Albert Pujols of the Dominican Republic, second baseman Rod Carew of Panama, shortstop Alex Rodriguez of the Dominican Republic, third baseman Edgar Martinez of Puerto Rico, outfielder Roberto Clemente of Puerto Rico, outfielder Manny Ramirez of the Dominican Republic, outfielder Vladimir Guerrero of the Dominican Republic, starting pitcher Pedro Martinez of the Dominican Republic, starting pitcher Juan Marichal of the Dominican Republic, starting pitcher Fernando Valenzuela of Mexico, and relief pitcher Mariano Rivera of Panama.
Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said players of Latin American heritage have a "deep passion for the game of baseball, and have made immense contributions to the national pastime." Selig explained that an all-Latino team was created "to reflect those contributions and to honor the indelible mark they have left on the game."
More than 1.6 million votes were cast for the team, both online and at car dealerships around the United States. Fans selected the team from 60 Latino players, representing seven countries and territories. (See related article.)
Rod Carew, the 18-time all-star second baseman for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels, said former Latino players like himself "set the table for [current Latin players] and, hopefully, they can set the table for a lot of the other young kids coming up."
Juan Marichal, the first player from the Dominican Republic to enter baseball's Hall of Fame, said being named to the team "is an honor for all of us," adding: "Latinos have made a big contribution to baseball." Marichal, known for his distinctive high leg kick when pitching, won 243 wins in his career for the San Francisco Giants. He pitched 52 shutouts – games in which the opposing team scored no runs.
Major League Baseball said that, as of the 2005 opening day of the baseball season on April 3, 204 players born in Latin American countries were on major league rosters, accounting for nearly one-quarter of major league team rosters. The Dominican Republic had 91 players, followed by Venezuela with 46 and Puerto Rico with 34.
Luis Clemente, the son of the late Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente, said his father would be very proud to have been named to the team.
"He would probably try to include everybody who was not included [on the team] because he was so fair to everyone," said Luis Clemente. "This is a great day for Latinos in baseball."
Roberto Clemente, a 12-time major league all-star selection and 12-time Gold Glove winner for his fielding prowess, won four batting titles in the 1960s. He also helped the Pirates claim the 1971 World Series. He died in a plane crash in 1972 while delivering relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.
Chicago's victory over Houston marked the third time that the White Sox had won baseball's world championship. The White Sox also the title in 1917 and 1906.
It was the first appearance for the Astros in the World Series. The team began play in 1962, when it was called the Houston Colt .45s.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
