Latin American players have had a significant historical, economic, political, and social impact on baseball in the United States. Their contributions date back to the early 20th century, but their presence in the MLB greatly increased in the 1960s. Today, over a quarter of MLB players are from Latin American countries, demonstrating how the talent from this region has become vital to the game.

1. The Historical, Economic, Political
and Social Impact of Latin American
Baseball Players in the United States
Presentation by:
Christopher Ostrow
Jonathan Servil
Tania Kennedy
Tamara A. Napolitano

2. Hispanics in Baseball
• Today’s baseball landscape has rosters filled with
players such as Reyes, Cano, Rodriguez, and Ortiz.
This can be contributed to the talent that the
Latin American countries have manufactored.
• Our main focus in this presentation is to show the
historical, economical, political, and social aspect
of Latin American players contributions to the
game of baseball.

3. The Growth of America’s Pastime
• The World Baseball classic is a prime example of
the growth of America’s Pastime. In 2010
managers penciled in lineups from players who
descended from the Dominican Republic, Puerto
Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Panama,
Colombia, and Nicaragua.
• The MLB has top talent that comes from all over
the world but how did it get to this point?

4. The Structure of the MLB
• The MLB consists of a 162 game season that runs
from April to October.
• 14 Teams in Al
• 16 Teams in NL
• All Star Game takes place in July which
determines home field advantage in the World
Series.

5. • The Playoffs consist of three rounds which are
best of 5, best of 7 and the World Series is a
best of 7 series.
• Each league is comprised of three different
divisions; all of which are the same in each
league East, West, and Central.
• Division winners automatically qualify for the
playoffs and the team with the best second
place record earns the wildcard berth.

6. The origins of the Commissioner
• According to MLB.com After baseball’s
beginnings in the mid 19th century, the
governance of the game evolved to a central
authority figure called the Commissioner. In
1921 the first Baseball Commissioner was
appointed his name was Judge Kenesaw
Mountain Landis.

7. The Corporate Structure
• After serving as Chairman of the Major League Executive
Council since 1992, Allan “Bud” Selig was officially named
Major League Baseball’s ninth Commissioner on July 9th,
1998.
• The Executive Team: Commissioner Bud Selig, President
Bob DuPuy, VP Jimme Lee Solomon, VP of Finance Jonathan
Mariner.
• Under the governance of this executive team the MLB saw
interleague play, revenue sharing, wildcards, three division
realignment, and awarding the winner of the All Star game
home field advantage in the World Series.

8. What Increased The Participation of
Latin’s in Baseball?
• Expansion in the 1960’s
• Scholarships in other sports.
• Good Weather all year round
• The most important factor in the rise of
players of Latin decent in baseball is the
lifting of the color barrier in 1947 when Jackie
Robinson signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers.

9. The Historical Impact of Latin’s In MLB
• The First Latin to play Major League Baseball was
Louis Caster, of the Philadelphia Athletics in 1902.
• According to the Encyclopedia Britannica Baseball
arrived to Cuba in 1864 when Nemesio Guillo
brought a baseball back from Mobile, Alabama
where he was receiving education.
• In 1949, The Cleveland Indians signed Minnie
Minoso who went on to be the first player to play
in five different decades.

10. • In the 1960’s Cuban talent was cut off by the
Castro Regime. Still defectors and minor
leaguers who were already in the United
States who made an impact on the game.
• Tony Olivio of the Reds was the first Latin
player to win the MVP award in the 1970’s.
• “El Duque” risks his life.
• The First Puerto Rican- Hiram Bithorn a
pitcher on the Cubs in 1942.
• Alejandro Carrasquel of the Washington
Senators was the first Venezuelan.

11. • Hector Lopez and Humberto Robinson were
the first Panamanians.
• The first Dominican was Oswaldo Virgil of the
New York Giants.
• The 1960’s belonged to Pittsburgh Pirate
Roberto Clemente.
• Clemente dominated the decade of the 60’s
with four 200 hit seasons, 12 consecutive gold
gloves, and led the Pirates to their first World
Series in 1971 with a .414 batting average.
• December 31, 1972 is a day that changed the
game forever.

12. • During the summer of the 1980’s, a 20 year
old kid by the name of Fernando Valenzuela
captured the hearts of the media and the fans
of baseball. “Fernandomania” swept across
the nation as the rookie won his first 8 starts
and dominated the competition with a .50
era.
• Within the same season, Valenzuela went on
to become the first rookie to win the Cy Young
and Rookie of the Year.

13. The Latino Legends Team
• 165,000 Fans voted and the all Latin heritage team was
announced during the 2005 all star game in Houston.
• Puerto Rico was represented by Ivan Rodriguez, Edgar
Martinez, Roberto Clemente
• The Dominican Republic was represented by Albert Pujols,
Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerro, Pedro
Martinez, and Juan Marichal.
• Mexico’s lone representative was Fernando Valenzuela and
Panema was represented by Rod Carew and Yankees legend
Mariano Rivera.

14. Players of Latin Descent of the current
baseball era
• According to the 2009 Racial and Gender Report
card of Major League Baseball 27 percent of the
players in Major League Baseball are of the Latin
decent.
• As of Opening Day of 2009 season, 28 percent of
Major League players are foreign born,
representing 15 countries and territories.
• Locally according to mets.com twenty one of the
twenty eight players on the 2010 Mets opening
day roster and disabled list were born outside of
the United States.

15. • The MLB realizes the potential in a growing
market and is developing a baseball scouting
operations office in the Dominican republic.
• The FBI has led several investigations to
prevent fraud that has plagued the Latin
American market for several years.
• This is a sign of the times that the MLB realizes
the plethora of talent coming out of the Latin
market. Players from all over the world are
making their impact on the game of baseball,
but not quite like players of Latin decent.