PUERTO RICO HERALD: Play Ball! All-Hispanic Teams; An International Pastime

Play Ball! All-Hispanic Teams

By Stephen Ruiz

March 31, 2002
Copyright © 2002 Orlando Sentinel. All Rights Reserved.

The Past
Manny Sanguillen, catcher	AGE: 58. BIRTHPLACE: Colon, Panama. CAREER: Pirates (1967-76, '78-80), Athletics ('77). STATS: .296, 65 home runs, 585 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Helped the Pirates to World Series championships in 1971 and '79.
Orlando Cepeda, 1st base	AGE: 64. BIRTHPLACE: Ponce, Puerto Rico. CAREER: Giants (1958-66), Cardinals ('66-68), Braves ('69-72), Athletics ('72), Red Sox ('73), Royals ('74). STATS: .297, 379 homers, 1,365 RBIs. THE BUZZ: "Baby Bull" inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
Rod Carew, 2nd base	AGE: 56. BIRTHPLACE: Gatun, Panama. CAREER: Twins (1967-78), Angels ('79-85). STATS: 3,053 hits, .328, 1,015 RBIs. THE BUZZ: A seven-time American League batting champion.
Luis Aparicio, shortstop	AGE: 67. BIRTHPLACE: Maracaibo, Venezuela. CAREER: White Sox (1956-62, '68-70), Orioles ('63-67), Red Sox ('71-73). STATS: 506 stolen bases, 2,677 hits, 2,581 games at shortstop (a record). THE BUZZ: Holds AL records for most assists, chances and putouts at his position.
Tony Perez, 3rd base	AGE: 59. BIRTHPLACE: Ciego De Avila, Cuba. CAREER: Reds (1964-76, '84-86), Expos ('77-79), Red Sox ('80-82), Phillies ('83). STATS: .279, 379 homers, 1,652 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Known primarily as a first baseman but played third for the Reds from 1967-71.
Roberto Clemente, outfield	BORN: Aug. 18, 1934. DIED: Dec. 31, 1972. BIRTHPLACE: Carolina, Puerto Rico. CAREER: Pirates (1955-72). STATS: 3,000 hits, 240 homers, 1,305 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Inducted into Hall of Fame after special election in 1973.
Minnie Minoso, outfield	AGE: 79. BIRTHPLACE: Havana, Cuba. CAREER: Indians (1949, '51, '58-59), White Sox (1951-57, '60-61, '64, '76, '80), St. Louis Cardinals (1962), Washington Senators (1963). STATS: 1,963 hits, 186 homers, 1,023 RBIs. THE BUZZ: He led the AL in stolen bases and triples three times.
Tony Oliva, outfield	AGE: 61. BIRTHPLACE: Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. CAREER: Twins (1962-76). STATS: .304, 220 homers, 947 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Beset by knee problems, he would have been one of all-time greats if he had stayed healthy.
Juan Marichal, pitcher	AGE: 64. BIRTHPLACE: Laguna Verde, Dominican Republic. CAREER: Giants (1960-73), Red Sox ('74), Dodgers ('75). STATS: 243-142, 2.89 ERA, 2,303 strikeouts. THE BUZZ: "The Dominican Dandy" threw 244 complete games -- an unheard-of figure today.
The Present
Ivan Rodriguez, catcher	TEAM: Rangers. AGE: 30. BIRTHPLACE: Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. CAREER: Rangers (1991-present). STATS: .304, 196 homers, 769 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Defense is unmatched — ever. Has won Gold Glove in every year since breaking into majors full time.
Rafael Palmeiro, 1st base	TEAM: Rangers. AGE: 37. BIRTHPLACE: Havana, Cuba. CAREER: Cubs (1986-88), Rangers (1989-93, '99-present), Orioles ('94-98). STATS: .294, 447 homers, 1,470 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Rangers originally acquired him in a multi-player deal that sent control-challenged LHP Mitch Williams to the Cubs.
Roberto Alomar, 2nd base	TEAM: Mets. AGE: 34. BIRTHPLACE: Ponce, Puerto Rico. CAREER: Padres (1988-90), Blue Jays ('91-95), Orioles ('96-98), Indians (1999-2001), Mets (present). STATS: .306, 190 homers, 1,018 RBIs, 10-time Gold Glove winner. THE BUZZ: Will go down as the best second baseman ever.
Alex Rodriguez, shortstop	TEAM: Rangers. AGE: 26. BIRTHPLACE: New York. CAREER: Mariners (1994-2000), Rangers (2001-present). STATS: .311, 241 homers, 730 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Set record for most homers by a shortstop in a season with 52 in 2001.
Vinny Castilla, 3rd base	TEAM: Braves. AGE: 34. BIRTHPLACE: Oaxaca, Mexico. CAREER: Braves (1991-92, present), Rockies ('93-99), Devil Rays (2000-01), Astros (2001). STATS: .288 average, 234 homers, 744 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Don't try to sneak a fastball by this guy.
Vladimir Guerrero, outfield	TEAM: Expos. AGE: 26. BIRTHPLACE: Nizao, Dominican Republic. CAREER: Expos (1996-present). STATS: .319, 170 homers, 512 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Possesses the strongest outfield arm in the majors and loves to show it off.
Manny Ramirez, outfield	TEAM: Red Sox. AGE: 29. BIRTHPLACE: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. CAREER: Indians (1993-2000), Red Sox (2001-present) STATS: .312, 277 homers, 929 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Hank Aaron holds the all-time RBI mark (2,297). Ramirez could break that.
Sammy Sosa, outfield	TEAM: Cubs. AGE: 33. BIRTHPLACE: San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. CAREER: Rangers (1989), White Sox ('89-91), Cubs ('92-present). STATS: .277, 450 homers, 1,239 RBIs. THE BUZZ: Still strikes out a lot, but homers more than make up for it.
Pedro Martinez, pitcher	TEAM: Red Sox. AGE: 30. BIRTHPLACE: Mano Guayabo, Dominican Republic. CAREER: Dodgers (1992-93), Expos ('94-97), Red Sox ('98-present). STATS: 132-59, 2.66 ERA. THE BUZZ: Three-time Cy Young winner is coming off shoulder problems.

An International Pastime

America's game has gone worldwide. Just look at a census of players on this season's projected major-league rosters: