Baseball, Editorial, MLB

Latino “First & Best”

First Latino By Country

Cuba: Mike González in 1912 – Boston Braves

Dominican Republic: Ozzie Virgil Sr. in 1956 – New York Giants

Mexico: Baldomero Almada in 1933 – Boston Red Sox

Panama: Humberto Robinson in 1956 – Milwaukee Braves

Puerto Rico: Hiram Bithorn in 1942 – Chicago Cubs

Venezuela: Alejandro Carrasquel in 1939 – Washington Senators

First Latino

Batting Champion: Bobby Ávila (Mexico) in 1954 – Cleveland Indians

Cy Young Winner: Mike Cuellar (Cuba) in 1969 – Baltimore Orioles

Hall of Famer: Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico) in 1973 – Pittsburgh Pirates

The first Latin American ever elected into the Hall of Fame, Roberto Clemente – Image Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Manager: Preston Gómez (Cuba) in 1969 – Chicago Cubs

Manager of the Year: Felipe Alou (DR) in 1994 – Montreal Expos

Most Valuable Player: Zoilo Versalles (Cuba) in 1965 – Minnesota Twins

Owner: Linda G. Alvarado in 2022 – Colorado Rockies

Player: Luis Miguel Castro in 1876 (Colombia)

Reliever of the Year: José Mesa (DR) in 1995 – Baltimore Orioles

Rookie of the Year: Luis Aparicio (Venezuela) in 1956 – Chicago White Sox

Umpire: Armando Rodriguez Hernández in 1974 (Cuba)

Hitting

Season High At Bats: 701 AB in 1984 by Juan Samuel (DR)

Career At Bats: 11,114 AB by Albert Pujols (DR)

Albert Pujols in 2022 Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

Season High Batting Average: .388 BA in 1977 by Rod Carew (Panama)

Career Batting Average: .328 BA by Rod Carew (Panama)

Season High Doubles: 57 2B in 2000 by Carlos Delgado (Puerto Rico)

Career Doubles: 686 2B by Albert Pujols (DR)

Games Played: 3,080 games played by Albert Pujols in his career

Albert Pujols, an eight-time LatinoMVP award recipient, which is the most ever by a MLB Latino athlete – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

Season High Hits: 239 Hits in 1977 by Rod Carew (Panama)

Career Hits: 3,384 Hits by Albert Pujols (DR)

Season High Home Runs: 64 HR in 2001 by Sammy Sosa (DR)

Career Home Runs: 703 HR by Albert Pujols (DR)

Season High Runs: 149 Runs in 2023 by Ronald Acuña Jr. (Venezuela)

Ronald Acuña Jr., recipient of 2023 National League LatinoMVP award winner – Image Credit: Emma Sharon/Latino Sports

Career Runs: 2,021 Runs by Alex Rodríguez (DR)

Season High Runs Batted In: 165 RBI in 1999 by Manny Ramírez (DR)

Career Runs Batted In: 2,150 RBI by Albert Pujols (DR)

Season High Stolen Bases: 78 SB in 2007 by José Reyes (DR)

José Reyes recorded 2,138 hits, and 517 stolen bases in his MLB career – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

Career Stolen Bases: 649 SB by Bert Campaneris (Cuba)

Season High Total Bases: 425 TB in 2001 by Sammy Sosa (DR)

Career Total Bases: 6,211 TB by Albert Pujols (DR)

Season High Triples: 20 3B in 2000 by Carlos Guzman (DR)

Career Triples: 166 3B by Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico)

Season High Walks: 145 BB in 2021 by Juan Soto (DR)

Juan Soto walks to first base in Blue Jays-Yankees series at Yankee Stadium – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports

Career Walks: 1,476 BB by Bobby Abreu (Venezuela)

Pitching

Complete Games: 244 complete games by Juan Marichal (DR)

Season Best ERA: 1.603 ERA in 1968 by Luis Tiant (Cuba)

Career Best ERA: 2.21 ERA by Mariano Rivera (Panama)

Mariano Rivera holds his HOF plaque following his Cooperstown Hall of Fame induction speech in July of 2019 – Image Credit: George Napolitano/Latino Sports

Season High Games Started: 40 games started in 1970 by Mike Cuellar (Cuba)

Career Games Started: 562 games started by Dennis Martínez (Nicaragua)

Games: 1,115 game appearances by Mariano Rivera (Panama)

Career Innings Pitched: 3,999.2 IP by Dennis Martínez (Nicaragua)

Career Saves: 652 saves by Mariano Rivera (Panama)

Season High Shutouts: 10 shutouts in 1965 by Juan Marichal (DR)

Juan Marichal, one of the greatest Dominicans to ever do it on the mound – Image Credit: MLB

Career Shutouts: 52 shutouts by Juan Marichal (DR)

Season High Strikeouts: 313 K in 1999 by Pedro Martínez (DR)

Career Strikeouts: 3,154 K by Pedro Martínez (DR)

Season High Wins: 26 wins in 1968 by Juan Marichal (DR)

Career Wins: 247 wins by Bartolo Colón (DR)

Bartolo Colón throws out first pitch at Citi Field in 2023 on the seven-year anniversary of his first career MLB home run – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports