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Hispanics in Baseball (1961-2012)

I picked the year 1961 for this article about Hispanic/Latino players in Major League Baseball. Why 1961? I figured that was a very historic year, as the most coveted record in all American professional sports was broken. New York Yankee outfielder Roger Maris hit 61 home runs, one more than Babe Ruth, who held the record for 34 years. A caveat: Ruth hit 60 HR in 1927 in 151 games, (season was 152 games) while Maris hit 61, in 1961 in 161 games (season of 162 games). 1961 was Roberto Clemente’s first batting title of four in his brilliant career, and first of fourteen Gold Gloves for the Puerto Rican right fielder. Coincidentally, 1961 was my first year in the United States as a teenager, just arrived from Cuba, and first time (as a fan) that I had the privilege of watching major league baseball. Cuba is the baseball pioneer in Latin America. The first ever Hispanic ballplayer born in Latin America was Cuban-born Esteban Bellán in 1869 with the Troy Haymakers of the American Association, who later in 1876 became the National League. It was in May 1961 when Fidel Castro announced there will be no more elections in Cuba. Next year, he eradicated all professional sports in the country. Since 1962, Cuban players belong to the State, and the only way they can make it to the Big Leagues, is by defecting a totalitarian system that has ruled for half a century.

Thirty-nine years since Roberto Clemente disappeared

Nobody among Hispanic baseball players, and few in total, deserves the respect and admiration of Roberto Walker Clemente. Born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, he gave his life helping others he never met.

One thing is to have statues, and plaques and all types of recognition for your work in the world of baseball; another is to have given your life for people in another country that you never met. Among all the trophies in Major League Baseball, few are more appropriate that the Roberto Clemente Humanitarian Award.

Athletics could be put up for sale soon

Many believe that even with baseball’s decision of granting the Oakland A’S permission to move to San José, the A’S will be besieged by lawsuits from the Giants and great opposition from them to “give up” their territorial rights, which were given to them as a “gift” from Walter Hass, owner of the A’S during the early 1990’s. The Giants could have this tied up in court for many years to come, so the logical thing for Wolff and Fisher is to sell the team to local interest, who might want to keep it in Oakland, with new creative marketing and some improvements to the Oakland Coliseum.

Angels stealing Southern California from Dodgers

The very first teams to move to the west coast were the Dodgers, from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and the New York Giants to San Francisco, both in 1958. The Giants “revived” their dying fan base as well as their franchise, by building ATT Park by the San Francisco Bay in 2000. In the meantime, the Dodgers who have won five World Series since they moved to Los Angeles, most of any Major League team here in the west coast, has been in disarray, with attendance going down steadily, violence at Dodger Stadium, not to mention an owner that has been forced by the Commissioner to sell the team. The Dodgers have not won a pennant in 23 seasons (1988).

Miñoso, Oliva and Tiant

Ron Santo should have been elected to Baseball Hall of Fame, when he was alive. The great third baseman for the Chicago Cubs, who died last year on December 3rd, was elected today, December 5, 2011, 366 days too late.

The 16 member Golden Era Committee of the Hall of Fame needed 12 votes or 75% to elect Santo. They received 15 of 16 votes. “This was so important to Ron” said Vicki, Santo’s widow.

Pitcher Jim Kaat finished second with 10 votes, then Minnie Miñoso and Gil Hodges with 9 votes. Tony Oliva received 8 votes, and Luis Tiant, Buzzie Bavasi, Ken Boyer, Charlie Finley and Allie Reynolds each received less than 3 votes.

This Week in GIANTS baseball - SEPT 24th + 25th

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (SEPT 24th)

Scott Miller - CBSsports writer joins Marty about the Playoff this year: Will Atlanta make it?

Bruce Jenkins - Marty talks to the SF Chronicle baseball writer about a Cinderella playoff team this year?

Howard Bryant - Marty talks to ESPN columnist Howard Bryant about the GIANTS season: Are they going to increase the payroll? Are they "Tweener" team?

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (SEPT 25th)

Ed Montegue - Marty talks to Ed Montegue about the Play: Was the Ump positioned wrong or was it Fontenot at fault?

Paul White - Marty talks to the USAtoday Sports Writer about the GIANTS being out: What happened?

Ron Wotus - Marty talks to the GIANTS Bench coach about the GIANTS season: Its weird feeling about not making the playoffs

Larry Kruger - Marty talking baseball with Larry Kruger

Clint Barmes - Marty talks to the Astros Shortstop about the change from Colorado to Houston

This Week in GIANTS baseball - SEPT 17th + 18th

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (SEPT 17th)

Mark Gonzalez - Marty talks Gonzo about the future of the White Sox: Is Ozzie out the door?

Ryan Vogelsong - The Willy Mac Award winner joins Marty to talk about his magical year

John Shea - Marty talks to the SF Chronicle baseball writer about Next Year: How will the roster look in 2012

George Vecsey - Marty talks to Author and sports writer George Vecsey about his new book: Stan Musial - An American Life.

Bruce Jenkins - Marty and Larry Kruger talk to Bruce about his Newcomb column

Ann Killingon - SI.com sports columnist talks to Marty about the GIANTS chances

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (SEPT 18th)

Ron Wotus - Marty talks to the GIANTS Bench coach about the slim chance of making the postseason

Lon Simmons - Marty talking baseball with the GIANTS legendary broadcaster

This Week in GIANTS baseball - SEPT 10th + 11th

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (SEPT 10th)

Matt Peterson - Marty talks to Broadcaster Matt Pederson about Joe Panik: What kind of player is he? Can he play Shortstop or 2nd base?

Steve Decker - Manager of the Fresno Grizzlies joins Marty to talk about Dodgers and GIANTS: Is it a Big Deal in the minors?

John Shea - Marty talks to the SF Chronicle baseball writer about Vogelsong: What has he meant to this ballclub? Did he always want to be a GIANT?

Howard Bryant - Marty talks to ESPN columnist Howard Bryant about the GIANTS season and next year: Can they go for Fielder, Pujols or Reyes?

Erik Surkamp - Marty talks to the Newest GIANT Starter about getting to the major leagues

Steve Travers - Author Steve Travers talks about his latest book: The Last Icon: Tom Seaver and His Times

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (SEPT 11th)

Art Howe - Marty talks to Art Howe to reflect on 9/11: What was the feeling going to New York and seeing Ground Zero?

Bruce Jenkins - Bruce joins Marty to talk about 9/11: Was he there a day before?

Justin Christian - Marty talks to the newest GIANTS outfielder about getting the call up to the Majors: How did he find out? Where was he?

Ron Wotus - Marty talks to the GIANTS Bench coach about 9/11: Was baseball part of the healing process?

Vern Glen - Marty talking baseball with Vern Glen from Channel 4

This Week in GIANTS baseball - SEPT 3rd - 5th

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (SEPT 3rd)

Tom Candiotti - Marty talks to the Bay Area Native about Superstitions: Did he ever believe in them? Baseball in September: Can the GIANTS get on a roll and make a race of this?

Steve Gilbert - Marty talks to Steve Gilbert about the Arizona Series: Beltran's bat waking up? Can the GIANTS sweep? D-Backs pitching: Do they have a Cy Young Winner in the AZ rotation?

Bill Laskey - Marty talks to Bill Laskey about Fantasy Camp

Keith Moreland - Marty talks to the Cubs Broadcaster about following Ron Santo: Can you replace him? Candlestick: His first league game was at SF

Bob Nightengale - Marty talks to the USA Today Baseball writer about Pujols: Will he get the BIG pay out next year? Where is he going? Is he staying in St Louis?

Brett Pill - Marty talks to the newest GIANT about making the team: How did he find out? This year in the PCL: How about that break-out year?

Bobby Evans - GIANTS' Vice President of Baseball Operations joins the show

Aubrey Huff - GIANTS first baseman talk to Marty about this team going down the stretch: What's the goal this weekend? This Year's team: Did the bottom fall out?

Mark DeRosa - Marty talks to Mark De Rosa about his speech last year before the playoff run: Has he talked to the team this year yet?

Bruce Bochy - Marty talks to the GIANTS Manager about the rest of the season: What is he looking for in the ball club? The Call-ups: How will he use the young guys?

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (SEPT 4th)

Ron Wotus - GIANTS bench coach calls in the show to talk about the last game of the AZ series: Is this the 7th game of the World Series? 7 games down: Does it mean the end of the world?

Renel Brooks Moon - Marty talks to the GIANTS P.A. announcer about how she prepares for each game: Any names that give her trouble? The only female MLB PA announcer: How did she get into baseball?

Bruce Jenkins - The Dean of Baseball writers talks to Marty about the Arizona series: If they lose today...Is the Season over for SF?

Tim Flannery - GIANTS 3rd base coach talks to Marty about playing in September: Do they Young guys get some playing time?

Gary Radnich - Gary calls in the show and answers the Question: Has he ever brought a glove to the game?

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (SEPT 5th)

Paul White - Marty talks to the USA Today Baseball writer about Pujols: Will he be the GIANTS anchor hitter next year? What will his offseason be like?

Dick Enberg - The Padres Broadcaster joins Marty about the TV show Sports Challenge: How did it end? Why don't we have a show like that today?

This Week in GIANTS baseball - AUG 27th + 28th

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (AUG 27th)

Brian McTaggart - Marty talks to MLB.com Astros Sports Writer about Houston: They seem to play SF really tough?

Marvin Bernard - Marty talks to the former GIANT about getting on the Wall of Fame

Raj Mathai - Marty talks to Raj Mathai about his sports background: Sports passion turned into Journalism?

Brandon Belt - Marty talks to the Baby Giraffe about Surkamp (ex-minor league teammate) first MLB start

Jason Schmidt - Marty talks to the GIANTS former Ace about getting on the Wall of Fame

Bruce Jenkins - Marty talks to Bruce about Surkamp's first start: Time for something fresh?

Jon Miller - The GIANTS Hall of Fame Broadcaster shares some thoughts on the passing of Mike Flanagan

Mike Flanagan - Marty's Memories of the Game with the late Mike Flanagan

KNBR Pre-game Show with Marty Lurie (AUG 28th)

Ron Wotus - The GIANTS bench coach calls in the show to talk about Surkamp: What did he think about his first pitching performance? How do you prepare them before the game?

Jim Deshaies - ASTROS Broadcaster talks to Marty about his San Francisco connection: He was a GIANT

Henry Schulman - GIANTS beat writer talks to Marty about Surkamp: Great first MLB game? The Lineup: Is there anything they can do with Huff?

John Shea - Marty talks to the Shea Hey Kid about GIANTS Wall of Fame: Why did it take Marvin Bernard so long to be on the wall? Does he deserve to be there?

Sarah Janssen - Marty talks to the editor of The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2012