Puerto Rico and Baseball: 60 Biographies

Baseball in Puerto Rico has a long history, dating back to the nineteenth century and now extending into the twenty-first. As of the end of 2016, there have been 323 players born in Puerto Rico or descended from Puerto Rican natives who have played in the major leagues. But there are thousands of Puerto Rican professional players who have played in the Caribbean and other professional leagues, including the minor leagues in the United States. As one might imagine from the title, Puerto Rico and Baseball: 60 Biographies contains 60 biographies of players-but it also has two "ballpark bios" and an article on major-league games played in Puerto Rico, both spring training exhibition games and several regular-season games from the time when "Los Expos" included San Juan as their home base. This book highlights some of the pioneers who played in the Negro Leagues before the color line was broken, right up through Ivan Rodriguez, elected in 2017 to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In reading this book you will get to know Perucho, who was compared with Ty Cobb and called the Babe Ruth of Puerto Rico; why Pancho Coimbre was considered one of the best hitters; the story of the great Roberto Clemente; who was "el Divino Loco," the first pitcher to win a major-league game on the Pacific Coast; who was "El Jibaro"; and even the great achievements of the man who was possibly the most complete catcher who ever stepped on a diamond. This book also represents the collaborative efforts of 46 authors and editors from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Contents: Introduction, Edwin Fernandez Roberto Alomar, Chris Jones Sandy Alomar, Sr., Irv Goldfarb Sandy Alomar, Jr., Joe Wancho Luis arroyo, Rory Costello Benny Ayala, Rory Costello Carlos Baerga, Joe Wancho Juan Beniquez, Jonathan arnold Carlos Bernier, Charles F. Faber Hiram Bithorn, Jane Allen-Quevedo Bobby Bonilla, Mark Souder Ivan Calderon, Dan Potter John Candelaria, Steve West Orlando Cepeda, Mark armour Pedro "Perucho" Cepeda, Edwin Fernandez Roberto Clemente, Stew Thornley Francisco "Pancho" Coimbre, Joseph Gerard Alex Cora, Scott Cummings Joey Cora, Alan Cohen Jose "Cheo" Cruz (Dilan) Sr., Jane Schupmann Hewitt Jose Luis Cruz, Thomas Brown Ivan DeJesus, Sr., Richard Cuicchi Carlos Delgado, Paul Hofmann Eduardo Figueroa, Rory Costello Ruben Gomez, Thomas Van Hyning Juan Gonzalez, Edwin Fernandez Jose Hernandez, Marlene Vogelsang Roberto Hernandez, Alan Cohen with Matt Merullo Willie Hernandez, Gary Gillette Sixto Lezcano, Brian Wood Javy Lopez, Kyle Eaton Mike Lowell, Bill Nowlin Candido Maldonado, Tom Hawthorn Felix Mantilla, Rick Schabowski Luis "Canena" Marquez, amy Essington Edgar Martinez, Emily Hawks Orlando Merced, Justin Cabrera Felix Millan, Jane Allen-Quevedo Bengie Molina, John Vorperian Willie Montanez, Chuck Johnson Roger Moret, Seamus Kearney Jaime Navarro, Gregory H. Wolf Julio Navarro, Rory Costello Luis Olmo, Rory Costello Jose A. Pagan, Bill Johnson Juan Pizarro, Rory Costello Jorge Posada, Scott Dominiak Vic Power, Joe Wancho Jim Rivera, Richard Smiley Ivan Rodriguez, Steve West Rey Sanchez, Bill Nowlin Benito Santiago, Thomas Brown Jose G. "Pantalones" Santiago, Edwin Fernandez Jose R. Santiago, Edwin Fernandez and Bill Nowlin Ruben Sierra, Adam J. Ulrey Danny Tartabull, Charles F. Faber Dickie Thon, Bob LeMoine Jose Valentin, Steven Schmitt Javier Vazquez, Norm King Jose Vidro, Mark S. Sternman Bernie Williams, Rob Edelman