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Any fan of present-day Major League Baseball recognizes that the Dominican Republic is well-represented by many key players throughout the sport. Around 800 natives of the Dominican Republic have played in the majors-a full 300 more than any other country, aside from the United States.
The first was Pedro Alejandro San, who pitched in the Eastern Colored League in 1926 for the Cuban Stars East. He was joined on the team the following year by Tetelo Vargas. A few years later, shortstop Horacio Rabbit Martinez joined the New York Cubans in 1935. Martinez took part in five Negro League All-Star Games.
The first Dominican to play in either the National or American League was Osvaldo Ozzie Virgil, in 1956 with the New York Giants, beginning a nine-year career.
In 1983, Juan Marichal-like Virgil, coming from Montecristi-became the first Dominican inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He has since been joined by Pedro Martinez and Vladimir Guerrero, and no one doubts that many more will follow, as Dominican stars continue to shine in the major leagues.
This book was created through the combined efforts of 41 members of the Society of American Baseball Research (SABR) and gathers biographies of 54 Dominican players, including not only the aforementioned players, but also David Ortiz, Felipe, Jesus, and Matty Alou, Sammy Sosa, Raul Mondesi, and Fernando Tatis. Also included is a recap of the Dominican team’s passionate, action-packed sweep of the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Available both in English and in Spanish language editions.
