Latino All Stars – and the First and Last Hispanic All-Star Game

Ivan Rodriguez would captain BBRT All-Latino, All-Star Team … and pretty much everyone else’s as well.

Last week, MLB released its 2012 All-Time Latino All-Star Team, based on a survey of baseball experts. In this post, BBRT will take a look at those selections – and how Ted Williams managed to be chosen as an All-Time Latino All-Star.  BBRT will also compare the 2012 selections with the results of a 2005 fan vote that produced a “Latino Legends” team.  But first, BBRT would like to take you on a nostalgia trip, back to the first (and only) Hispanic All-Star Game.  For trivia buffs, here’s one to ponder over an Irish brew.  Who was the winning pitcher in the only MLB Hispanic All-Star Game?  The answer:  Virgin Island-native Alvin O’Neal McBean.

The game was played at New York City’s Polo Grounds on October 12, 1963 – and was also the last game ever played at the Polo Grounds (the Mets moved to Shea the next season.)  It drew a rather meager crowd of 14,235 to see such Hispanic stars as Juan Marichal, Roberto Clemente, Louis Aparicio, Tony Oliva, Minnie Minoso, Felipe Alou, Orlando Cepeda and Vic Power.  In pre-game ceremonies, Vic Power was honored as the number-one Latino player; Juan Marichal as the top Latino pitcher; and Orlando Cepeda as the most popular Latino player.  Here’s the box score for the contest, won the by National Leaguers by a 5-2 score.

AL       000  000   0002      2   7   2

NL       100   301   00x      5   9   2

BF=Baseball Hall of Fame member

AL                                                       AB       H         R          RBI

L. Aparicio  SS                                   4          0          0          0

V. Power  1B                                       3          0          0          0

J. Becquer 1B                                     1          0          0          0

T. Oliva  RF                                         5          0          2          1

H. Lopez  LF                                       2          0          1          0

M. Minoso LF                                     2           0           0         0

J. Azcue  C                                          4          0          0          0

R. Majias  CF                                      3          0          1          0

F. Mantilla  3B                                    4          0          0          0

Z. Versalles  2B                                  4          1          1          0

P. Ramos P                                          2          0          1          0

D. Segui P                                            2          1          1          0

NL

L. Cardenas SS-2B                              4          0          0          0

F. Alou LF                                            4          0          1          1

O. Cepeda  1B                                   3          1          1          0

R. Amaro  1B                                       1          0          0          0

T. Gonzalez  CF                                   3          2          2          0

R. Clemente  RF                               2          0          0          0

A. McBean  P                                      1          0          1          1

J. Pignatano  C                                    1          0          0          0

E. Bauta  P                                           0          0          0          0

J. Javier  2B                                         2          1          2          1

C. Fernandez  3B                                 2          0          0          0

C. Baragan C                                       3          0          0          0

J. Marichal  P                                    1          0          0          0

M. Mota  RF                                        2          0          2          2

2B – Oliva; 3B – McBean; SB – Taylor, Javiar, Aparicio

Pitching

 AL                                           IP         H         R          ER       BB       SO

P. Ramos (L)                            5          6          4          4          1          4

D. Segui                                    3          3          1          1          1           1

NL

J. Marichal                             4          2          0          0          0          6

A.  McBean (W)                       4          3          0          0          2          4

E.  Bauta                                   1          2          2          2          1          0

Now, let’s look at recent all-Latino teams – comparing the expert-selected All-Time Latino All-Star team of 2012, with the 2005 Latino Legends team selected by the fans.

BF=Hall of Fame member

2012                                             2005

Catcher                        Ivan Rodriguez                         Ivan Rodriguez

First Base                     Albert Pujols                            Albert Pujols

Second Base                Roberto Alomar                  Rod Carew

Third Base                    Alex Rodriguez                       Edgar Martinez

Shortstop                     Louis Aparicio                      Alex Rodriguez

Outfield                        Roberto Clemente              Roberto Clemente

Outfield                        Ted Williams                       Manny Ramirez

Outfield                        Reggie Jackson                  Vlad Guerrero

RH Pitcher                   Juan Marichal                     Juan Marichal

Pedro Martinez

LH Pitcher                    Fernando Valenzuela             Fernando Valenzuela

Closer                          Mariano Rivera                         Mariano Rivera

Manager                       Felipe Alou

You can form your own opinions – and even put together your own all-Latino team.  Here, for what they are worth, are BBRT’s comments.  (Stats as of September 26, 2012.)

Catcher – Ivan Rodriguez is a clear choice and was the backstop on both the 2005 and 2012 teams.  Hard to argue with 13 Gold Gloves,  14 All-Star selections, a league MVP Award, 2,844 hits, a .296 career average, 311 home runs and more than 1,300 runs scored and RBI.

First Base – Albert Pujols again makes both lists and the stats tell the story.  In just his twelfth big league season, Pujols already has more 2,200 hits, a career .325 average, 475 home runs, 1,400+ RBI,  a Rookie of the Year Award, three MVP Awards and nine All-Star Selections.  Orlando Cepeda and Rafael Palmeiro are the closest competitors and Pujols will clearly surpass their career accomplishments before he is through (you can easily argue he is already there.)

Second Base – Wow, two Hall of Famers here – Roberto Alomar and Rod Carew.  A tough one.  Carew clearly leads the “Awards Race” – Rookie of the Year, an MVP Award, seven batting titles, 18 All-Star selections in 19 seasons.  Still, BBRT goes with Roberto Alomar.  While Carew leads Alomar in hits (3,053 to 2,724) and career average (.328 to .300), Alomar (a 12-time All Star) leads Rapid Rodney in runs scored (1,508 to 1,424), RBI (1,134 to 1,015), home runs (210 to 92) and stolen bases (474 to 353).  The clincher, however, comes not at the plate or on the base paths – Alomar leads in Gold Gloves 10 to 0.

Third Base – Interesting results here.  You have Alex Rodriguez (who made one of the Latino All-Star lists as a shortstop and one as a third baseman) and Edgar Martinez (who made one list as a DH and one as a third baseman).  BBRT is taking the easy way out and going with A-Rod at the hot corner (and, as you will see later) Martinez at DH.  As BBRT completes this post, Rodriguez is a 14-time All Star, three-time MVP, five-time league home run leader and one-time batting champion.  If that’s not enough, he’s already tallied 2,854 hits, 647 home runs, 1,949 RBI, 1,893 runs, 318 stolen bases and a .300 career average.  For the future, Adrian Beltre may push his way into consideration with his combination of oak and leather.

Shortstop – Placing A-Rod at third base on BBRT’s all-Latino team paves the way for BBRT’s shortstop pick – Louis Aparacio.  Although not blessed with a powerful bat (.262 career average with 83 home runs), Aparicio led the AL in stolen basis nine times (and totaled 506 stolen bases), scored 1,335 runs, earned 10 All-Star selections and captured nine Gold Gloves.  Fortunately, I could place A-Rod at third and give this slick-fielding speedster his due.

Outfield – Got to start with Roberto Clemente: 12-time All Star; 12-time Gold Glover;  four-time batting champ and one-time NL MVP; who collected 3,000 hits, 240 home runs, 1,416 runs scored and 1,305 RBI.

Next is the less obvious pick – Ted Williams.  How does Ted make the all-Latino list? Very simply, his mother was Mexican.  Williams needs no justification, but here a partial list:  17 All-Star selections; six batting titles; two MVP Awards; four home run titles;  two Triple Crowns; a .344 career average;  521 home runs; 1,798 runs scored; and 1,839 RBI.  No doubt, Teddy Ballgame is in.

BBRT’s final choice in the outfield reflects a combination of  logic and sentiment.  First, BBRT eliminated controversial choices, particularly any possible PED issues.  BBRT also considered attitude and how the player contributed to the reputation of the game.  That led to agreement with the fans’ 2005 choice Vlad Guerrero – nine-time All Star, League MVP, 449 home runs, 1,496 RBI, 1,328 runs scored, 181 stolen bases.   There were plenty of choices here, all falling behind for one reason or another – Manny (just being Manny) Ramirez; Juan Gonzalez; Reggie (Mr. October) Jackson; Sammy Sosa; and Minnie Minoso, to name just a few.  BBRT also had a soft spot for Tony Oliva – an 8-time All-Star and three-time batting champ (his home run, runs scored and RBI total just didn’t match up with Vlad).

DH – No contest, Edgar Martinez takes this one.  He’s a seven-time All-Star, two-time batting champ, who retired with 2,247 hits, a .312 average, 309 home runs, 1,219 runs scored and 1,261 RBI – most accumulated at DH.

Right-Handed Starter – Tough contest, and while the experts (and perhaps the popular vote) goes for Juan Marichal, BBRT is selecting Pedro Martinez.  Here’s the case: While Marichal leads Martinez in wins 243 to 219, Martinez holds the edge in winning percentage .687 to .631.  Then there is earned run average – Marichal holds a slight edge 2.89 to 2.93, but measured against their peers, Martinez led his league in ERA five times to just once for Marichal. Marichal did have six twenty-win seasons to just two for Martinez, but Pedro captured three Cy Young Awards to one for Juan. Marichal also hold a big lead in complete games 244 to 46, but led the league in complete games twice to Martinez’ once.   Martinez enjoys a big league in strikeouts 3,154 to 2,303, leading his league three times to none for Marichal.  Tough to compare pitchers from different eras, but for BBRT – when compared to his peers – Martinez was more dominant than Marichal.  So, Pedro gets a VERY SLIGHT edge.

Left-Handed Starter – For lefties, Fernando-mania reigns … although the statistics are far less gaudy than for our Latino lefties.   This six-time all-star rang up a 173-153 career record with one Cy Young Award; a 3.54 ERA; one-time league leadership in wins; three-time leadership in complete games; one-time leadership in shutouts; and  2,074 strikeouts (one strikeout crown) – to go along with a personality that brought new life to and spurred greater Latino interest in West Coast baseball.

Closer – All you need to say is Mariano Rivera and “case closed.”  Rivera racked up a  major league record 608 saves to go with a 76-58 record and 2.21 ERA, leading the AL in saves 3 times and earning 12 All-Star selections.  As a closer, he was as close to a sure thing as you can get.

BBRT welcomes your comments on these choices, or other nominees to rank among the greatest Latino players of all time.