It’s time again for Baseball Roundtable’s Trivia(l) Tidbit Tuesday. I hope you are enjoying this weekly presentation of baseball occurrences that for some reason caught The Roundtable’s eye. (I’m particularly fond of unexpected performances and statistical coincidences.) These won’t necessarily be momentous occurrences, just events, statistics or coincidences that grabbed my attention. I’m also drawn to baseball “unicorns,” one-of-a-kind MLB accomplishments or statistics.
This week, I am celebrating the anniversary of, a double baseball unicorn, with a look back at (and a significant updating of) a post from eight years ago. On this “date-plus one” 63 years ago (October 12, 1963), The Polo Grounds played host to the Latin American Players Game, now more commonly recognized as the first (and only) MLB Latino All-Star Game – which, coincidentally, was also the last major-league contest ever played at New York’s Polo Grounds (the Mets moved to Shea the next season). There’s your unicorn doubleheader. In this post, Baseball Roundtable:
- Reflects on the 1963 Latino All Star Game;
- Looks at the All-Time Latino All-Star Teams named in 2005 and 2012;
- Shares BBRT’s All-Time Latino MLB selections and current top Latino lineup.
THE 1963 MLB Latino ALL STAR GAME
The exhibition contest was held in part to raised funds for retired Latino ballplayers and the Hispanic-American Baseball Federation. Side Note: The very next day, the teams played another exhibition game (this one in Miami) to raise money funds for Cuban Refugee Relief.
Vic Power was selected as the top Latino MLB Player in 1963.
The 1963 MLB Hispanic All Star Game drew a rather meager crowd of 14,235 to see such stars as Juan Marichal, Roberto Clemente, Luis Aparicio, Tony Oliva, Minnie Minoso, Felipe Alou, Orlando Cepeda and Vic Power. (Speculation is that is why we did not see a second MLB-promoted Latino All Star game.) 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 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
T. Taylor 3b-ss 3 1 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. Barragan 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, Javier, Aparicio
Pitching
AL IP H R ER BB SO
P. Ramos (L) 5 6 4 4 1 8
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
A Little Tidbit (or good bar trivia, especially in an Irish pub) … and a side note.
Who was the winning pitcher in the only MLB Latino All-Star Game? Hint: He was the first major-league pitcher from the Virgin Islands.
The answer: Virgin Island-native Alvin O’Neal McBean … son of O’Neal Alfredo McBean and Inger Emmanuel.
Side note: Latino catchers were apparently hard to come by as Joe Pignatano, a native New York of Italian descent, took the field for the NL squad,
—–ALL TIME LATINO ALL STARS (2012) AND LATINO LEGENDS (2005)—–
Now, let’s look at the All-Time Latino All-Star team of 2012 published by Jesse Sanchez (MLB.com) , alongside the 2005 Latino Legends team selected by the fans.
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 Luis Aparicio Alex Rodriguez
Outfield Roberto Clemente Roberto Clemente
Outfield Ted Williams Manny Ramirez
Outfield Reggie Jackson Vlad Guerrero
Designated Hitter Edgar Martinez
RH Pitcher Juan Marichal Juan Marichal/Pedro Martinez
LH Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela Pedro Martinez
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 All-Time, All-Latino selections, as well as an All-Latino team of players active in 2026 (Keep in mind, the current selections are made in part on their body of work, not just 2026).
Catcher – Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez is a clear choice and was the backstop on both the 2005 and 2012 teams. Hard to argue with a 21-season MLB career (1991-2011), 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 1,332 RBI. He hit .300 or better in ten seasons, twenty or more home runs in five, and reached double-digits in stolen bases three times.
Ivan Rodriguez won ten consecutive Gold Gloves at catcher (1992-2001).
Roundtable Honorable Mentions: Yadier Molina has earned a mention – 19 MLB seasons (2004-2022), nine Gold Gloves, ten All-Star selections and a .277 average, with 176 home runs and 1,022 RBI. Jorge Posada played 17 seasons (1995-2011) and went .273-275-1.065. He was a five-time All Star and topped 20 homers in eight seasons. I-Rod holds a solid lead over each of these runners-up.
Current Roundtable All-Latino Catcher: Salvador Perez played his 15th MLB season in 2026. He is a nine-time All Star, five-time Gold Glover. Perez has hit 20 or more home runs in ten seasons (a league-leading high of 48 in 2021) and drove in 100 or more runs three times.
First Base – Albert Pujols made both the 2005 and 2012 lists and the stats tell the story. In his 22 MLB seasons (2001-22), Pujols collected 3,384 hits, put up a career .296 average, hit 703 home runs, and drove in 2,218 runs. On the way, he picked up a Rookie of the Year Award, three MVP Awards, eleven All-Star Selections, two Gold Gloves and a batting title. Pujols led the league in: RBI once (had 14 seasons of 100+ RBI); home runs twice (seven seasons of 40+); runs scored five times (ten seasons of 100 or more); batting average once (ten seasons of .300+).
In his first ten MLB seasons Albert Pujols never hit less than .312, never smacked fewer than 32 homers and never drove in fewer than 103 runs.
Roundtable Honorable Mention: There was some worthy competition, but Pujols was the clear winner. The top runner-up was Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, who went .297-379-1,365 over a 17-season MLB career (1957-74). Cepeda was an 11-time All Star, the 1958 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1967 NL Most Valuable Player.
Current Roundtable All-Latino First Baseman: Vlad Guerrero, Jr. Although Guerrero slipped a bit in 2026, his stats since his 2019 rookie season (as a 20-year-old) earn him this “current” spot. In eight MLB seasons, he has been an All Star six times and a Gold Glover once. He also hit 30+ home runs in three seasons, including a league-leading 48 in 2021 (when he went . 311-48-111, with a league-topping 123 runs scored.
Second Base – Wow, two Hall of Famers listed here – Roberto Alomar (2012 list) and Rod Carew (2005). 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 would go with 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 nor on the base paths – Alomar leads in Gold Gloves 10 to 0.
Roundtable Honorable Mention: The already mentioned Rod Carew.
Current Roundtable All-Latino Second Baseman: The Astros’ Jose Altuve just completed his 16th MLB season (at age 36), His stat line is .300-271-939, with 1,306 runs scored and 330 stolen bases.He is a nine-time All Star, three-time batting champion and one-time league MVP.
Third Base – Although Alex Rodriguez made the 2012 Latino All-Time Latino All Star team at third base (and the 2005 Latino Legends team at SS) and Edgar Martinez was at third base on the 2005 Latino Legends team (and at DH on the 2012 All Time Latino All Star list), I’m going with the Rangers’ Adrian Beltre here. My logic? Rodriguez appeared in more career games at SS (1272) than third base (1,194) and Martinez appeared in more games at DH (1,403) than 3B (562).
All that notwithstanding, Hall of Famer Beltre, a four-time All Star earned his spot here with his outstanding combination of leather and lumber. Beltre ended his 21-season MLB career (1998-2018) with five Gold Gloves, 3,166 hits, 477 home runs, 1,707 RBI, 1.,524 runs scored 121 steals and a .286 average. He hit .300 or better in seven seasons, 30 or more home runs in five (a high of 48 in 2004), drove in 100+ runs in five seasons and reached double-digit in steals five times.
Current Roundtable All-Latino Third Baseman: Rockies’ 3B Nolan Arenado (born in California, but of Cuban/Puerto Rican descent) played his fourteenth MLB season in 2026 and may eventually supplant Beltre as the All-Time Latino third baseman. Arenado currently has a .280-430-1,270 career stat line, with 1,072 runs scored. He also has eight All Star selections and ten Gold Gloves on his resume. Beltre’s membership in the 3,000-hit club gave him a slight edge, but it was a very close call for the All Timer at third base – and I did have this “current” spot open.
Shortstop – Alex Rodriguez is my pick here. In his 22-season MLB career (1994-2013, 2015-17), A-Rod was a 14-time All Star, three-time MVP, five-time league home run leader, two-time Gold Glover and one-time batting champion. If that’s not enough, he tallied 3,115 hits, 696 home runs, 2,086 RBI, 2,021 runs, 329 stolen bases and a .295 career average. A-Rod hit .300 or better in nine seasons (with 200+ hits three times); hit 30 or more home runs 15 times (topping 50 in three seasons); had 100 or more RBI in 14 seasons; scored 1,200 or more runs 13 times; and stole 20 or more bases six times (a high of 46 in 1998).
Roundtable Honorable Mention: This goes to one of The Roundtable’s All-Time Favorite Latino Players – Luis Aparicio. 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.
Current Roundtable All-Latino Shortstop: In his 12th MLB season in 2026, Francisco Lindor has a .270-300-905 career stat line, with 1,074 runs scored and 219 stolen bases. He is a five-time All Star and two-time Gold Glover, as well. Lindor has 30 or more bases in five seasons and hit 20 or more home runs in nine.
Outfield – Lots of competition, but my first pick here was an easy (perhaps not an obvious) one. Hall of Famer Ted Williams (on the 2012 All-Time Latino All Star list). For those who few who may find this pick puzzling, Teddy Ballgame’s mother was Mexican. Williams needs no justification, but here’s a partial list of accomplishments: 17 All-Star selections; six batting titles; two MVP Awards; four home run titles; two Triple Crowns (Avg.-HR-RBI); a .344 career average; 521 home runs; 1,798 runs scored; and 1,839 RBI. And, he did all this while losing all of the 1942, 1943, and 1944 seasons, as well as most of 1952 and 1953 campaigns, to military service. In 19 MLB seasons (1939-42, 1946-60), Williams hit .300+ 18 times; hit 30 or more homers eight times; drove in 100+ runs nine times (leading the league four times); and scored 100+ runs nine times (leading the league six).
Next, I have to go with another Hall of Famer in Roberto Clemente (on both the 2005 and 2012 lists). Clemente was 12-time All Star; 12-time Gold Glover; four-time batting champ and one-time NL MVP. He collected 3,000 hits, 240 home runs, 1,416 runs scored and 1,305 RBI. Clemente hit .300 or better 13 times (three batting titles); had 200+ hits in four seasons; scored 100+ runs in three; drove in 100+ runs twice; and dared baserunner to challenge his arm in RF.
BBRT’s third choice in the outfield is also a Hall of Famer – Carlos Beltran. Beltran was the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year, a nine-time All Star and three-time Gold Glover. In his 20 MLB seasons (1988-2017). Beltran hit .279-435-1,587, with 1,582 runs scored and 312 stolen bases. He hit over .300 in four seasons, drove in 100 or more runs in eight times; hit 20 or more homers 12 times; scored 100 or more runs seven times; and stole 20+ bases seven times.
Roundtable Honorable Mentions: Hall of Famer Vlad Guerrero (on the 2005 list) was nine-time All Star and the 2004 AL Most Valuable Player. Over his career, he hit 449 home runs, drove in 1,496 runners and scored 1,328 runs. He also stole 181 bases in his 16 MLB seasons (1996-2011). Hall of Famer Minnie Minoso with a .299-195-1,089 line, 1,228 runs scored and 216 steals in 20 seasons (1946-64, 1976. 1980) makes it here. Minoso was a 13-time All Star and three-time Gold Glover. There were plenty more good choices available – like Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson and Tony Oliva, Manny Ramirez, Juan Gonzalez, Giancarlo Stanton and Sammy Sosa – feel free to add them as your Honorable Mentions.
Current Roundtable All-Latino Outfield: Ronald Acuan, Jr., with line of .285-206-514, with 716 runs scored and 226 steals in nine seasons (2018-26). Acuna was the 2018 NL Rookie of the Year and the 2023 NL Most Valuable Player. In 2023, he had MLB’s first forty-homer (41) – 70-steal (73) season. Juan Sot0, .282-271-765, with 838 run scored 104 steals in nine seasons (2018-26). Soto is a five-time All Star and the 2020 NL batting champ. He has led the league in walks four times. There’s also Giancarlo Stanton. In 17 MLB seasons (2010-2026), Stanton is .258-456-1,183, with 951 runs scored. He’s also a five-time All Star, and the 2017 NL Most Valuable Player. He’s hit over twenty homers in 14 seasons (59 in 2017) and driven 100 or more runs in three.
Special Mention
Junior Caminero is in only his fourth MLB season (2023-26) and has played only two full seasons (2025-26). However, in those two most recent campaigns, he has gone .264-45-110 and .276-42-101. He was also an All Star in both seasons (and he’s only 23-years old). He’ll be climbing up these lists.
DH – Hall of Famer David Ortiz, in 20 MLB seasons (1997-2016), made ten All Star teams, hitting .286, with 541 home runs, 1,768 RBI and 1,419 runs scored. Ortiz hit 30 or more homers in ten seasons and drove in 100+ runs in ten. He led the league in homers once (54 for Boston in 2006) and in RBI three times (including 2016, his age-40 season, when he drove in 127).
Honorable Mention: Edgar Martinez. In 18 MLB seasons, he hit for a .312 average, with 309 home runs, 1,219 runs scored and 1,261 RBI. He was a seven-time All-Star, two-time batting champ, and retired with 2,247 hits – most accumulated at DH.
Current Roundtable All-Latino DH: Have to go with Astros’ DH Yordan Alvarez, who hit a league-leading .316 in 2026, with 42 home runs and 106 RBI. In eight MLB seasons, Alvarez has goner .300-212-599, wirth 534 runs scored.
Right-Handed Starter – Tough contest, but BBRT is selecting Hall member Pedro Martinez (who made it on the 2005 list along with Juan Marichal). Here’s my 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 holds a big lead in complete games 244 to 46, but led the league in complete games just 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.
Honorable Mentions: The aforementioned Juan Marichal tops this group. Bartolo Colon (247-188, 4.12) – how can you ignore a player known as “Big Sexy”, who also has four All Star selections, two twenty-win seasons and a Cy Young Award; Dennis Martinez (245-193, 3.70 in 22 MLB seasons), a four-time All Star; and Luis Tiant (229-172, 3.30), a four-time twenty-game winner.
Current Roundtable All-Latino Right-handed Starter: Although no single pitcher jumps off th page, I have to go with Freddy Peralta. Although he was only 10-011, 4.42 in 2026, he went 50-36, 3.65 from 2023 through 2026, leading he NL in win with 17 (versus 6 losses in 2025). Over a nine MLB seasons (2018-26, he is 80-53, 3.71).
Left-Handed Starter – For lefties, Fernando-mania (Fernando Valenzuela) reigns on both the 2005 and 2012 lists … although the statistics are far less gaudy than a handful of other Latino lefties. My selection is Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez, In 14 MLB seasons (1930-43), he went 189-102, 3.34 with 173 complete games and 28 shutouts in 320 states. Gomez was a seven-time All Star, four-time twenty-game winner (led the AL in wins twice), two-time AL ERA leader, three-time league leader in shutouts and three-time league leader in strikeouts.To add frosting to the cake, Gomez twice won pitching’s Triple Crown, leading the AL in wins, earned run average and strikeouts in 1934 & 1937.
Honorable Mentions: Fernando Valenzuela, a six-time All Star, rang up a 173-153, 3.54 career record (1980-91, 1993-97), 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. From 1981 through 1986, Valenzuela went 97-68, 2.97, with 84 complete games and 26 shutouts. Johann Santana wenty 139-78, 3.20 over 12 seasons (2000-2010, 2012). His spot here is supported by two Cy Young Awards. although he only led his league in wins once, he led in earned run average three times, strikeouts three times and innings pitched twice. Mike Cueller went 185-130, 3.14 over 15 seasons (1959, 1954-77). He won one Cy Young Award, led the league in wins once and had three seasons of 20 or more victories.
Current Roundtable All-Latino Top Left-handed Starter (tie): Framber Valdez has run up a 91-64, 3.46 over nine MLB seasons (2018-26),winning 10 or more games over each of the last six campaigns, Christopher Sanchez vaulted into a tie for this spot with his 18-7, 2.91 campaign in 2026. Over six MLB seasons, he is 48-28, 3.15.
Closer – All you need to say is Mariano Rivera and “case closed.” Hall of Famers Rivera racked up a major-league record 652 saves to go with an 82-60 record and 2.21 ERA, leading the AL in saves three times and earning 13 All-Star selections. Rivera racked up 30 or more saves in 16 of his 19 MLB seasons (1995-2013), 40 or more in seven of those seasons and fifty or more in two. He posted an earned run average under 2.00 in 11 seasons.. As a closer, he was as close to a sure thing as you can get.
Honorable Mention: Francisco Rodriguez notched 437 saves over 16 MLB seasons (2002-2017, leading the league in saves twice and setting the record for saves in a season, with 62 for the 2008 Angels. He had eight seasons of 35 plus saves. Of those, six were of forty or more. His final record was 52-53, 2,86, with those 437 saves.
Current Roundtable All-Latino Closer: Well, Aroldis Chapman was still active in in 2026 – and notched 35 saves, with a 1.92 ERA. That and his career (2010-2026 record of 63-52, 2.48 with 402 saves make him a current All-Latino Closer. (It would also make him an Honorable mention for the All-Time, All-Time list.) Chapman has ten seasons of 30 or more saves.
Primary Resources: Stathead.com/Baseball-Reference.com; The Forgotten & Amazing Latino All-Star Game, Michael Clair, Oct. 12, 2023 (MLB.com);
Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.
Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. For the full list click here.
I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT
Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here. More baseball commentary and blog post notifications.
Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.
P 1191
ARENADO HAS 383 HR, NOT 430.