Latino Stars in Major League Baseball: From Bobby Abreu to Carlos Zambrano

(Hardback)

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Description

Some of the best players in Major League Baseball were born outside the United States, with Latino players representing one of the fastest growing ethnicities in the league. Current and former stars such as Albert Pujols, Rod Carew, and Miguel Cabrera all found incredible success in MLB. They have won major awards, guided their teams to the postseason, played in All-Star games, and an elite few have been enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Latino Stars in Major League Baseball: From Bobby Abreu to Carlos Zambrano celebrates the ever-increasing diversity of baseball in America. It includes more than 140 in-depth profiles of retired and active ballplayers representing countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. For many of these players, the road to The Show wasnt easydiscrimination, poverty, language barriers, and government restrictions are major obstacles that Latino players have faced in the past and continue to face today. Author Jonathan Weeks covers these struggles and more in the profiles, showing the players strength, resiliency, and ultimately, their rise to the top of professional baseball. Latino Stars in Major League Baseball is a definitive collection of the best and brightest Latino stars both past and present. Full of colorful anecdotes and inspiring stories, this book provides a rich understanding of Latino players impact on baseball in the United States.

Reviews

Baseball writer Jonathan Weekss latest book describes prominent individuals from Major League Baseballs most prolific source of foreign-born playersLatin America. In 11 chapters he briefly profiles the lives of a number of the best-known players from countries that have produced major leaguers, from the Dominican Republic (with 41 MLB players) to Puerto Rico (22), Venezuela (25), Cuba (25), Panama (9), Mexico (7), Colombia (4), Curacao (4), and Nicaragua, Honduras, and Brazil (1 each). Each chapter begins with an outline of the origins of baseball in that country (one-half to two pages), followed by player descriptions under the categories of Major Stars of the Past and Notable Active Players. Player information typically includes a little biographical background on birthplace and youth, minor and major league team affiliations, positions played and special playing characteristics, playing statistics and honors, injuries, and sometimes, personal characteristics, noteworthy events, and post-playing activities such as managing, coaching, and instruction. There are no photographs and, although more up-to-date, the information is much skimpier than what is found in Peter Bjarkmans Baseball with a Latin Beat (CH, Jun'95, 32-5719), and does not cover racial and language-use issues. * CHOICE *
It wasnt until I came across Latino Stars in Major League Baseball that I realized how many truly elite Latin American ballplayers have graced the major league stage. These players, retired and active, are presented herein with detailed biographies that remind all fans of the distinctive international contributions made over the decades by Hispanic big leaguers to the national pastime. -- Lou Hernndez, author of Baseballs Great Hispanic Pitchers
Jonathan Weeks has provided a useful survey for those interested in familiarizing themselves with some of baseballs more memorable Latino big leaguers. -- Peter C. Bjarkman, author of Cuba's Baseball Defectors: The Inside Story

Author Bio

Jonathan Weeksis a lifelong baseball enthusiast and member of the Society for American Baseball Research. He is the author ofCellar Dwellers: The Worst Teams in Baseball History(2012),Baseballs Most Notorious Personalities: A Gallery of Rogues(2013), Mudville Madness: Fabulous Feats, Belligerent Behavior, and Erratic Episodes on the Diamond(2014), and Baseballs Dynasties and the Players Who Built Them (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016).