All-Time Latino 9's in Major League Baseball

(Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

For Latinos living in the United States it is fiesta time.

This week it just started the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

It's the period to recognize the contributions of Hispanics to the United States and to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on Sept. 15 and ending on Oct. 15.

Every year Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Sept. 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico declared its independence on Sept. 16 and Chile on Sept. 18.

Oct. 12, Columbus Day or Dia de la Raza, also falls within this 30-day period.

As a very proud latino in this country, I have to acknowledge that one of the most notable contributions to the Nation’s history is baseball itself.

It is very true that baseball is the national pastime but also it have to be admitted that no matter were you look there is a latino star in most teams.

In the National League top candidate for MVP are Albert Pujols, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval.

In the American league a possible candidate for MVP should be Miguel Cabrera; Felix Hernandez  for the Cy Young Award and Elvis Andrus for Rookie of the Year. Watch out for Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez for the Comeback of the Year Award.

And in many other cities such names as Carlos Beltran, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Carlos Peña, Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero and David “Big Papi” Ortiz are not only ballplayers but also an integral part of their cities.

I can write an entire essay on this topic, however keeping it short, it’s a good time to bring in my opinion of the best 9 All-Time Latinos for each franchise.

Everyone I know have its own opinion. Because it is Hispanic Heritage Month I will come with the names of each Major League Baseball franchise in Spanish. I bet you can figure them out.

This season I have seen games played with their spanish uniforms such as Los Gigantes (San Francisco Giants); Los Marineros (Seattle Mariners) and just few days ago Los Marlins (Florida Marlins).

This is my own list of the top 9 Latinos by franchise:

LIGA AMERICANA

Orioles de Baltimore: Miguel Cuellar, Rafael Palmeiro, Miguel Tejada, Roberto Alomar, Luís Aparicio, Melvin Mora, Javier  López,  Bobby Bonilla, Rodrigo López

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