This post was inspired by a couple of things. First, David Ortiz and Minnie Minoso were elected to the Hall of Fame, and a suggestion by one of our readers on my post about Larry Doby. The Dominican, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, have all contributed many players to the big leagues. But Mexico, Panama, and Columbia have also sent players to the majors.
By country here are the counts, these are players on the 26 man rosters as of the beginning of last season. Dominican, 126, Venezuela, 101, Puerto Rico, 30, Cuba, 27, Mexico, 17, Columbia, 11, and Panama, 9. That makes 24.1% of all major league players heading into last season were from Hispanic countries. Players from the US make up 73.1% of MLB players. The other 3.8% are a mixed bag. Currently, only 1% come from Asia.
Esteban Bellan was the first Latin player in professional baseball in the United States. He was born in Havana, Cuba. He first played in the National Association of Baseball Players from 1868-1870. When the NABP ceased operations and the National Association of Professional Baseball Players was formed, he was a member of the Troy Haymakers when they joined that association. They became the New York Mutuals and he played for them until 1873. He then went back to Cuba to play in their newly formed leagues. His club, Club Habana, won the first-ever pro game in Cuba, 51-9, on December 27, 1874. He continued as a player and manager and his influence on the Cuban game was felt long after he retired.
There would not be another until 1902 when Luis Castro, from Columbia, would play in 42 games for the World Champion Philadelphia A’s. Castro hit .245 with a homer and 15 RBIs He played second base. He died in New York City in 1941.
In 1911, the Reds called up a pair of Cuban players, Armando Marsans and Rafael Alameida. Alameida spent 3 years in the bigs. Marsans, who started out as a rising star, was derailed by injuries, and last played in 1918 for the Yankees. In 1914, the Boston Braves brought another Cuban, Adolph Luque to the majors. He was from La Habana Cuba. He was a RH pitcher. Luque did not show much with the Braves over two seasons, but in 1918, with the Reds, he started showing what he could really do. It culminated with a brilliant 1923 season where he went 27-8 with a 1.93 ERA to lead the league. He also pitched two years for the Dodgers, 30-31 going 21-14 with an ERA of 4.30 those two seasons. He also helped the NY Giants win a World Series in 1933 with a solid relief appearance in game 7. The Pride of Havana, he had a career record of 194-179 with a 3.24 ERA. He is credited with being the first Latino player with 100 wins, and the first to pitch in a World Series. He is a member of the Reds Hall of Fame. He pitched 20 years in the majors.
The 1930s saw a spike in Hispanic players coming into the league. In 1933, Baldomero Almada became the first Mexican-born player to play in the majors when he came to the Red Sox. He would play for 7 years. In 1938, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, a Cuban player turned coach, became the interim manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming the first Hispanic to hold that post.
When WWII came along, an estimated 500 American major league players began trading their uniforms for military uni’s. Teams tried to offset this by using Cuban and players from other emerging nations to fill the holes. The Senators benefited from the infusion, winning a pennant in 1945 with a team comprised of mostly Cubans. But at about the same time, a couple of brothers started a Mexican professional league. They promised competitive salaries and would allow players of color into the league. Commissioner Happy Chandler said that anyone who played in that league would not be allowed to play in the Majors. One of those eventually suspended for three years was Dodger catcher, Mickey Owens. Sal Maglie was also on that list.
Jackie breaking the color barrier changed everything. Jackie and Doby are now in the league, and that began to open the door for dark-skinned Hispanics to also be allowed to play. The first was Minnie Minoso. Minoso was a very good player, and he was asked to play in the 1951 All-Star game along with Alfonso Carrasquel. They were considered to be the first Latinos in the mid-summer classic.
Now the floodgates started to open. The Dodgers got in on the act too. One of the first was Luis Olmo. Olmo, who played the outfield and 3rd and 2nd base, came to Brooklyn in 1943. He played until 1945, then was gone for 3 years coming back to the Dodgers in 1949. He finished up playing two seasons for the Boston Braves. Olmo twice hit .300 for the Dodgers. They signed a kid named Clemente in the early ’50s. But his credentials would be earned elsewhere. Sandy Amoros is also on this list.
In 1961, Castro shut down the Cuban league. Along with the demise of the Negro Leagues, this started an influx of players from all over the Latin American nations. Puerto Rico, Panama, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. Players like Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Tony Olivo, Rod Carew, Tony Perez. All became huge stars. The impact of these players is also felt because a player who was a legend in his home country of Cuba, Martin Dihigo, who was a dynamic player who played in the Cuban, Negro, and Mexican Leagues, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977 without ever having played an MLB game. Dihigo could play all nine positions. Clemente became a star in the ’60s. He played on the 1960 World Champion Pirates and would later help them to a title in 1971, getting his 3000th hit in the 1972 season. Sadly, he was lost in a plane crash while on a humanitarian flight to Nicaragua on New Year’s eve in 1972.
The Dodgers had a few Latin players during the ’60s and ’70s. Most notably, Camilo Pasqual and Zoilo Versalles. Phil Ortega, Luis Alcaraz, Manny Mota, Jose Pena, Ivan DeJesus, Orlando Alvarez, Juan Marichal, Henry Cruz, Ellie Rodriguez, Sergio Robles, Teddy Martinez, Vic Davalillo, Rafael Landestoy, Elias Sosa, Bobby Castillo, Pedro Guerrero. None of these players could really be considered stars. Some were very solid major leaguers like Mota and Davalillo. Guererro was just starting his career. But late in the 1980 season, locked in a tight division race with the Astros, a young man from Mexico would pitch in 10 games allowing no earned runs and winning two games. In 1981, he would change the face of the Dodgers forever.
Fernando Valenzuela burst on the scene in 1981 and was the talk of the league. The 20 year old with the baffling screwball and the poise of a 20-year veteran led the Dodgers to the front of the division. He would go on to win the ROY award and the Cy Young award. Becoming the only rookie pitcher to ever manage that feat. Along with that, he brought thousands of Hispanic fans to Dodger Stadium. And he was in reality the first Hispanic star in Dodger history. He continues his legacy as a Spanish language broadcaster along with Jamie Jarrin for the Dodgers.
Many have followed in his footsteps. Adrian Gonzalez was another Mexican-born star the Dodgers brought in to excite the fans. Ramon Martinez, his brother Pedro, one of my favorites in his short stint as a Dodger, Jose Lima. Yasiel Puig was one of the more talented players the Dodgers ever signed. Unfortunately, he was also a head case. Lately, their Cuban connection has brought more misses than hits. But at this point in time, there are some very talented Hispanics in the majors. One of them, many Dodger fans would love to see targeted when he becomes a free agent, Juan Soto.
Clemente was the first elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973. Since then Dihigo was elected in 77. Marichal, 83, Aparicio, 84, Carew, 91, Cepeda, 99, Perez, 2000, Jose Mendez, 06, Cristobal Torriente, 06, Alomar, 11, P. Martinez, 15, I. Rodriguez, 17, Guererro, 18, E. Martinez, 19, M. Rivera, 19, and this season, Ortiz, Minoso and Oliva. Albert Pujols is a sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer when he is eligible.
Major league baseball continues to get an influx of players from Hispanic countries. Or Latin countries to most. The Dodgers also continue to sign players from those countries during the international signing period. Several of those players are moving up the ladder towards playing at Dodger Stadium sometime in the future. On the 40 man right now, V. Gonzalez, Graterol, Nunez, Urias, Amaya, Rios, Vivas. In the top 30 prospects, Cartaya, Vargas, Diaz, Rodriguez, Valera, Ramos, Duran, Galiz, DeJesus, and Ortiz.
The future is in their hands. And MLB has plenty more of those kids in the rest of the leagues minor leaguers and rosters. While I am at it, we may as well also give kudos to the Dodgers’ long use of Spanish language broadcasters. Starting with Jaime Jarrin who was also just selected for the Hall of Fame. Over the years he has had several partners in the booth. Jarrin joined the Dodgers team in 1959, but the first broadcaster in the booth was Rene Cardenas. He was joined by Milt Navas for the 1958 season.
With Jarrin becoming the number one in 59, his booth partners have included, Cardenas, Miguel Alonzo, Jose Garcia, Rudy Hoyos, Richard Choi, Pepe Yniguez, Fernando, and Jaime’s son, Jorge, who will carry on his father’s legacy. Jose Mota, Manny’s boy, tweeted on his Twitter account that he will be joining the Dodger team at Sportsnet LA this year.
Nice piece Old Bear! There’s been a lot of great Latino players in baseball and I think they’re deeply ingrained in the fabric of our sport. But, no one had a bigger impact than Fernando and it was great for our latino population in Los Angeles. There was absolutely nothing like it. In comparison, as amazing as Shohei Ohtani is, his celebrity is nothing compared to Fernando.
Speaking of Latino Players and the Dodgers, which was the bigger mistake, letting Pedro or Roberto get away?
The word on the street is the Player’s offer went backwards.
I’m trying to be patient, but I’m starting to get really steamed. The statements released by the players are tone-deaf. Especially from Wood (never completes a full season actually earning his contract), and Stripling (poster boy for replacement players).
Max Scherzer is quickly joining the company of Machado, Tatis and Correa on my hate list. He’s going to become the poster boy for bad contracts over the next three years.
The owners and slightly less bad. It’s time for them to put together an offer that includes an increase to the CBT that’s comparable to past CBAs.
The Angels have had some of the worst contracts in baseball since Arte took control of the team and he has the nerve to vote against raising the CBT is a pretty good sized market. Time for Arte to sell. He’s clearly not good at this.
The 4 teams that voted not to raise the CBT are 4 of the worst owners in baseball with horrible results. The D-Backs and the Greinke deal, Reds and Votto, Tigers and Miggy, Angels with Pujols have all made really bad deals. And now they want a mechanism to save them from themselves? What a joke!
At least we’re getting some good updates on our prospects. Diego Cartaya is already looking like a generational type player. Something clicked with Pages. Pepiot is ready to join the rotation right now and Miller is hitting triple digits consistently.
Let’s just televise Minor League Baseball while we’re waiting for the spoiled Major Leaguers to finish their vacations. I’m so sick of this.
Oh Geez Bullpen, they can’t broadcast minor league spring training games. Didn’t you read the spin MLB used to justify why no fans have been allowed in to watch the minor leaguers work out this spring? That would open up an opportunity for those wily scouts to enter like ordinary fans and gain secret information on prospects. That classified information can be used in a Rule 5 Draft (if there is one and if it’s not in December, like usual)
Broadcasting games would expose players to being watched. As it stands now only five teams are allowing scouts (AND FANS) from other organizations to watch their minor league players; the Reds, Brewers, A’s, Rays and Seattle Mariners.
I, personally, would sell cheap beer and welcome all fans in to watch the minor leaguers. I’d make it a party. But those damn scouts would wreck everything. They sneak around, hide in the bushes and obtain a wealth of valuable information on players. You know, what’s different from 5 months ago when they were actually playing baseball. Information of course, that wasn’t previously available “in the book” on a player’s entire career and will be on public display again soon, when their leagues start in a month. Keep those Fans Out. There are scouts lurking everywhere.
I’m still ranting. Here’s a list of teams that have been to the World Series since the last time the Yankees have been to the World Series in 2009…
Phillies
Giants
Rangers
Cardinals
Tigers
Red Sox
Mets
Cubs
Indians
Dodgers
Astros
Nationals
Rays
Braves
Looks pretty competitive to me. The small market clubs are obviously able to compete with the big boys. The only team that’s entered bankruptcy in that time has been the Dodgers and their owners at the time used the team as an ATM machine, so it’s not like anyone is going broke running a team.
The players are just as bad. There seems to be more players that don’t earn their contracts than ones that do. There’s an endless list of guys like Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, Vernon Wells, Andruw Jones, Jason Schmidt, Carl Crawford that boat anchored their respective teams into mediocrity.
There’s plenty of money in the game, be happy with what you have and make a deal. In a time when everyone seems to be getting poorer by the day as gas prices hit $5/Gallon Nationally, these idiots are crying over millions. It’s a very bad look.
Ya missed the Royals. They lost to the Giants in 2014. Then they beat the Mets in 2015. Gas here is about 3.60. But I expect that will change. At 5 bucks a gallon, that would cost me 100 dollars to fill my tank. Ain’t happening.
Good catch, so that’s 15 teams in the last 12 years. Not too bad. It’s apparent that small market teams aren’t at as much of a disadvantage as they want everyone to believe. Sure, some of those teams “tanked” for a few years. But, they’re about to get an International Draft that will give them another advantage by drafting higher than teams that continually win.
I think it would be more fair to raise the CBT so that larger market teams can compete without getting those sweet draft picks. Maybe they should implement a rule that states that each team gets into the lottery avery 5 years so that the stars coming out of prep and college actually have a chance of being developed by better teams. Maybe that will generate more interest in the sport as whole having a star player actually drafted by a team with a nation wide fan base.
Another interesting piece Michael – I always learn new things from your posts.
Mark – from the end of the last thread
Does that mean that you have banned Badger from LADT, or that he chooses not to post, because he certainly posted recently?
Don’t say his name three times or he might reappear. 😉
Maybe he doesn’t have anything to say now that politics are banned.
Maybe he’s too busy teaching Kershaw how to throw a change up or working with Belli on his batting stance.
Thank you. I like it when I can post a subject everyone enjoys.
He is not banned.
“Badger does not frequent this place anymore… and there are many others as well. They did their “drive-by political shootings” for years, but then when I do it, they suddenly don’t want to hear it. They like to play offense, not defense.”
Not true. I gave my opinion on Ricketts and Schott and you took offense. Offense and defense. Aren’t you weary of that by now? I am.
I’ve known for years where you stand, and when it comes to politics, it’s my opinion you and your conservative posse here are on the wrong side of history. There aren’t political “discussions” here. Never have been. It’s always been skirmishes. It’s libtards vs repugnantcans and it’s tiresome.
I still read here occasionally. Most of whom I consider the more interesting posters are gone or only post infrequently. William, AC, MP. Bum, Jefe, Bluto, and a few others.
Good piece this morning Bear. Baseball history is fascinating. Baseball present isn’t.
Not that it really makes any difference, but MLB is losing me. I’ve tried to hang in there but it’s hard to relate to today’s game. It’s all ego and money. As Kornheiser likes to say “whatever your question the answer is money”.
Thanks for the birthday wishes W. When I lived in Arizona I would go to Camelback this time every year. Great memories. I’ll live with them for now.
Peace to all. Won’t likely happen but, I do wish it for everyone.
“I gave my opinion on Ricketts and Schott and you took offense.”
This is so disingenuous! You implied he was a racist just like Marge Scott, and that she was, “his kind of woman”
I HATE lying. Hate it!
I’m not a super long time reader of this blog, but I was around a few years ago when you disbanded your original blog, wrote with Scott Andes on his blog and then moved back over here. There was a little bit of a Jets vs. Sharks thing between Scott’s blog and this one, and some of the things I saw Badger (and others) write regarding you is stuff that, to me, would be unforgivable. …. just vile stuff … like the worst thing you could ever say about someone – all done behind a keyboard, which makes it worse.
You offered an olive branch and he came over here, offers a decent baseball take every now and then, but continues to be disrespectful and snide. You disagree with his world view about political stuff and he simply cannot let it go. Ever.
As far as I can tell you simply wrote a lengthy bio about a baseball owner he hates for ideological reasons and he threw a temper tantrum, called you a racist and rage quit.
He can’t stop, and I just don’t really like reading his stuff anyway.
I talk to Badger a lot. He posts when he feels he has something to say. Otherwise, he stays to himself.
What always fascinated me was the quantity of MLB players from the Dominican Republic. It’s a baseball factory; more so than any other Latin American country and, per capita, I’m sure much more than the U.S.
Baseball is a part of the culture there, and when you have players that graduate to the big leagues, they become role models for young Dominican kids. Soon the league sets op baseball academies that further identify and cultivate talent, and you have a critical mass of baseball excellence.
Culture is a powerful shaper of behavior.
Got me thinking about the difference between the DR and Haiti. Why are there no Haitian players? Both countries inhabit the same island and, as far as I know, are not all that genetically different from each other, but not only does the DR produce many more MLB players, but they have one of the fastest growing GDPs in the Americas. Haiti is a failed state. It’s like the difference between North and South Korea.
Seeing Many Mota mentioned in the article reminded me of the Many Mota reference in Airplane.
https://youtu.be/CahNAauFgys
Horrible apostrophe usage in the blog title.
Please fix?
Not an English major. It is what it is. You the grammar police? If I were a professional writer, I could say whoops. Since I got a D in my last English class, I really don’t care if I make mistakes.
I don’t either, but we should fix them? No?
If there was auto correct maybe. Why don’t you post here what I did wrong and I will go on the homepage and correct it so you feel better.
Hispanics not Hispanic’s!
Thanks.
Happy now? Sheesh.
100%
Perfectionist.
Interesting post Bear. Thanks. Ted Williams’ mother had Mexican parents.
I had read that somewhere.
I’m with Badger on this,
“ but MLB is losing me “
yes, sad to say. Most of us here love baseball, at least the game we played decades ago. So sad that the current business model has ruined that game for so many of us.
Lots of good reporting out there.
Rosenthal has a nice piece on the theory of the CBT.
Ninety-six days into the owners’ lockout, the thresholds are perhaps the most contentious element of the negotiations between the league and union. The players want the thresholds to rise, believing some teams treat the initial level as a de facto salary cap. The owners say increasing the thresholds will lead to greater payroll disparity and competitive imbalance, even though spending does not always correlate to winning.
Manfred said the thresholds are not functioning in that manner.
“Gene is certainly correct that the competitive-balance tax thresholds were not intended to operate as a cap. And I do not believe that they have,” Manfred said. —ED NOTE: It’s unclear if Manfred was laughing audibly or internally when he said this.
In another article, Rosenthal reports:
For the league to move closer to the union’s desired thresholds, which start at $238 million, it would want a variety of adjustments, including a pre-arbitration bonus pool lower than the union’s latest proposal of $80 million and sharp penalties for teams that exceed the thresholds by the highest amounts. Perhaps most important, it would want the union to accept a streamlined process for implementing rules changes beyond the 2023 season.
Drellich picks up on an above poster’s comments:
The biggest move in Sunday’s proposal from the players to the owners appeared to be outside of core economics. The players agreed, contingent on other things, to an element the league was seeking regarding on-field rule changes: the ability for the commissioner to put in a pitch clock, larger bases or restrictions on the shift, as early as the 2023 season.
The Players Association also dropped its proposed starting point for a pre-arbitration bonus pool to $80 million, down from $85 million.
Despite those changes, the league said the proposal was moving backward. The league alleged that the MLBPA said verbally in Florida last week that the players were in a different place on the pre-arbitration bonus pool than what they proposed on Sunday.
ESPN expands further:
A union official said they disagreed with the league’s assertion it was a step backwards, pointing out they’ve made concessions on many of the issues, including dropping Super 2 expansion as well as any changes to free agency. They also view agreeing to an expanded postseason as a concession for the league.
Just a final anecdotal note, if you are interested in “both sidesing” the perspectives, it’s my opinion that Passan and Fangraphs tend to cover the negotiations more from the player’s perspective, while Mark Feinsand, tends to offer the MLB angle.
I’ve known for years where you stand, and when it comes to politics, it’s my opinion you and your conservative posse here are on the wrong side of history. There aren’t political “discussions” here. Never have been. It’s always been skirmishes. It’s libtards vs repugnantcans and it’s tiresome.
I still read here occasionally. Most of whom I consider the more interesting posters are gone or only post infrequently. William, AC, MP. Bum, Jefe, Bluto, and a few others.
So, basically he has little to say without injecting politics into the mix. The price of everything is up, we look like we’re on the verge of WW3, the Democrats are in control of all three branches of government and he has the mental dysfunction of saying conservatives are on the wrong side of history? What a joke!
The most interesting people on this site happen to share his political views. No surprise there.
I think this post was in reply to another post, but is out of place geographically?
Not just politics. Also values.
We’re all Dodger fans. That is the common thread. Drifting from that theme exposes differences. Not a lot of baseball to talk about, and what there is exposes political differences. There’s management and union labor. Many of the older posters may have been involved in these type of negotiations. I have more than once, never from the side of management. I was a Union man when I was younger. But a union of millionaires changes things. For me anyway. Maybe when it’s over we can get back to discussing the game. For me that remains to be seen.
We all are fans of the game and the Dodgers. But baseball is making that hard to sustain right now. Thanks for reminding me my posts are not interesting! LOL. Be well my friend.
Just keeping you humble Bear. Glad you’re not hibernating and continue to give us a peek into history.
Thanks. But it is hard to be humble when your perfect in every way……Mac Davis
So this Blog is slowly going back to Politics. I wish it wouldn’t but I just read here and skip over the crap I don’t want to read. I guess I’m tired of skipping these days because you have to read some of the post in order to find out if you are skipping the rest of it or not. Baseball used to be the first and last thing I would think about each day but greed appears to be taking over the world right now. If the owners and players don’t get their shit together quickly, I will skip over the season. I’m feed up with most things these days. Thanks to the guys to try to keep this site going and talk about baseball.
No it is not. Politics only discussed when they affect the game. Not much baseball news going on right now. Although this little Dodger tidbit appeared on MLBTR. Max Muncy gave an update to his recovery and says he is doing well and should be ready for opening day whenever that is. He also said he would gladly move to 2nd base if the Dodgers were to somehow sign Freddie Freeman. He actually prefers 2nd to 1st.
Thanks for talking about baseball history when nothing else is going on.
My pleasure. I love the history of the game.
So this Blog is slowly going back to Politics
Nope, only insofar as it applies to baseball… now.
Love this blog, not only a great site for Dodger fans but morphing into
a pretty good ‘ grumpy old men’s club too!
My mother told my wife it happened to my father in his later years, is it inevitable ?
I am not a grumpy old man and if you say it again, I’ll beat the hell out of you!
😉
Now get off my lawn!
I am not grumpy yet, but I could get that way. LOL
Well done Bobo.
I have a couple of comments:
AND
That them for what you make of them.
I have learned them both!
It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble.
It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.
MARK TWAIN
Someone asked about Haiti and why there are no Haitien baseball players when they are on the same island.
I was on the board of Directors for a non-profit called The Gift of Water https://giftofwater.org/ I resigned right before the pandemic and I just looked and they still have me on the board, but I really am not. However, as a person who has been to Haiti several times, I have to say it is “culture” – they are good, kind people, who do not work too hard at anything. This is a typical home in the poor area of Cap Haitien:
The people are concerned with staying alive today and maybe tomorrow. They have no long-term ambitions. They try to live despite not having any water treatment plant, sewage treatment plants, or sewers and no trash and garbage pickup!
I have been to Haiti a few times and have been involved with serving Haitians for more than 10 years.
Haiti has a heartbreaking history of slavery, and political oppression.
Once considered the
Crown Jewel of the Caribbean, it is now a cesspool. The national sport is soccer but kids hardly have a chance to go out to play games.
Haitians are lovely people and the country is geographically beautiful, but the oppression forced upon them by the Spanish, French, their own leaders after the slave revolution and UN and US intervention has crippled them.
“I HATE”…… dodgerpatch
Make Haiti (slash Dominican) our 51st state and appoint patch as governor. It would be redder than Marge.
Left your name out Bear, but, you know me well enough to know we’re good.
Ha ha ha ha!
Yes, I also hate cancer, cruelty to animals, genocide, and stubbing my toe, among other things.
… and lying. That was the word you left out that completed the meaning of my sentence and, by it’s deliberate omission from your quote, is an example of a lie.
I wonder if you actually believe your own lies. You must. Otherwise, one would think you’d realize some self-reflection may be in order.
A little aside about countries and Haiti …
The Ukraine conflict got me doing a little reading on things like NATO, the EU and a lot of the former Soviet satellite states. I got to reading a little about Estonia, which is one of the Baltic states that was part of the Soviet Union and is right on the Russian border.
When the USSR dissolved in 1991 and Estonia gained its independence, it actually wasn’t quite sure how it should govern as an independent democracy. Those political institutions and ideas were forcibly purged from their culture, and there was no history of self-governance since 1949 when it was absorbed by the USSR.
Their newly elected Prime Minister had a monumental task at hand and had to learn on the fly. He learned how to set up how the government and the economy should be managed by reading a Milton Friedman book. No joke.
Now it is a consistent top 10 to top 5 in measured indices of economic and political freedom. It has been a miraculous success story. The typical Estonian makes 2-3 times what a neighboring Russian makes and has a thriving middle class. Two weeks ago I had didn’t really know where it was. Now I wouldn’t mind living there.
Civil liberties, economic freedom and opportunity, the rule of law and limited and transparent government – it’s a formula that works. Send me to Haiti with a Milton Friedman book. I’ll turn it into Switzerland in no time. 😉
I’ve actually heard that Estonia is a great place to visit, and that Tallin is an amazing city.
It’s on my list
It’s cold. Beautiful, but cold.
This is why you need to add a like button.
Gross….LOL
What it that on top of your head?
I believe it is called hair!
Yikes, who knows where that tongue has been.
Me!
Patch, I’d pay for you to fly there on first class
( if there was a first class ) and by that book for you too, if there was any chance of the success you promise.
And how about you turn it into Estonia instead of Switzerland.
Haiti is tragic case of corruption by leadership destroying its infrastructure and distorting culture and expectations. My response to Haiti was tongue-in-cheek – it needs some serious rebuilding – but the Estonian model is actually inspiring. Maybe Haiti will get a visionary and honest leader who can start to turn it around.
https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/16868/
Thanks bear, for another interesting article. You’re great at researching for all this material. You mentioned that Minnie Minoso and Alfonso Carrasquel were the first Hispanics to play in an All Star game. I had no idea who Alfonso Carrasquel was, but I sure remembered Chico Carrasquel. Well, it turns out that Chico was Alfonso’s nick name. BTW he had an Uncle (Alex) who pitched for the Senators in the 40’s.
I did not remember that Camilo Pasqual pitched for the Dodgers. I remember him pitching for the Senators along with another Hispanic pitcher, Pedro Ramos.
Pasqual pitched in 10 games for the Dodgers in 1970. He was 0-0 with a 2.57 ERA. He was a Dodger for exactly 12 days. Pretty busy in those 12 days. He also pitched against the Dodgers in the 1965 World Series.
Fascinating article, Bear! Thank you
You are welcome Bobby. I love what I do.
Dodgers signed utility man Ty Kelly to a minor league deal.
An excellent read from the LA Dodger’s official page:
Dodgers farm system showing ‘high quality’ early into 2022
Bold prediction…………….an agreement on a new CBA is reached tonight and ST opens Friday. A guy can hope can’t he?