The History of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame
The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame was founded in the Mission District in San Francisco, California on October 24, 1998, and Incorporated as a 501c3 as a non-profit organization on June 23, 1999 in Sacramento, California by Gabriel “Tito” Avila, Jr. a former Semi-pro, Sandlot, High School, College player and a Vietnam Era Veteran from New York City and San Francisco resident who wanted to honor the greatest Hispanic Baseball position players of all time. The HHBMHOF is International Museum Hall of Fame dedicated to recognizing the contributions made to baseball by Hispanic players. Since its inception, the HHBMHOF has inducted (74) players, coaches, broadcasters, Negro Leagues Hispanic players, MLB Scorers, and Pioneer Executives. Founding members include Orlando Cepeda, Orlando Mercado and Tito 23 Fuentes.
The HHBMHOF also honors its (16) Pioneers beginning with Esteban Bellan of the Troy Haymakers a team for which he played for in (1869) of the (American Association 1860-1872) (National Amateur Association 1860-1870) based in Lasingburgh, New York post Major League Baseball from Cuba, Luis Castro of the Philadelphia Athletics from Colombia in (1902). Armando Marsans and Rafael Almeida of the Cincinnati Reds in (1911) from Cuba. Alfredo Cabrera of the St. Louis Cardinals in (1913) from Spain, Mel Almada of the Boston Red Sox in (1933) from Mexico, Alejandro Carrasquel of the Washington Senators in (1939) from Venezuela, Hiram Bithorn of the Chicago Cubs in (1942) from Puerto Rico, Humberto Robinson of the Milwaukee Braves from Panama in (1955), Ossie Virgil of the New York Giants in (1956) from the Dominican Republic, Dennis Martinez of the Baltimore Orioles from Nicaragua in (1976), Gerald Young of the Houston Astros in (1987) from Honduras, and Eloy “Buck” Canel, American Spanish Broadcaster of Major League Baseball and Ford Frick Award Winner (NBHOF) for broadcasting internationally spreading baseball to the radios of Latin America for four decades beginning in the 1940s. He also broadcast for both the New York Mets and New York Yankees from Argentina. Jose Mendez and Esteban Torriente Negro Leagues, Alex Pompez Executive Pioneer. Pedro Sierra, Former Major League Pitcher with the Washington Senators and the Minnesota Twins. The last Hispanic player to have signed a contract with the Negro Leagues as a Baseball player.
Tony Perez
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Pacific Bell Park California
San Francisco, California
3rd & 1st baseman
Felipe Alou
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Pacific Bell Park
San Francisco, California
Outfielder / First baseman & Manager
Rod Carew
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Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, California
First baseman & Second baseman
Luis Salazar
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AT&T Park
San Francisco, California
Outfielder, Shortstop,
& Third baseman
Edgardo Alfonzo
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Jacob Javits Center
New York, New York
Third baseman / Second baseman
