Detroit Free Press, Archyde, Latino Baseball Illustration It was just another early summer game between two losing teams, and it wouldn’t have normally merited much attention unless you were a rabid fan of the Tigers or Royals. But on this this day in béisbol, June 25, 2002, the big story was in the opposing dugouts: For the first time in MLB history, both managers were born in the Dominican Republic. The hometown Kansas City skipper was Tony Peña, the Monte Cristi, D.R., native and former All-Star catcher who would go on to win Manager of the Year in 2003.  Leading

NY Times, Latino Baseball Illustration By Robert Dominguez Anyone who still needed convincing that Nolan Arenado was the best third baseman in any league needn’t have looked any further than this day in béisbol, June 18, 2017, when the young Rockies star hit for a rare cycle. And then capped the day with a thrilling walk-off homer. Batting third against the Giants at Colorado, Arenado hit a triple to right in the bottom of the first, stroked a single in the fourth and had an RBI double in the sixth before striking out swinging in the seventh. Despite his hot

The Starting Nine, Latino Baseball Illustration By Robert Dominguez He was a solid starter on some pretty good Baltimore teams, but Dennis Martinez always lived in the shadows of big-name, Cy Young-quality teammates like Jim Palmer, Mike Flanagan and Steve Stone. By 1986, the under-appreciated Martinez was deemed expendable by the Orioles after winning 108 games in a little over 10 years with the team. On this day in béisbol, June 16, 1986, Martinez and his magnificent mustache were dealt — dumped, really — to the Montreal Expos for a player to be named later. The Nicaragua native was 32 years

By Robert Dominguez He didn’t look the part of the slugger, but Roberto Clemente could bash with the best of ‘em. The Pirates right fielder had by this day in béisbol, June 5, 1966, established himself as a five-tool superstar. Yet he was also deceptively powerful for his size — a modest 5-feet, 11 inches and 175 pounds. While he didn’t hit a lot of homers compared to other big boppers of the day, Pittsburgh fans were long used to his tape-measure long balls. In a June 5 victory over the Astros, Pirates first baseman Willie Stargell went 5-for-5 with

He was a winner on the mound, a threat at the plate and a cancer in the clubhouse, but Carlos Zambrano was never boring. On this day in béisbol, June 3, 2012, the colorful ex-Cub pitcher hit his 24th and final lifetime home run in a game against the Phillies — while pitching for the Miami Marlins. The Venezuela native was in his first and only season with Miami after 11 years with Chicago when he hit a blast to deep center in the top of the third inning. The home run tied him with Cardinals ace Bob Gibson for

One of baseball’s best pure hitters walked away from the game on this day in béisbol, June 2, 1986, after a brilliant 19-year career. Rod Carew, the Panama-born infielder with the smooth lefty stroke, made the mistake of turning 40 and earning a then-big bucks salary of close to $1 million when he called it quits after seven years with the California Angels. The team declined to resign him at the start of the ’86 season, and the proud Panamanian decided to go out on his terms despite other offers. “I made my decision … ,” he told reporters. “Rod

By Robert Dominguez It was a wild week for Jose Canseco, even by his standards. On this day in béisbol, May 29, 1993, the controversial, muscle-bound slugger ended his season after just 60 games when he injured his right arm — pitching. Canseco, then 28 and in his second year with the Rangers after a trade from Oakland, was the DH in a game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park that soon turned into a rout.  In the bottom of the eighth, with the Rangers down 12-1 and not wanting to waste their bullpen, Canseco volunteered to pitch an

By Robert Dominguez Mariano Rivera lived a Dickensian drama on this day in béisbol, May 28 — in games 13 years apart. It was the best of times for the future Hall of Famer on that date in 2000, as Rivera recorded his career 300th save after just three-and-a-half years as the Yankees’ full-time closer. The milestone came in a 7-5 win against Tampa Bay, and made him the 17th pitcher — and first Yankee — to reach that milestone. Exactly 13 years later, Rivera lived through one of the worst of times in his otherwise brilliant career.  The Panama-born