A history of Latino baseball players in the United States, along with individual biographies of current star players, concentrating on fielders.

Photographer Villegas and sportswriter Wendel dramatically reveal the energy, talent, and hard-driving ambition of baseball players from Venezuela to the Dominican Republic, both the few who make it and the many who don't.

Profiles some of baseball's present and past superstars who are from Spanish-speaking countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico, including Roberto Clemente, the Alou brothers, and Miguel Tejada.

A history of Latino baseball players in the United States, along with individual biographies of current star players, concentrating on hitters.

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” wasn’t easy—discrimination, 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.

Mexican American Baseball in the San Fernando Valley explores the teams and players that dotted the valley landscape throughout the 20th century. In a time and place where Mexican Americans were closed off from many city recreation centers, neighborhoods formed their own teams. Baseball and softball reinforced community and regional ties, strengthened family bonds, instilled discipline and dedication that translated into future professional careers, provided women opportunities outside their traditional roles in the home, and fostered lifelong friendships. These photographs serve as a lens to both local sports history and Mexican American history.

Long before Blacks and Hispanics became accepted in professional baseball in the U.S., a blazing-fast Mexican-American, Leo Najo, rose to national prominence. Overcoming great adversity, he transformed himself into one of the greatest players of the early 20th century.

Details the history and contributions of Latin American players in major league baseball, describing the obstacles, including racism, that they have had to face.

Explores the unique experiences of Latin American baseball players in the Major Leagues, including Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, and Jose Santana; their struggles, disapointments, and sometimes enormous successes.