Jeez, the Angels couldn't have let Albert Pujols ending his career with the dignity befitting a Hall of Fame player of his caliber? I'm disappointed in Art Moreno and the Angels for this one.

Gracias Albert. Te merecías un mejor final con los Ángeles.

Happy Birthday to José Fernández (July 31, 1992 - September 25, 2016) who was a dynamic player who was taken from this world way too soon. May You Forever Rest in Peace.

#JoséFernández #FloridaMarlins #MiamiMarlins #CubanBaseball #BeisbolCubano #LatinoBaseball #BeisbolLatino #LatinoBall #BaseballHistory #HistoriaDelBeisbol #Baseball #Beisbol #BaseballSisco

Feliz Cumpleaños to one of the best shortstops I ever had the chance to watch play: from Bani en la Republica Dominicana Miguel Tejada (May 25, 1974 - ) Tejada played in 1,152 consecutive games from 2000 -2007 and played in every single game from 2001 - 2006. ⁣

⁣#MiguelTejada #OaklandAs #OaklandAthletics #BaltimoreOrioles #HoustonAstros #SanDiegoPadres #SanFranciscoGiants #KansasCityRoyals #DominicanBaseball #BeisbolDominicano #LatinoBaseball #BeisbolLatino #LatinoBall #BaseballBirthday #Baseball #Beisbol #BaseballSisco

On This Day in Baseball History May 4, 1981: Brothers José and Héctor Cruz become the first set of Puerto Rican brothers to homer in the same game. José played for the Houston Astros while Héctor played for the Chicago Cubs. José hit a three run homer against Cubs starter Mike Krukow while Héctor hit a solo shot off of Astros reliever Bobby Sprowl.

For Further Reading:

Houston Astros at Chicago Cubs Box Score, May 4, 1981

José Cruz‘s career statistics from Baseball Reference

On This Day in Baseball History April 15, 1942: In an otherwise ordinary game between the St, Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs, relief pitcher “Tropical Hurricane” Hi Bithorn makes his debut. Hi Bithorn born Hiram Bithorn (March 18, 1916 - December 29, 1951) would be the first ever Major Leaguer from Puerto Rico. Bithorn who hailed from Santurce, Puerto Rico would pitch two innings in relief walking one and giving up no hits in the Cubs 4-2 loss.

Bithorn would pitch the 1942 and 1943 sesaons for the Cubs before entering the U.S. Navy during 1944 and 1945. Bithorn would return to the Cubs in 1946 and would be traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bithorn would be selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox where he would finish his MLB career 1947. His best season came in 1943 when he went 18-12 with a 2.60 ERA, and an MLB-best seven shutouts. He would continue to play in the minors including the Pacific Coast League Hollywood Stars before arm troubles would derail his playing career. 

With the color line still in place for another five years, Bithorn who was of Danish-German-Scottish and Spanish descent was of a lighter skin tone than other potential MLB caliber Latino players of the era and was fluent in English. That and a shortage of players due to the war effort opened the door for Bithorn in the Majors though his ethnicity was something that would create a cloud over him even after he served in the U.S. Navy for two years. 

Bithorn would never get to see the accolades that would be showered upon him as being the first Puerto Rican to play in the majors. Bithorn would be shot and killed under suspicious circumstances in Mexico on December 29, 1951. The stadium named after him in San Juan has hosted a number of  MLB Baseball Series, World Baseball Classic brackets and the 22 “home” games of the then Montreal Expos in 2003. 

For Further Reading:

Hiram Bithorn’s Career Statistics from Baseball Reference

PUERTO RICO’S HIRAM BITHORN PAVED THE WAY FOR A NATION OF BASEBALL STARS by Andrew Kivette from the National Baseball Hall of Fame website

CARDS’ TIMELY HITS DEFEAT CUBS, 4 TO 2 from the April 15, 1942 edition of the New York Times.

Hi Bithorn by Jane Allen Quevedo from SABR: The Society for American Baseball Research

HIRAM BITHORN STADIUM – HONORING A BASEBALL LEGEND from Puerto Rico.com