Hey Brewer

As a huge baseball fan, and a proud Mexican, I have started to notice a decline in the amount of Mexican born players succeeding in the major leagues. I began to wonder though, am I noticing a decline or have there just not been that many Mexican players?

The 80’s were dominated by Fernando-mania and the 90’s had us following Vinny Castilla. But after his retirement, there really aren’t that many Mexican players left in the league. I went back to study all the Mexican born players in the history of baseball and came up with an all time All Star Team.

I visited baseball-reference.com in order to easily sort through all of the players statistics and it was here that I came across the most startling statistic of all. In MLB history there have only been 101 Mexican born players to take the field, the first of these was Mel Almada in 1933 for the Boston Red Sox.

I know that there are many more American born players who come from Mexican parents and claim Mexican heritage, but for the purpose of this list, I am sticking solely to those players born in Mexico.

In order to break the team down by position, I had to place some players in a position that was not their everyday position, their everyday position is denoted in parentheses. I only had about 40 or so players to choose from, so the final team isn’t exactly Murderer’s Row. For the pitching staff I brought in 5 starting pitchers, 3 middle relievers and a closer.

Without further ado, here is my team:

• C Alex Treviño - Monterrey, Nuevo León - Mets, Reds, Braves, Giants, Dodgers, Astros - youngest player in baseball during ‘78 and ‘79 seasons
• 1B (DH) Erubiel Durazo - Hermosillo, Sonora - D’Backs, A’s - recieved 3 MVP votes in 2004
• 2B (SS) Mario Mendoza - Chihuaha, Chihuaha - Pirates, Mariners, Rangers - Mendoza Line, ’nuff said
• 3B Vinny Castilla - Oaxaca, Oaxaca - Braves, Rockies, Rays, Astros, Nationals, Padres - greatest Mexican offensive player in MLB history, 320 career HRs, 2 time All Star, 3 Silver Slugger Awards, 2004 RBI leader, received MVP votes in ‘95, ‘97, ‘98, ‘04

Vinicio
• SS Ruben Amaro - Veracruz, Veracruz - Cardinals, Phillies, Yankees, Angels - 1964 Gold Glove winner
• OF Karim Garcia - Cd. Obregon, Sonora - Dodgers, D’Backs, Tigers, Orioles, Indians, Yankees, Mets - youngest player in MLB during ‘95 season
• OF (2B, DH) Jorge Orta - Mazatlan, Sinaloa - White Sox, Indians, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Royals - 2 time All Star, twice batted over .300
• OF (2B) Bobby Avila - Veracruz, Veracruz - Indians, Orioles, Red Sox, Braves - 3 time All Star, finished 3rd in MVP voting in 1954, received MVP votes in ‘51, ‘52 and ‘54
• DH (3B) Aurelio Rodriguez - Cananea, Sonora - Angels, Senators, Tigers, Padres, Yankees, White Sox, Orioles - 1976 Gold Glove winner

Pitching Staff:

• SP Fernando Valenzuela - Navojoa, Sonora - Dodgers, Angels, Orioles, Phillies, Padres, Cardinals - 173 career wins, 1981 Cy Young winner, 1981 Rookie of the Year, 6 time All Star, 1990 no-hitter, 1986 Gold Glove winner, 2 Silver Slugger Awards

El Toro
• SP Esteban Loaiza - Tijuana, Baja California - Pirates, Rangers, Blue Jays, White Sox, Yankees, Nationals, A’s, Dodgers - 2 time All Star, started 2003 All Star game, finished 2nd in Cy Young voting in 2003
• SP Teddy Higuera - Los Mochis, Sinaloa - Brewers - finished 2nd in ROY vote in 1985, 1986 All Star, finished 2nd in Cy Young voting in 1986, led league in ERA in 1988

Teodoro
• SP Ismael Valdez - Cd. Victoria, Tamaulipas - Dodgers, Cubs, Angels, Rangers, Mariners, Padres, Marlins - 104 career victories, finished 7th in ROY voting in 1995
• SP Oliver Perez - Culiacan, Sinaloa - Padres, Pirates, Mets - promising young pitcher, finished 8th in the league in wins in 2007
• RP Ricardo Rincon - Cuitlahuac, Veracruz - Pirates, Indians, A’s, Cardinals - appeared in over 500 games
• RP Sid Monge - Agua Prieta, Sonora - Angels, Indians, Phillies, Padres, Tigers - 1979 All Star
• RP Dennys Reyes - Higuera de Zaragoza, Sinaloa - Dodgers, Reds, Rockies, Rangers, Pirates, D’backs, Royals, Padres, Twins - over 450 appearances
• RP Aurelio Lopez - Tecamachalco, Puebla - Royals, Cardinals, Tigers, Astros - 93 career saves (finished in Top 10 four times), 1983 All Star, finished 7th in Cy Young voting in 1979