Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 300
•
Trim: 6¼ x 9½
978-1-4422-8172-1 • Hardback • June 2017 • $48.00 • (£37.00)
978-1-4422-8173-8 • eBook • June 2017 • $45.50 • (£35.00)
Jonathan Weeksis a lifelong baseball enthusiast and member of the Society for American Baseball Research. He is the author ofCellar Dwellers: The Worst Teams in Baseball History(2012),Baseball’s Most Notorious Personalities: A Gallery of Rogues(2013), Mudville Madness: Fabulous Feats, Belligerent Behavior, and Erratic Episodes on the Diamond(2014), and Baseball’s Dynasties and the Players Who Built Them (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016).
Acknowledgments
List of Players
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Dominican Republic
Chapter 2: Puerto Rico
Chapter 3: Venezuela
Chapter 4: Cuba
Chapter 5: Panama
Chapter 6: Mexico
Chapter 7: Colombia
Chapter 8: Nicaragua
Chapter 9: Curacao
Chapter 10: Honduras
Chapter 11: Brazil
Bibliography
About the Author
Baseball writer Jonathan Weeks’s latest book describes prominent individuals from Major League Baseball’s most prolific source of foreign-born players—Latin America. In 11 chapters he briefly profiles the lives of a number of the best-known players from countries that have produced major leaguers, from the Dominican Republic (with 41 MLB players) to Puerto Rico (22), Venezuela (25), Cuba (25), Panama (9), Mexico (7), Colombia (4), Curacao (4), and Nicaragua, Honduras, and Brazil (1 each). Each chapter begins with an outline of the origins of baseball in that country (one-half to two pages), followed by player descriptions under the categories of “Major Stars of the Past” and “Notable Active Players.” Player information typically includes a little biographical background on birthplace and youth, minor and major league team affiliations, positions played and special playing characteristics, playing statistics and honors, injuries, and sometimes, personal characteristics, noteworthy events, and post-playing activities such as managing, coaching, and instruction. There are no photographs and, although more up-to-date, the information is much skimpier than what is found in Peter Bjarkman’s Baseball with a Latin Beat (CH, Jun'95, 32-5719), and does not cover racial and language-use issues.
— Choice Reviews
It wasn’t until I came across Latino Stars in Major League Baseball that I realized how many truly elite Latin American ballplayers have graced the major league stage. These players, retired and active, are presented herein with detailed biographies that remind all fans of the distinctive international contributions made over the decades by Hispanic big leaguers to the national pastime.
— Lou Hernández, author of Baseball’s Great Hispanic Pitchers
Jonathan Weeks has provided a useful survey for those interested in familiarizing themselves with some of baseball’s more memorable Latino big leaguers.
— Peter C. Bjarkman, author of Cuba's Baseball Defectors: The Inside Story