by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

hispanicprblog.com photo file: Logo of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Museum

SAN DIEGO–Here at the All Star Game in San Diego, with The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame. Our exhibit list the history of Hispanics in the game of baseball from the 1800’s to this day. The MLB Fanfest is at the San Diego Convention Center, right across PETCO Park where today the 2016 All Star Game will take place between the best of the American League against the best of the National League. More of that later.

Tony Oliva, Dagoberto (Bert) Campaneris, Gaylord Perry, Rollie Fingers many member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and others are mingling here with fans, signing autographs taking pictures, and its a great party for the fans that love the game. Had the pleasure of meeting great ex pitcher Ferguson Jenkins. Tito Avila, President and Founder of the HHBM and your truly showed Jenkins our display about Hispanic players,(as a television camera was filming)as he told us many of whom he knows and played with and against during his stellar career. Jenkins also reminded us that he was born in Canada.

I met many fans from all over the country who asked questions about players from Latin America or of Hispanic descent. One of the most popular displays with the museum, was that of Orestes (Minnie) Minoso, there in a special glass case there was his uniform autographed by him with the Chicago White Sox. Old and young alike were in awe as I told them Minoso played from 1949 to 1980, and died in Chicago a couple of years ago at the age of 90. The HHBM was to induct Dominican great Vladimir Guerrero, but he could not make it to this event, however, we arranged for him to be inducted in a future day.

In our HHBM wall the history from the pioneers who played in professional baseball in the United States in the 1800’s to current time where over 30% of all players in the Major Leagues are Hispanics.

Every two hours or so, there is another Disc Jockey playing rhythmic music as people walk by and meet their favorite players and see their heroes from the past as well as Major League Base ball computerized attractions for all to enjoy. The Negro Baseball Museum has a very historical and impressive display, the lady’s from the Old American Girls Professional Baseball League(League of their own movie)some of the current original players were there signing autographs, the WBC(World Baseball Classic)tournament was next to our Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame history wall and our artifacts of many players from Clemente to Alomar.

Mascots from all 30 Major League teams walking around dancing and taking pictures with little boys and girls and their families, some major sponsors of the game like Chevrolet had many of their brand new models just out-of-the-factory there for people to see,(no sales people on hand, everything is computerized and if you are interested you let them know via computers available, if you cannot operate a computer there are people there just to help you with that) a new tire company with a track for young and old to test their racing cars going around a very well designed track.

There is just about everything that a baseball fan loves inside this huge San Diego Convention Center, the baseball memorabilia for sale from cards to bats to uniforms. Just about 3 miles out of town is the Ted Williams Freeway. Many reading our HHBM history wall were surprised to learn that Ted Williams(born here in San Diego), was of Mexican blood, since his mother Maria Hernandez-Benzor was born in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and moved from Ciudad Juarez to San Diego, where Teddy Ballgame was born, The 1957 Mexican Little League team, who was the first -out-of-the-United States-team, to win a championship is in featured in our history wall.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame is recognized by Major League Baseball and we are very proud to be part of this All Star week-long celebration in San Diego, California, a city that is famous for its weather, among large cities in the country San Diego has the best weather, 77-80 degrees year round.

Across from us inside this San Diego Convention Center is PETCO Park where today Johnny cueto of the San Franjcisco Giants will start for the National League, against Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox for the American League.

It is easy to see why MLB All Star Game is he most famous of all the professional sports All Star Games, this city has been taken over baseball fans from Maine to Florida and from Calikfornia to Alaska.

Now we send this broadcast across the street to PETCO PARK, were it is about time to PLAY BALL!

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is working for Deportes Radio at the Annual 87th MLB All Star game in San Diego, is Vice Presidente for the Major League Baseball Heritage Museum, and is doing News and Commentary throughout the All-Star game for http://www.sportsradioservice.com