Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame frame on the wall at the Oakland Coliseum (photo by Mauricio Segura )

By Amaury Pi-González

On the picture the The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum wall at the Oakland Coliseum’s for the past three seasons. Local Bay Area artist Mauricio Segura was the designer. 2020 was an off-year for The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame.

The museum will not be at this year’s All Star Game scheduled to be at Atlanta’s Trust Park on Tuesday July 13th. But will take part in the 2022 All Star Game to be held at Dodger Stadium, July 12, 2022 in Los Angeles, (in the LA Convention Center in the heart of LA) which was re-scheduled from last year’s that was to take place at Dodger Stadium, but could not, because the covid-Pandemic.

No inductions to the museum Hall of Fame took place last year. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame was established on October 24, 1998 as a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to recognize the contributions of Hispanic players in baseball.

Mr. Tito Avila Jr is the creator and founder of the museum. This museum will ensure the history and profound influence that Hispanic players have made. The museum has exhibited in over fifteen major league cities and has inducted 74 players to date into their Hall of Fame.

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame have participated in the Oakland Athletics Fan Fest as well as well as the Giants, throughout the years, however because of the pandemic we were not able to join the players and see their fans up and close as they celebrate the arrival of another baseball season.

We have exhibited in All Star Games, as well Fan Fest with our very popular traveling wall of history which depicts the very first Hispanics to play in organized baseball in the United States, in chronological order. We have displayed at many public libraries across the country, as well as numerous community events.

At the Oakland Coliseum fans enjoyed a large portion of the wall to the right at the Club Level entrance, from 2018 to 2020 thousands of fans have enjoyed, stopped and taken pictures and read the history. Wholesome role models are rare in today’s society.

Our youth desperately seek hope and direction, this museum offers a unique opportunity to provide inspiration while creating a great legacy with vision towards our future. Mr. Dave Kaval, President of the Athletics and Dave Rinetti, VP of Stadium Operations were instrumental in the three years the HHBMHOF mural was at the Oakland Coliseum.

With around 30 percent of Hispanic players in Major League Baseball and between 45 to 50 million Hispanics in the country, the largest minority, it is impossible to ignore. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum has big plans and continues to be committed to preserving the history and profound influence that Hispanic players have had on “America’s Favorite Past Time” At the time of its foundation the museum was recognized by then Commissioner of Baseball Mr.Bud Selig.

Soon for all to enjoy the new museum website will be out with all the information about players, events, how to become a member, how to send a contribution, a suggestion, a question or even if you want to donate baseball memorabilia to the museum. http://www.hhbmhof.com

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com