Tag: Amaury Pi Gonzalez

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: 46 Years Later, Roberto Clemente’s Legacy Lives On

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By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

El Cometa de Carolina (translation: The Carolina Comet).

Roberto Clemente was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico August 18,1934. His father, Don Melchor Clemente, was a sugar cane worker; his mother, Luisa, was a laundress. On December 31, 1972, an airplane he chartered to bring food and other relief supplies to survivors of a recent earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua crashes shortly after takeoff from San Juan, P.R. It was 46 years ago that five people were killed in the crash, including Clemente, whose body was never recovered. Many of you reading this, were not born 46 years ago; but Roberto Clemente was more than a superstar trailblazer baseball player.

There are 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean and Clemente is one of those athletes adored and recognized in all of them. His name represents the best of Latin America and is a unifying force for all of us who were born in Latin America.

A great life of a humanitarian and world recognized figure. MLB’s The Roberto Clemente Award (previously known as the Commissioner’s Award) is given annually to the MLB player who best exemplifies the game of baseball sportsmanship, and community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team. This award has been given each year since after the untimely death of the superstar. The statistics of this legendary baseball player are well documented as listed at National Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N.Y.

Al Campanis was managing winter ball in Cuba when he went to Puerto Rico and saw Clemente play as an 18 year old and graded Clemente an A or A+ in most categories. There were a lot of moves by management, and at the end Clemente signed with Montreal (Dodgers’ minor league club), but the Dodgers didn’t even wanted to contemplate the possibility of the young future superstar playing with N.Y. Giants in the same outfield with another great young player, by the name of Willie Mays. At the end, Clemente started his glorious career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

How much is Roberto Clemente revered? During an exhibit of the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall Of fame at the main library in San Francisco,California, many people of Puerto Rican descent and prayed, right in front of the famous #21 history and memorabilia display.

United States postage stamps honor those whose memories and accomplishments mark an enduring legacy. Postal service policy states that individuals (excepting U.S. Presidents) may only be considered for this honor a decade after their death. This is a tremendous feat and Roberto Clemente Walker has been honored twice. The first stamp honoring Roberto appeared August 17,1984, and then he was selected again in 2000 for the U.S. Postal Service Legends of Baseball series. Clemente enlisted in the US Marines Corps Reserves after the 1958 season and spent six months in active duty at Parris Island, South Carolina and Camp LeJeune in North Carolina. He served until 1964 and was inducted into the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame on 2003.

Clemente was the first Hispanic player to win a World Series as a starter, be named league MVP, be named World Series MVP and be elected to the Hall of Fame. He was the first to win a World Series as a starter, be named league MVP, be named World Series MVP and be elected to the Hall of Fame. Some in the media called him Bob or Bobby. He did not like that and said he wanted to be called by his name Roberto (Bob is Spanish for Roberto).

He suffered discrimination, according to NBC News, he once said “I don’t believe in color.”

During one game I was covering at Candlestick Park for El Mundo News of Oakland, Calif., the Pirates were visiting the Giants. Towards the end of his career, I remember he struck out and a writer in the press box shouted “send him back on a banana boat” and some other reporters laughed at it, like it was a joke. He began his career in the major leagues in 1955, just eight years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Players of color including Latinos of dark skin at that time were “tolerated,” but still not really accepted. I know Roberto would be very proud today to see that almost 30% of all players in the majors are Hispanic/Latino.

There might be more statues of Clemente (around 12) in P.R., U.S. and Nicaragua than any other athlete in history, including Diego Armando Maradona, Pelé and Muhammad Ali. Before he wore #21, Clemente wore #13 during his first season in the majors in 1955. His full name Roberto Clemente Walker has a total of 21 letters.

Clemente collected his 3,000 career hit in his final at-bat, during the last week of the 1972 MLB season on September 30,1972 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. A double against the left field wall from Mets lefty Jon Matlack. The recordings of this historic moment is at the archives of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown, N.Y. in the voices of Bob Prince, longtime Pirates announcer and my colleague, mentor and friend, the great Cuban-born announcer Rafael “Felo” Ramírez in Spanish. Little did we know that would be the last hit of Clemente’s life. Clemente gave everything he had on the field playing baseball and ultimately he gave his life to help others unknown to him, in another country. In my opinion,this is the best quote that actually did justice to this great man.

“I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give.”
— Roberto Clemente.

Happy Holidays!

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The Last Story–A Tribute to a Broadcaster’s Broadcaster

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By: Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO — The worst air quality in the history of San Francisco could not stop a wall-to-wall packed Perry’s at Union Street to render tribute to Hank Greenwald on this Friday November the 16th. Greenwald passed on October 22. He was 83. Perry’s is one of the most popular bar and eateries in S.F., founded in 1944.

And it was Perry’s at Union Street, one of Greenwald’s  favorites places, where he always enjoyed a great cheeseburger, were a bevy of Bay Area sports media, broadcasters, engineers, agents, baseball executives, players, manager, friends and the family of Greenwald, gathered for this emotional tribute. His wife Carla, son Doug. Also, a baseball play-by-play man, and daughter Kelly spoke to a totally packed Perry’s, as well as Giants top executive Larry Baer, along with Giants’ broadcasters Dwayne Kuiper, Mike Krukow and Jon Miller.

Greenwald began his career at his alma mater, the University of Syracuse, broadcasting their football games. He would go on to do the play by play of former NBA team, the Syracuse Nationals. In the 1960’s he called the games of the Hawaii Islanders of the Pacific Coast League.

Greenwald was a baseball story-teller with great wit and delivery. He also called games for the Warriors with Bill King, but baseball was his passion and main sport. He called Giants games from 1979-86 and left after a disagreement with radio station management. Went to work for the New York Yankees for the next two years. He came back with the Giants in 1989 when the team reached the World Series and were swept by the Oakland A’s and  remained in S.F. until 1996 when he retired. He called 2,798 consecutive games. In his book This Copyrighted Broadcast, wrote about his disagreement with Giants Vice President Larry Baer as the reason for his retirement. In 2004, Hank was the television play-by-play announcer for the A’s with Ray Fosse doing color. In 2004 and 2005, he was the lead announcer for the A’s.

Greenwald did not work during the “glory years” of the Giants World Series run from 2010-14. His only World Series was the 1989 Earthquake series. Hank had the ability to make an 8-0 lost for the Giants an interesting broadcast as his tremendous knowledge of the history of the game was his specialty. At Perry’s tonight, Krukow said that although he was a baseball player he learned a lot listening to Greenwald talk about the history of the game. Kuiper got his start working with Greenwald. Truth be said, Greenwald could tell a baseball story as good as anybody.

One of Greenwald’s most memorable calls was his great description of the final out in Game 5 of the 1989 National League Championship Series, which sent the Giants to the World Series for the first time since 1962. “27 years of waiting have come to an end! The Giants have won the pennant!

I am honored to have known Greenwald, and for a few years, traveled with him on the road with the Giants. He could talk baseball before during and after the game and it was always a pleasure to listen to him. I remember on a trip to Cincinnati, just around the hotel as I was walking I ran into Greenwald who was smoking a Cuban cigar and told me there was a great Cuban cigar store just around the corner. I told him I didn’t smoke Cuban cigars (although I was born in Cuba and I remember my father did smoke those Cohibas), Greenwald went to tell me a lot about Cuban cigars, more that I ever heard from my father. Among other experiences, I remember on a trip we where on the charter plane flying out of Pittsburgh and it was raining and lightning “big time.” He asked “Do we really have to take-off like this?” We did and the take-off what a white knuckle ride. At Candlestick Park we often talk behind the bating cage during batting practices. During night game around 5:00 PM or so, the wind was swirling all over the place, he once looked at me and said, “So many places they blow up, and we still have this place here where they play baseball.” Candlestick was not his favorite place, but can you blame anybody for that?

I will remember Greenwald as a Broadcaster’s Broadcaster. Always prepared, always ready with lots of notes, a great memory and recollection of events always ready to share with his audience, which he loved. One time after a night game, I was leaving Candlestick Park after another Giants’ terrible loss. (Hank was still in the press box doing the postgame), when a fan outside yelled “Hey Hank,we’ll get ’em tomorrow!” thinking I was Hank. He got a kick out of that, as it happened quite regularly. I told him I was “his double.”

The Bay Area broadcast booth in the sky now features: Bill King, Lon Simmons, Hank Greenwald.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s Bob Melvin Is a Manager for All Seasons

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By: Amaury Pi-González

A’s manager Bob Melvin was awarded the 2018 American League Manager of the Year by the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Association of America), which was a well-deserved award from an A-1 manager and A-1 gentleman. The Oakland Athletics are a very lucky organization to have him as their leader.

Melvin’s A’s won 97 games, that is 22 more games that any other team from 2017 to 2018. This is the third time in his career that Melvin has won it and the second time he has won the award with the A’s in 2012. He beat Alex Cora, whose Red Sox won a team-record 108 games during the regular season, then went on to win the World Series. Cora, also known as “The Pride of Caguas,” finished second. In third place, Tampa Bay Rays’ skipper Kevin Cash, who lost players like Evan Longoria and Jake Odorizzi last season, yet in the toughest division in baseball won 90 games to finish third between the Red Sox and Yankees, which are two of the most resourceful teams anywhere.

Melvin has won it three times: 2007 NL Manager of the Year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2012 AL Manager of the Year with the A’s and 2018 AL Manager of the Year again with the A’s. In the history of the A’s, only Melvin (2012, 2018) and Hall of Fame Manager Tony LaRussa (1988, 1992) have won this award. Melvin’s A’s had the lowest payroll in baseball, yet he continued to motivate and teach his young players to respect, listen to, and play hard for him. Last week, the A’s announced they are bringing back all their coaches and that was also good news for Melvin.

We wish Melvin a great offseason and happy holidays to him and his family and hope to see him in Arizona just a few months.

Congratulations, Melvin!

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Caribbean Series has a rich history that goes back to 1949; What a great three-game series in Baja California

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On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Mexicali Baseball Series was played this week in Baja California, but taking a look at the Caribbean Series, how important was this event for Spanish speaking baseball and its rich history going back to 1949?

#2 The Caribbean Series was revived in 1970, but was without Cuban participation and went on a hiatus in 1981.

#3 Cuba did win in 2015 when they returned as a guest in the Caribbean Series.

#4 The Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. won the National League Rookie of the Year Award, hitting for the season .293, 78 runs, 64 RBIs,and 26 home runs.

#5 American League Rookie of the Year Award went to Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, who hit .285, 59 runs, 61 RBIs, 22 home runs. Ohtani pitched with a 4-2 record and a 3.31 ERA.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Giants Usher the Era of Analytics

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

By: Amaury Pi-González

The Giants won their three World Series in San Francisco in 2010, 2012 and 2014 with very good pitching, good defense, timely hitting and less power. Bu now, the game has drastically changed, and it is all about the modern metrics, analytics and the launch angle. Power, power and more power! Relief pitchers come in early after a starter has seen the lineup three times. That being said, there is a totally different approach to the game today than the last time the Giants won the World Series.

Farhan Zaid, aged 41, is the Giants’ new President of Baseball Operations and he will report only to Larry Baer, Chief Executive Officer, in San Francisco.

“He’s definitely an analytical-type guy who will use his computer skills to create a model for the Major League club and the Draft,” said a National League official.

However, Zaidi has a good reputation in working well with scouts.

Since the All-Star Break in 2016, the Giants have won a total 167 games. The Giants join the Orioles, White Sox and Padres on that woeful list. Zaidi is considered a top baseball mind who was the Dodgers’ General Manager for the previous four seasons reporting to Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, in Los Angeles.

Zaidi also worked for the A’s from 2005 to 2014. He urged the A’s to acquire Yoenis Céspedes. With an economic degree from MIT and a PhD in economics from UC Berkeley, he is an intelligent and educated baseball executive. Of the six consecutive NL West Division titles the Dodgers have won, four were under Zaidi.

The Giants’ Hall of Fame manager Bruce Bochy is your typical old school type of manager and many are skeptical if he is going to get along with Zaidi. That remains to be seen, but there is no question that Bochy’s legacy has been cemented. And even if he retired today, the Giants will have to move on, and he is the first to understand the game is changing and the Giants do not want to be the last team to join the party.

The Giants have some heavy contracts on their payroll and they will have to be extremely creative to return to be the contending team they were three years ago. Zaidi’s mission is to find the magic formula to return this franchise to success on the field and the obvious decisions he has to make right away, like, say, to keep ace Madison Bumgarner or to trade him? The Giants feel they do not have to rebuild,and believe they still have the pieces to return to be a power in the NL West. Some Zaidi’s first decisions could indicate which way the Giants are headed.

The Giants need younger and more athletic players as their current roster is not getting any younger. AT&T Park is not a home run friendly park, and even if they would acquire Bryce Harper and give him the $400 million contract he and his agent are seeking, they might still need more than Harper to fight the Dodgers, Rockies and Diamondbacks.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s Golden Pillars–Chapman and Olson

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By: Amaury Pi-González

The dictionary definition of “pillars” is a firm upright support for a superstructure.

The Matt Dudes are those pillars in the corners for the A’s superstructure. Third baseman Matt Chapman and first baseman Matt Olson won their first (of many in the near future) Gold Gloves for their defensive excellence. The A’s infield was one of the best defensively in the game, second-baseman Jed Lowrie, who enjoyed his best season ever, was the runner up to Ian Kinsley of the Angels and Red Sox for the Gold Glove at second base in the AL.

Chapman’s first Gold Glove came as he ended as #1 in all of MLB (at any position) with 29 defensive runs saved. Chapman is so good that he might also win the Platinum Glove Award, which is given each year to the best player in the Majors among all positions. In other words, the best fielder in baseball,period. Since he came to the A’s, we knew of his reputation with the Gold Glove and he showed it this 2018 season. Olson won it on his third season in the Majors and his first full year of play. Olson ended as #1 among all first basemen with 14 defensive runs saved.

While the A’s will announce soon where their new ballpark is going to be build in Oakland, the organization already building a solid team that won 97 games last year who advanced into the playoff as a Wild Card team. Two of those young stars have been awarded with respective Gold Gloves. Chapman and Olson have an innate ability for fielding. Those types of players are adored by pitchers, because they can do stuff with their gloves that pitchers appreciate and many times are the difference between a win or a loss.

Chapman and Olson, who are also very good friends, both deserve the award. Usually there is less controversy when it comes to fielding, and these two showed us why.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Is Bryce Harper what the Giants really need?

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Photo credit: @sfgiants_fanly

By: Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO — Bryce Harper, who has played all of his seven years with the Washington Nationals so far, is currently a free agent. Some teams are showing interest in the superstar who is looking for something like a 10-year, $300 million contract. Money is not the issue for the Giants. The Giants, Cardinals, Yankees, Phillies have been mentioned as some of the top teams for Harper…and they have deep pockets, too. But there can be other teams. I’ll provide more on the latter another time.

But is the star right fielder the answer to the Giants’ offensive woes? Maybe! It would not hurt,but they still will need more than Harper to be a top contender in 2019. The Giants were the only team in 2018 who did not have one hitter reach 20 home runs, which was incredible in the era of the home runs. But let’s face it, as attractive as AT&T Park is, which comes with a great Giants fanbase, he could also select a more “hitter friendly” place like Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Yankee Stadium in the Bronx (Nirvana for a left-handed power hitter), Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, where the summer humidity makes the ball go much deeper than AT&T Park, or even with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dodger Stadium.

I believe Yasiel Puig has played his last game with the Dodgers in right field. The Dodgers are looking for their next mega star in an area where the great LeBron James, who is now playing for the Lakers. Star power is a big thing down Hollywood Lane. Those are some of the better places for Harper who this season ended with a .249 average, 34 home runs and 100 runs batted in (First time in his career he drives 100 runs). Still, the 26-year old Las Vegas native shows a very impressive resume. Harper is not a pull hitter, a very experienced MLB scout told me, but still has a better chance of reaching the fences in most of those places, instead of AT&T Park and that “Death Valley” area that is right-center field and if you are a left-handed hitter and not a pull hitter that is enough to discourage you not to move to The City.

Harper was the first overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. Also, the youngest position player ever (19) to be selected for an MLB All-Star Game (2012) as well as the National League Rookie of the Year award. In 2015, the Baseball Writers Association of America unanimously MVP selected Harper, who was the youngest in baseball to ever do so.

It is obvious the Giants need to make more decisions, pending the most important of hiring a new GM, but this is something else to ponder for the Orange and Black.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Sox were unstoppable; Kershaw, Dodgers couldn’t do anything with Sox lineup; plus more

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Photo credit: @MLB

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Boston Red Sox did what so many clubs couldn’t do–win an amazing 108 games.

#2 They cut through the playoffs and World Series like butter.

#3 With the World Series now over and the 2018 season, will the A’s add to what was a successful season to their roster?

#4 In football, the Oakland Raiders lose another tough one Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts 42-28. Another tough home loss at the Coliseum.

#5 The San Jose Sharks continue their success with a win Sunday in overtime past the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center 4-3. The Sharks are showing why they’re a first place club.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Mesa Brothers From Cuba to the Marlins

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Photo credit: @donovanc7sports

By: Amaury Pi-González

The last Cuban star on the Miami Marlins was the late pitcher José Fernández. The very talented 24-year-old died in a boating crash off the coast of Miami Beach on September 25, 2016. On October 22, 2018, the Marlins made it official when they introduced the Mesa brothers, Victor Victor and Victor Jr., during a press conference hosted by the Marlins’ top executive officer and part owner Derek Jeter. The Mesa brothers are the two sons of Cuban legend Victor Mesa.

“When I was doing the showcase, I was thinking this could be my ballpark,” Victor Jr. said through a translator. “It was beautiful. I felt like a big leaguer.”

Victor Victor is 22-years-old and Victor Jr. is 17-years old. They are both outfielders. Jeter is hoping that these two will help to rebuilt a struggling franchise that were founded as an expansion team in the National League in 1993 and won two World Series in 1997 and 2003. Victor Victor is the most advanced and closer of the two brothers to be playing next year with the Marlins.The Marlins were last in attendance this season–#30 in MLB with 10,013 fans per game. The team finished last in the National League East this season with a record of 63-98.

The Mesa brothers could bring back the interest of the large Cuban community in Miami and Southern Florida

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Will Sharks do Spanish radio again after 23 years?; World Series kicks off tonight at Fenway Park

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tsn photo: San Jose Sharks fans received Los Tiburones jerseys on Hispanic Heritage Night Sat Oct 20th at SAP Center in San Jose vs. the New York Islanders

On That’s Amuary’s podcast:

#1 Last Saturday at SAP Center in San Jose, the San Jose Sharks hosted their second straight Hispanic Heritage Night. Is this an indication that the Sharks are going to get serious about the Hispanic community as part of their media demographic?

#2 You remember when the Sharks started at the Cow Palace in 1991-92 they moved to San Jose from Daly City in 1993. The Sharks did have Spanish radio in 1995 with former Oakland A’s broadcaster Erwin Higueros. Could the Sharks possibly consider doing Spanish radio in the future?

#3 Would this be an economic benefit for the Sharks to have the largest demographic Spanish radio, which is number one in the South Bay and would be a marketing essential for the team?

#4 The Boston Red Sox pretty much dominated the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros through the playoffs. How do you like their chances?

#5 The Los Angeles Dodgers took four out of seven from the Milwaukee Brewers to land their second straight World Series, which starts tonight at Fenway Park in Boston for game one.

Join Amaury for all the latest in sports headlines on That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradiosercvice.com