Editor’s Choice: The Best of El Profe in 2017
This year, Editor-in-Chief Adrian Burgos Jr. — affectionately known as El Profe — shared many personal stories from his relationship with the game. From his daughter’s first trip to Cooperstown to meeting some of his childhood heroes, béisbol is part of his soul. On the last Friday of 2017, our editorial team looks back at their favorite El Profe stories from this year.
Which one was your favorite El Profe story? Let us know in the comments! Or write El Profe directly at adrian@lavidabaseball.com.
How Luis GonzÁlez Broke My Heart
El Profe might be writing about the Yankees, but he still evokes empathy for the common fan in a moving piece about the one night Mariano Rivera failed to close out a deciding World Series game.
— Clemson Smith Muñiz
El Profe: How Luis González Broke My Heart
Luis Tiant’s Bendición
When our elders give us la bendición, they are not only blessing us, but they are also making us feel safe and sound. Luis’ bendición to El Profe reminded me of every time my grandparents blessed me and how I felt after each blessing, knowing that whatever was going on in life, everything would be okay.
— Henry Pacheco
El Profe: Luis Tiant’s ‘Bendición’
What’s In A Name?
The way El Profe learned about his uncle Toño’s namesake speaks to how ingrained baseball is in him — and his family. In this piece, El Profe perfectly captures how vital béisbol is to the Latino experience and how his personal history is shaped through the lens of the game.
— Tab Bamford
El Profe: What’s in a Name?
Dealing With Baseball’s Multicultural Present and Future
The piece El Profe wrote after Game 3 of the World Series, when Yuli Gurriel of the Astros made unacceptable racist gestures toward Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish, was a thoughtful dissertation that touched on the power of words as seen through the lens of past Latino players, who faced discrimination, name changes and mangled interviews as they integrated the minor and major leagues.
— Angie Clemmons-Roberts
El Profe: Dealing with Baseball’s Multicultural Present and Future
Featured Image: Kaitlin Southworth
